Tag: NFC South

Report: Atlanta Falcons plan to release Kirk Cousins after only one season

ESPN reports the Falcons are looking to move on from quarterback Kirk Cousins after only one season of him playing in Atlanta:

The Atlanta Falcons made an intriguing decision this offseason, and that was giving Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract with $90 million guaranteed at signing, before drafting another quarterback in Michael Penix Jr. in the top ten picks of the 2024 NFL draft. This move received an exceptional amount of fan and media criticism, and for good reason as the move was questionable at best. Things have changed now however, with the pick of Penix Jr. looking like the better of the two moves, rather than the signing of Cousins looking better initially.

A report from Adam Schefter of ESPN came out early Saturday morning with the news that Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons are expected to part ways sometime between now and Mar. 17, 2025 when his $10 million roster bonus is due. This comes after Cousins was formally benched during the week for Penix Jr. in lieu of a string of bad performances by the veteran signal-caller, and despite some good mixed in there, the Falcons have opted for the rookie instead.

The Falcons were on a four game losing streak before Week 15, where they managed to scrape by the lowly Las Vegas Raiders by a score of 15-9, where Cousins only threw for 112 yards with 1 touchdown to 1 interception. The offense stalled out, and ultimately that was the tipping point for the Falcons’ front office, as they will now move on to another option.

Bucs OC Liam Coen addresses head coaching rumors

If Coen takes a head coaching job with another team, the Bucs will need to find their third new offensive coordinator in as many years.

As the NFL’s 2024 regular season winds down, so does the shortlist of head coaching candidates for teams opting to move on from their current coaching staff on the infamous “Black Monday” following the last game of the regular season. Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s name has been a mainstay on that list as the mastermind behind the Bucs high-powered offense, which ranks third overall.

If Coen takes a head coaching job with another team, the Bucs will need to find their third new offensive coordinator in as many years. However, addressing the rumors during yesterday’s press conference, the Buccaneers fans and organization may find solace in learning that Coen isn’t currently looking to move on from Tampa Bay anytime soon.

“There’s literally only one goal,” Coen said as the Bucs eye their fourth-straight NFC South division title. “There’s just no time in the day. I’ve got a kid at home, sick, throwing up last night. There’s just no time to even truly think about these things,” Coen told reporters when asked about the head coaching rumors. “Is that a goal? Is that a dream? Yeah, but that’s not at all what’s on my mind right now.”

The Buccaneers head into Dallas for a Week 16 bout with the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, which is the one thing on Coen’s mind regarding football. “How are we going to try and score points and stop Micah Parsons in this game on Sunday Night Football? That’s truly one of the focuses and where it has to be, and you really don’t have enough time to think otherwise right now,” Coen stated.

While the Buccaneers have not secured a spot in the postseason yet, they do hold an 86% chance of doing so, along with 78% odds of winning the NFC South, per The Athletic’s Playoff Projections. With the battle for the NFC South as tight as ever with the Atlanta Falcons, the Bucs control their own destiny if they win out; however, the waters get muddied because the Falcons hold the head-to-head tiebreaker- should they finish with the same record. The good news for the Bucs is that they are favored in all three remaining games. The bad news is that two of three are division games, which are always tough.

Baseball fans saw what happens when a team gets hot at the right time with the Detroit Tigers just a few months ago. The same remains true in the NFL, as Coen is laser-focused on having his offense be the catalyst behind a potential seven-game winning streak to end the regular season.

Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are not losing site of the bigger picture

Baker Mayfield and the Bucs realize what is at stake each week as the team controls their own destiny, and they are not losing sight. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their fans have been through the wringer in 2024, and despite that, they find themselves on top of the NFC South. The team has rallied after a 4-6 start to the year to now have a four-game winning streak under their belt and can make that five with a win over the Cowboys in Week 16.

Baker Mayfield and the Bucs realize what is at stake each week as the team controls their own destiny, and they are not losing sight.

The former Heisman Trophy winner spoke to the media on Wednesday and was asked if the team was focused on winning one game at a time, he responded, “Absolutely. I think [Head] Coach [Todd Bowles] hit on it. When we started fast early in the year, Denver came in and took it to us. So, it’s one-game-at a-time mentality, and this is the next one. We’ve got to be focused on that.”

That philosophy will serve the team well as one could argue each game is a trap game for them as they look to finish out the season. The Cowboys, Panthers, and Saints have a combined record of 14-28. None of them have anything to play for at this point other than playing spoiler to the Bucs.

