ATLANTA – Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​took the blame for Sunday’s 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers after he had one of the worst performances of his 13-year NFL career on Sunday.

Cousins ​​threw four interceptions, the most he has had in a single game since 2014 and a total that represents a career high. He fell victim to a 61-yard pick-six by Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still and was intercepted again by Marcus Maye in the end zone, setting up a promising fourth-quarter drive. Three of Atlanta’s final drives of the game ended in an interception by Cousins.

In his post-match press conference, Cousins ​​took responsibility for the poor performance and defeat.

“I look at myself and say, ‘I have to play better,'” Cousins ​​said. “It hurts. If you feel like your defense played winning football, if you feel like your special teams made great plays, if you feel like the running game did a solid job, I have to play better.”

It was the Falcons’ third straight loss and the team is now 6-6 and defending first place in the NFC South. Cousins ​​hasn’t thrown a touchdown in three straight games. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2015, he had never gone two games in a row without throwing a touchdown pass.

After a bye week, Atlanta looked to improve its defense and largely did. The Falcons had a season-high five sacks, their highest total since Week 16 in 2023. They did not allow an offensive touchdown. Nevertheless, they had to accept a defeat that fell on the shoulders of the offensive.

The Falcons remain behind Cousins ​​at quarterback, although 2024 No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. is in line to be the QB of the future. Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris said he had not considered using Penix on Sunday and that Cousins ​​will remain the starter going forward. Morris said Cousins ​​“carried us.”

“Kirk was brought here to get us into the playoffs,” Morris said. “… Everything is still right in front of us. We continue to stick to our plan.”

Morris said the most important thing he wants to see from Cousins ​​is not to turn the ball over. He said he has “no doubt” that Cousins ​​will bounce back next week against the Minnesota Vikings, his former team. The Falcons signed Cousins ​​to a four-year, $180 million contract in the offseason.

“He’s been great for us all season and it’s hard to put pressure on that guy,” Morris said.

Falcons wide receiver Drake London defended Cousins ​​after the game.

“Anyone who has played football, especially at this level, has experienced games like this,” London said. “I feel like I just had such a game. So it’s not all Kirk’s fault. It can never be all about Kirk. We have to take the right path. We have to be detailed and execute our plays.” So this question annoys me a little. I really don’t like that Kirk is anything more than an exceptional quarterback.

Cousins ​​said he was healthy, although he would “like to tell you I’m struggling through something right now” to explain his game. When Morris expressed his confidence in him, Cousins ​​said, “There’s no entitlement to it in the NFL.”

“You just have to earn it,” Cousins ​​said. “And if there was ever a claim, I wouldn’t want it. I have to play at a level that justifies being out there and so I will always look at it that way. And that’s how I always persevered.” I worked for 13 years to ensure that it should never be about anything other than earning the right to be out there.