ATLANTA – The Atlanta Falcons should have locked up the NFC South, but the Falcons continue to prove they are their own worst enemy. Kirk Cousins threw four interceptions in a 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Georgia Lottery starter Tarheeb Still caught two picks, one of which he returned for a 61-yard touchdown.
For Atlanta, the game was another setback in what has been an ugly November and December. Los Angeles, meanwhile, hasn’t played well enough to win, but when it looks like the other team is actively trying to lose, all you have to do is stand still.
The Chargers are already one of the league’s best teams under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh. But they have the misfortune of playing in the AFC West, home turf of the still-undefeated Chiefs, which means Los Angeles is playing for a wild-card spot at best.
Atlanta moved the ball well early in the game and took advantage of a Charger fumble to get the first points on the board via a Bijan Robinson touchdown. But that was about as good as it would get for Atlanta.
Cousins started the second quarter by rushing into triple coverage and Still came up with an interception. Seven plays later, the Chargers turned that turnover into one of their three first-half field goals. The half ended with Los Angeles winning 9-7, but neither team looked particularly inspired or dangerous.
He still stepped up again in the third quarter, neatly picking off Cousins’ soft flare for a 61-yard touchdown and a 17-10 lead. The frustration was evident in the reduced capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium as boos began to echo from the stands.
Atlanta’s Ray-Ray McCloud made Cousins look very good on the next drive, turning a pass that could have been another pick-six into a 60-yard reception that took Atlanta all the way to the Los Angeles 10. But Cousins was erratic again . in the red zone and Atlanta had to settle for a field goal to cut the Charger lead to 17-13. The next time the Falcons drove deep into Chargers territory, Cousins threw another interception, killing another promising Atlanta drive.
Atlanta’s defense, which had held the Chargers out of the end zone all game, did its job, containing Justin Herbert and forcing the Chargers into three punts and a turnover on second half downs. But the Falcon offense couldn’t put together sustained, successful drives. The Falcons’ final, desperate drive ended the same as three others — with the ball in Los Angeles’ hands.
Cousins finished the day 24 of 39 for 245 yards, no interceptions and those four crushing interceptions. Herbert only threw for 147 yards, but at least all of his catches went to his own teammates.
Atlanta has now lost three in a row and continues to drop Tampa Bay back into the NFC South race. The Chargers, on the other hand, have solidified their position in the AFC wild card, but will need to be more effective than they were on Sunday if they want to advance through the first weekend of the playoffs. They can’t count on getting such gifts from any other team they face.