The Atlanta Falcons scored 29 factors on Thursday evening, marking their most since Week 4 towards the Commanders. Kirk Cousins led the cost with 373 passing yards and three touchdowns, all for Kyle Pitts. The massive change to propel the offense? The continued use of under-center play motion.
The idea is that Zac Robinson and Raheem Morris lack confidence in Michael Penix’s potential to run this scheme successfully, however they’re assured within the 37-year-old to take action. Cousins had his finest recreation of his season and out-performed each recreation of Penix’s profession in Week 15 towards the Buccaneers.
On prime of that, Bijan Robinson added 93 yards speeding and a landing. If Cousins advantages from this play type, why not strive it with Penix earlier within the 12 months? This query was by no means answered regardless of being hotly mentioned in late October earlier than resurfacing a couple of weeks again.
It’s attention-grabbing to observe a number of the finest Falcons offense the final month has come from below middle play motion.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 12, 2025
Lastly, somebody spoke up, and it was no apart from ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky. The previous NFL quarterback discovered it attention-grabbing that the Soiled Birds lastly run their offense below middle with Cousins and described the comeback victory as the most effective efficiency from the Falcons’ offense this season.
Dan Orlovsky is aware of Kirk Cousins is the long-term reply in Atlanta
In Week 14, Atlanta mustered simply 9 factors towards a stifling Seahawks protection. No quantity of play-action might propel the Soiled Birds into victory formation after Cousins’ worst begin of the 12 months. Regardless of this blowout, the Falcons’ offense has been persistently scoring 23-27 factors per week.
With Cousins main the cost, the offense scores three factors extra on common than with Penix. The Falcons have misplaced 4 video games by three factors or much less this season; this can be a drastic distinction, particularly given they received his first begin after Penix’s damage towards the Saints.
This begs the query once more: Why was play motion not used extra this season? The Falcons transformed 5 of 11 third-down makes an attempt Thursday evening, probably the most in weeks. Getting into Week 15, the Falcons ranked lifeless final in play-action fee and second in shotgun fee.
This inexplicable discrepancy is mindless, and the offensive scheme change this late within the season is a waste. However even with no playoffs, the Falcons have three video games remaining and the employees should use this chance as an audition to maintain their jobs in 2026.
With query marks at quarterback, offensive schemes lower than par, and the teaching carousel looming, there’s lots to determine. The play-action labored on Thursday evening, and extra below middle appears to be like have to be integrated shifting ahead if this staff needs to stay as much as its potential.
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