In the days following his decision to sign a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta Falcons in free agency, quarterback Kirk Cousins entered into conversation with a retired caller.

“Unsolicited, he said, ‘Kirk, when I was in free agency and I was looking at where to go, part of what I was thinking about was what city would you go to if you won, what would that look like in this town?’” The cousins ​​remember. “And he said, ‘I’m looking at you in Atlanta, and I’m saying it could be really fun if you win.’

“‘This could be a really special place to win. You have to be excited about it.'”

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Nearly eight months later, Cousins ​​has guided the Falcons to five wins in their final six games. Atlanta is 6-3 and sits atop the NFC South by two games.

Twice named NFC Offensive Player of the Week, Cousins ​​overcame a slow start to be among the NFL’s most efficient passers. He ranks 7th in the league with 258.7 passing yards per game. and No. 4 with 17 passing touchdowns while connecting on 69.2% of his attempts.

And that’s exactly what Falcons coach Raheem Morris thought Cousins ​​would be.

“He’s ready,” Morris said. “He’s able to move the ball and spread. He can do all the things that we outlined in our first meeting going back to the (NFL) Combine, talking about what we were looking for, what we needed to fetch. “

When Morris spoke in February at the Combine, he emphasized that he took his position because the Falcons lacked quarterback play. Starting signal callers Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke were labeled “deficient” by owner Arthur Blank in January.

Morris said this week that it was not a shot at either player. Still, Morris knew the Falcons needed better aerial distribution to maximize their trio of first-round weapons at tight end. Kyle Pittsreceiver Drake London and run back Bijan Robinson. Atlanta then added a free agent receiver Darnell Mooney to its armament.

The Falcons have thus found a better offensive balance. They have rushed for at least 100 yards in each of the last four games, and in a Week 9 win over the Dallas Cowboys, Morris said Atlanta forced the Dallas defense to engage in a manner aggressive to stop the race.

The Cowboys secondary opened up. Cousins ​​capitalized, going 19 of 24 for 222 yards and three touchdowns. In the past, Atlanta’s offensive identity has centered around running the ball. This year, the Falcons believe they can beat teams in a variety of ways.

“When you open things up to us in the background, it can get ugly for you,” Morris said. “I like how Kirk is able to see the whole process and go through it and get the ball where he needs it.”

How much do the Falcons trust Cousins? Enough to systematically rush into 4th position and in manageable situations. Atlanta ranks 10th in the league in fourth down attempts with 15, and has gone 6 of 6 in such situations over the last three games.

Morris said some of those aggressive decisions stem from having Cousins, because the Falcons know what they’ll get from an execution standpoint.

That sentiment extends to the offensive line, which Morris said has been exceptional in providing strong pockets for Cousins.

Against Dallas, Cousins ​​hit wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud for a touchdown on a play where McCloud wasn’t supposed to be part of the progression – but due to the time given to Cousins, he forced a path to McCloud, who brought home his first score as a Falcon.

Cousins ​​is known as a progression passer, someone who is able to click, read and distribute the ball to spots it may not have been originally designed for.

Due to lack of time to scan the defense, Cousins ​​loses efficiency. The Falcons offensive line understands that – and has risen to the occasion.

“Kirk does a great job communicating with us,” All-Pro right guard Chris Lindstrom said. “We knew our mission and we really tried to put in the effort, and we know how good these guys are. So if we can give Kirk and these guys some time, they’re going to open up and make a play explosive.”

Communication is a calling card for Cousins ​​both off the field and on it. His leadership has often been praised, eliminating any questions about his ability to connect with a different generation and a younger generation of playmakers.

When the Falcons need someone to pick them up, Cousins, 36, regularly gives them a boost.

“He makes sure the whole team feels it,” McCloud said. “That’s the great thing, man, about having so much stuff around you, just being able to figure it out and work with it because you can’t do it alone.”

Between his pinpoint passing and veteran leadership, Cousins ​​has lifted the Falcons to a record they haven’t seen since their 2016 NFC Championship-winning season.

Yet Cousins ​​shows even more.

In a Week 8 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cousins ​​had a 13-yard run, his longest since New Year’s Day 2023. His mobility is better than most expected. Falcons, Morris said.

But for the most part, defenses know how to try to stop Cousins: generate pressure. The Cowboys sacked Cousins ​​twice and hit him four times, but he still separated them from the pocket.

“He’s very tough,” Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs said. “League veteran, he’s seen all the looks. He’s going to make all the checks. You can’t give him a clean pocket. You have to make sure he moves his feet. If he has clean feet, he is going to be quite effective.”

Morris thought Cousins ​​played his cleanest game of the season against Tampa Bay. He followed that up with another nearly flawless performance against the Cowboys.

Atlanta’s offense then flourished. He ranks eighth in passing yards (364.8 yards per game) and 12th in scoring (24.6 points per game) while eclipsing 30 points three times, a mark he has failed to reach all season last.

Today, the Falcons are headed to their first playoff appearance in six years. Their receivers, with London newcomers Mooney and McCloud, covered 93% of last season’s room production. Pitts tied his career high for touchdowns with three. Robinson has 935 yards from scrimmage in nine games, good for fourth place in the NFL.

Once filled with broken promises, Atlanta’s offense is now the driving force behind the franchise’s best season in the 2020s — and Cousins ​​has his hands firmly planted on the wheel.

“He’s just a playmaker,” Morris said. “He was able to go out there every week and get better and better. I’m most proud of the leadership he was able to show throughout the process. Whether it was in his quarterback room or throughout the team, I think it’s just been great.

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