Falcons make a quarterback change in attempt to catch the Bucs

Fast forward a month and a half, and now the tide has shifted, and the Falcons are losing, and they are making a coaching change. 

The Atlanta Falcons had the NFC South in the palm of their hands while they had beaten the Bucs twice this year. They were leading the NFC South at one point while the Panthers, Saints, and Bucs all were figuring out who would finish where.

Fast forward a month and a half, and now the tide has shifted and the Falcons are losing, and they are making a coaching change.

Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year contract with the Falcons in March, is now benched for the team’s top draft pick from April. They are rolling with Michael Penix Jr., who was one of five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

While the future of Cousins is unknown, what is known is that the Falcons are doing what they can to catch the Bucs. Luckily for them, if they continue to win, Tampa Bay will win the NFC South.

Wins against the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints are all that stand between them and the NFC South division title.

NFC playoff picture for Commanders through Week 15

A look at the NFC playoff picture through 15 weeks, including where the Commanders stand.

After 15 weeks of the 2024 season, what does the NFC playoff picture look like for the Commanders?

  • Three playoff births have been clinched thus far (Lions, Eagles, Vikings).
  • The Bucs (NFC South) and Rams (NFC West) lead their divisions. The Bucs lead the Falcons by a game, and the Rams have a tiebreaker over the Seahawks.
  • The Packers actually have a 99% probability they will make the playoffs, as they are 10-4 in a good position. At the same time, the Commanders are a game back at 9-5 sitting alone in the seventh seed position.

So, the NFC division leaders and current top-four seeds, along with Wild Card seeds, are as follows:

  1. Lions (12-2) Clinched playoff spot
  2. Eagles (12-2) Clinched playoff spot
  3. Bucs (8-6) Lead NFC South by one game
  4. Rams (8-6) Lead NFC West via Tiebreaker
  5. Vikings (12-2) Clinched playoff spot
  6. Packers (10-4)
  7. Commanders (9-5)

The following teams are still mathematically alive for the playoffs:

  • Seahawks 8-6
  • Falcons 7-7
  • Cardinals 7-7
  • 49ers 6-8
  • Cowboys 6-8
  • Saints 5-9

 

NFC South: Where do Falcons sit after win over Raiders?

NFC South: Where do Falcons sit after Monday night’s win over the Raiders?

The Atlanta Falcons left Las Vegas with a 15-9 win on Monday night but did so in a concerning fashion. For a team fighting to stay in the playoff race, it shouldn’t have had to rely on a last-second defensive stand to thwart a Raiders comeback.

While we can look at the shortcomings of last night’s contest, we also have to acknowledge that a win is a win and the Falcons effectively kept their season alive. Following last night’s victory, the team is still a game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South standings.

NFC South standings: Week 16

Pos Team Record Div Record Games Back Next Opponent
1 Buccaneers 8-6 2-2 – @ Cowboys
2 Falcons 7-7 4-1 1 vs Giants
3 Saints 5-9 2-3 3 @ Packers
4 Panthers 3-11 1-3 5 vs Cardinals

The Falcons will need to find a way to ward off the lowly New York Giants in Week 16. However, even if the team wins out, the Buccaneers have to lose a game for Atlanta to jump them in the standings.

Tampa Bay blew out the Las Angeles Chargers and will face the Dallas Cowboys this weekend. The Cowboys dominated the Panthers in Week 15. The Saints and Panthers are no longer in the playoff hunt.

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NFC South: Falcons-Buccaneers remaining schedule comparison

NFC South: Falcons-Buccaneers remaining schedule comparison..

The Atlanta Falcons are still alive in the NFC South race but need the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ help to secure their first division crown since 2016. In Week 15, the Buccaneers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers to improve to 8-6.

The Falcons will face the Las Vegas Raiders on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” in what has essentially become a must-win game. While the New Orleans Saints aren’t technically out of the running at 5-9, it will likely come down to Atlanta and Tampa Bay.

With that in mind, let’s compare the two teams’ remaining schedules.

Falcons remaining schedule:

  • Week 15: At Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
  • Week 16: Vs. New York Giants (2-12)
  • Week 17: At Washington Commaners (9-5)
  • Week 18: Vs. Carolina Panthers (3-11)

Buccaneers remaining schedule:

  • Week 16: At Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
  • Week 17: Vs. Carolina Panthers (3-11)
  • Week 18: Vs. New Orleans Saints (5-9)

The Falcons take on the Raiders tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Atlanta desperately needs a win after losing four straight games while Las Vegas could be without starting quarterback Aidan O’Connell.

