Falcons' fading hopes in Kirk Cousins' hands as team visits Jets

Desperate for a win to keep their slim postseason hopes alive, the Atlanta Falcons will look to extend their recent success against the New York Jets on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

Atlanta (4-7), which has won three straight road games against the Jets dating back to 2009, snapped a five-game losing streak last week with a 24-10 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

As the team watched its playoff chances continue to dwindle, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins took over for the injured Michael Penix Jr., who suffered a season-ending partially torn ACL on Nov. 16.

Cousins, who was given $100 million guaranteed before the 2024 season, threw for 199 yards and two touchdowns against the Saints. The 37-year-old is eager to prolong his second chance under center on Sunday.

"Now you've got to stack them," Cousins said of earning his first win of the year. "That's always a challenge, can you stack them? That's where we find ourselves now."

The team will prepare for New York quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who's faced Atlanta once as a member of the Buffalo Bills in 2017 -- when coach Raheem Morris was an assistant for the Falcons. Taylor has thrown for four touchdowns and four interceptions in four games -- including two starts -- this season.

"Tyrod's been around for a long time," Morris said. "He does a nice job of delivering the football out of his hands, getting it to different people. He knows how to do that. He's done that for a while. He's always been a master of the offense. He's been in this league as a backup for a lot of years. He's done a great job of learning multiple offenses, really being able to train people, becoming that extra coach on the grass. When he's had his opportunities to play, he's played well."

New York (2-9) has been playing for 2026 for the majority of the season. The Jets have dropped their last two games and are slated to miss the postseason for the 15th straight year.

When asked about the team being better off losing to obtain a more favorable draft pick, New York coach Aaron Glenn cited former head coach Herm Edwards' iconic 2002 rant.

"I'm going to give a line that you guys have heard before. You play the game to win," Glenn said. "It's not in a coach or player's mentality to go out there and lose games. We're not built that way. ... Any time we step on the grass, we're trying to improve."

Taylor is facing Atlanta defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who served in the same role for the Jets before becoming New York's interim head coach for the final 12 games of 2024.

"Coach Ulbrich has those guys flying to the football, as his defenses have always done. Looking forward to the matchup, the challenge that they pose for us this weekend," Taylor said. "It's always a chess match when you're going against the defensive coordinator. My mindset is just executing our game plan and doing it to the best of my ability each and every play, and putting the guys in the right position to go out and score points and take advantage of sustaining drives."

Atlanta will be without leading receiver Drake London (knee) for the second game in a row and the team also ruled out linebackers Josh Woods (hamstring) and Malik Verdon (shoulder). Starting right guard Chris Lindstrom (foot) is questionable.

For New York, defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (foot) and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (hip) are questionable.

--Field Level Media