Kirk Cousins Reflects on Struggles After Rough Start to $180M Deal

Kirk Cousins was honest enough to reveal what happened in Atlanta. The 180 million dollar quarterback did not win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in his first encounter, a game in which he played. There was a slender 10-9 edge, but the Falcons fell 18-10 in a second-half meltdown.

After the second half, the Falcons offense could not do much, only getting three other downs and 51 total yards. He fumbled the snap with center Drew Dalman and threw two picks. Furthermore, the snap hit the legs of Ross Dwelley, compounding their misery.

Cousins so far have only been brought down for one sack in the game; Steel T.J. Watt did loom large. Halfway through the game, with the junior line steady in a position around Kirk Cousins, Watt sacked Cousins and suddenly emerged as a strong contender for the title of the best defensive player.

“It was disappointing,” Cousins confessed. “Depressed, certainly. You always want to go out there and play at a high level. And today, we didn’t come up to those levels”. Cousins said it caused him to miss some scoring opportunities, for which he seeks to apologize.

“The timing was bad,” he explained. “I take full responsibility for making the call for the motion and then asking for the ball. This is why you can’t make mistakes, and we did today”. Cousins concluded by completing 155 yards with one touchdown in 16 attempts of 26 passes.

This was his first game after healing from an Achilles tear during the last season with the Minnesota Vikings.

Cousins on Mistakes

However, he insisted the team can avoid negative plays in the offensive low. “We always say we must cut down mistakes, and today, it was proved.

We can be a productive offense, but it is hard when you shoot yourself in the foot”. Because he signed a four-year, $180 million contract, the Falcons tried to protect their 36-year-old quarterback and ensured he did not take any snaps during training camp and the preseason.

Following the Steeler's loss, the Falcons begin the difficult stretch of the season with the Philadelphia Eagles next, followed by a trip to the Arrowhead Stadium to face the reigning champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. While looking ahead, Cousins still believes in himself.

“I think the key is that we’re healthy for Week 1, and that was the focus," he stated. "There are no excuses. Once your number is called, you must be prepared”.