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NFC South standings: Where do Falcons sit after loss to Vikings?

NFC South: Where do Falcons sit in division standings after Week 14 loss to Vikings?

One month ago, the Falcons held a commanding lead in the NFC South and the future looked bright. Following Sunday’s 42-21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta has lost four straight games and five of its last seven.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14 to improve to 7-6. With that win, the Buccaneers have surpassed the Falcons in the NFC South standings.

The Carolina Panthers lost to the Eagles to drop to 3-10. Lastly, the New Orleans Saints defeated the New York Giants for their fifth win of the season.

NFC South standings after Week 14

Pos Team Games Back Record Div Record Next Opponent
1 Buccaneers – 7-6 2-2 @ Chargers
2 Falcons 1 6-7 4-1 @ Raiders
3 Saints 2 5-8 2-3 vs Commanders
4 Panthers 4 3-10 1-3  vs Cowboys

The Falcons no longer control their destiny within the division. Even if they win out, Atlanta needs Tampa Bay to lose at least one game over the final four weeks to have a chance.

Head coach Raheem Morris did not sound intent on making the move to Michael Penix Jr. after Sunday’s loss but said he still needed to look at the film.

If the Falcons continue to play like they have on this four-game losing streak, the Saints may very well catch them in the standings. This scenario was hard to fathom just a few weeks ago.

Something needs to change for this Atlanta team before the entire season goes down the drain.

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NFC playoff picture for Commanders through Week 13

An updated look at the NFC Playoff picture and where the Commanders stand.

Having gone through 13 weeks of the 2024 season, what is the NFC playoff picture look like for the Commanders?

  • Two clear division leaders are playing impressively and enjoying long winning streaks as the Lions (NFC North) and Eagles (NFC East) are playing the best football in the conference.
  • The other two divisions are literally up for grabs. The NFC West has the Seahawks ahead of the Rams and Cardinals by only one game. While the NFC South shows the Falcons and the Buccaneers both tied.
  • The Vikings and Packers could be clinching Wild Card spots soon, while the Commanders are two games back of the Packers in the final Wild Card position.

So, the NFC division leaders and current top-four seeds, along with Wild Card seeds, are as follows:

  1. Detroit 11-1  (NFC North)
  2. Philadelphia 10-2  (NFC East)
  3. Seattle 7-5  (NFC West)
  4. Atlanta 6-6  (NFC South)
  5. Minnesota 10-2  (NFC North)
  6. Green Bay 9-3 (NFC North)
  7. Washington (8-5) (NFC East)

The Commanders, in defeating the Titans, Sunday, remained in the last qualifying spot, the No. 7 seed. This means that in the first round of the playoffs, if the regular season were to conclude with the teams in this order, Washington would travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles.

Consequently, as it stands today, the first round of the NFC playoffs would find these matchups:

(7) Washington at (2) Philadelphia

(6) Green Bay at (3) Seattle

(5) Minnesota at (4) Atlanta

(1) Detroit would have the first-round bye and play at home in the second round against the lowest-seeded team to advance to the second round.

The NFC South stands alone in the worst way possible

Every team in the NFC South has lost at least three games in a row after the Falcons fell to the Los Angeles Chargers. No other division can claim that:

The Atlanta Falcons’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers extends their losing streak to three games. This now gives every member of the NFC South a three-game losing streak at some point in the season. The division is a mess from top to bottom — just check the latest standings.

No other division has achieved this in 2024. Matter of fact, there are five divisions with at least one team that has no more than three losses. The NFC North has three of them.

Until this week, the New Orleans Saints had owned the longest losing streak of the season. The Las Vegas Raiders took the mantle with their eighth consecutive loss.

The NFC South is the worst division in the NFL, and their only real rival is the AFC East. The advantage the latter has is the Buffalo Bills are one of the best teams in the league. The rest of the division is on par with the NFC South.

The problem is the NFC South doesn’t have that one team that stands out. The Buccaneers and Falcons are tied at the top of the division and don’t possess a winning record. Even with that low ceiling, the Saints and Panthers don’t seem like they have a chance. That’s the truest indictment of the division.

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