"James Pearce Jr. is the first Falcon with double-digit sacks since Vic Beasley in 2016. The team's second first-round pick of 2025 was the face of the Falcons' revamped pass rush. The pressure to perform was on Pearce from the start, and he did not disappoint. Pearce produced the most sacks by a rookie since Micah Parsons, and he showed continued improvement week to week instead of being a flash in the pan."
"Cousins has been fine, operating in the mid-average range, but he hasn't been worth the money, and that's not going to change with a third year on the team. He makes life more challenging for the offensive line, and in a season where he played only half the games, his arm looked ready to fall off in this final bout."
"This is a losing team; they are losers. There is no erasing the seven losses in eight weeks that followed the team's 3-2 start, and there's no excusing it. Raheem Morris has said the standard since his arrival is to win and make the playoffs; his team has catastrophically failed to seize the moment when it has presented itself. Players aren't even happy after they score touchdowns."
The Falcons ended the season on a four-game win streak after sweeping the Saints, finishing 8-9 and technically tied for first but falling to third in playoff tiebreakers. Rookie James Pearce Jr. recorded double-digit sacks, delivering the most sacks by a rookie since Micah Parsons and showing steady weekly improvement. Kirk Cousins produced average play in limited appearances, struggled late, and is viewed as not worth his $30M salary, with a recommendation to move on and save $22M. The team suffered a seven-losses-in-eight-weeks collapse after a 3-2 start. Raheem Morris' standard to win and make the playoffs went unmet, and visible frustration occurred among players.
Read at The Falcoholic
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