NFC South

The New Orleans Saints face the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football, but their future and the vacant head coaching position was a focal point of ESPN's pregame show.

"They're going to heat up their coaching search toward the end of this season," Adam Schefter reported. "One of the candidates expected to be square on their radar will be the [Detroit] Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who's coached in New Orleans, has a history with the franchise. The organization knows him well.

"I also expect the organization to have some level of interest in the former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. And of course, there will be other names."

New Orleans fired Dennis Allen after a 2-7 start to the season that featured seven consecutive losses and gave the interim position to Darren Rizzi.

Rizzi has performed fairly well with a 3-2 record through five games, although the team is simply playing out the string on a lost season at 5-9. Spencer Rattler is starting at quarterback against the Packers, which is not the direction the team envisioned at the start of the season.

Whoever the Saints hire will be under some pressure, as they haven't made the playoffs since the 2020 campaign and will be expected to turn things around in a winnable NFC South.

Vrabel is the biggest name of the coaching cycle now that Bill Belichick accepted the North Carolina job. He has already been connected to multiple teams this season with some of the speculation even extending to the college game and his alma mater Ohio State.

That the Saints could see him as a candidate comes as no surprise, as he led the Tennessee Titans to three straight playoff appearances during the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons. They advanced to the 2019 AFC Championship Game during that stretch that also saw Vrabel take home the 2021 Coach of the Year.

As for Glenn, he doesn't have head-coaching experience but he is familiar with the Saints.

He was their defensive backs coach for five seasons from 2016 through 2020 before the Detroit Lions hired him as the defensive coordinator ahead of the 2021 campaign. Detroit has been one of the best storylines in the sport during his tenure, as it reached the NFC Championship Game last season and sits atop the NFC standings this season after previously not winning a playoff game since the 1991 campaign.

Detroit is dealing with a number of injuries this season but is still on the short list of realistic Super Bowl contenders. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is also generating interest as a potential head coach, underscoring the work the Detroit coaching staff has done in recent years.

Perhaps the Saints will be the one to hire one of them.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins immediately warmed to his new role after head coach Raheem Morris named rookie Michael Penix Jr. as the team's starter.

Morris told The MMQB's Albert Breer that Cousins reached out to say he was focused on "being the best backup in the National Football League."

"For those guys to be able to go out there and work together, even through [Cousins's] tough time this week, I thought it was outstanding," Morris said. "All the way up until right before the game praying together."

The Athletic's Josh Kendall captured that brief moment, which ended with Cousins patting Penix on the back as they ran out of the tunnel:

And, with a pat on the back from Kirk Cousins, here comes Michael Penix Jr. for the Atlanta Falcons. pic.twitter.com/xisQiO0SyR

— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) December 22, 2024

Penix proceeded to go 18-of-27 for 202 yards and one interception in Atlanta's 34-7 win over the New York Giants. While it wasn't a perfect performance, the first-year signal-caller did little to justify going back to Cousins.

Michael Penix's NFL Debut

+ 81.5% catchable throw rate [4th-best on the week]
+ 0.0% turnover worthy throw rate
+ 0.0% pressure-to-sack (9 pressures)@FantasyPtsData https://t.co/f0a6hZVBu6

— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) December 23, 2024

That leaves the four-time Pro Bowler in an unenviable position. He's left to finish out the year as the backup, and ESPN's Adam Schefter already reported the Falcons are expected to cut him before March 17, the day he collects a $10 million roster bonus.

But Cousins also probably knows these next few weeks are his time to audition for teams in need of a quarterback this offseason. The Cleveland Browns have quickly emerged as one logical landing spot with Deshaun Watson recovering from an Achilles rupture and no longer looking like a franchise quarterback.

General managers and head coaches around the league are likely to look favorably upon the way Cousins has handled his demotion.

Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made his first NFL start for the Atlanta Falcons in their 34-7 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday, replacing 36-year-old Kirk Cousins.

After the win, Penix received the highest of praise from head coach Raheem Morris.

"He went out and played almost flawless football and kept the game really clean and kept everything clean for us in order for us to get a win," Morris said, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi.

No place like home for the W pic.twitter.com/95PgB7OyPx

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 23, 2024

The 8-7 Falcons sit in second place in the NFC South, narrowly behind the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who hold an 8-6 record. As the Falcons continue to battle for a playoff spot, the pressure was high for former Washington quarterback Penix Jr. to step in and lead his team to victory.

He completed 18-of-27 passes for 202 yards and one interception, which was not his fault after tight end Kyle Pitts bobbled the ball near the end zone, leading to an interception by Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott. Atlanta was able convert for 22 first downs, 10 coming of off passes from Penix Jr.

The change at the quarterback position came after Cousins recorded nine interceptions over his last five games with just one touchdown pass, leading the Falcons to a 1-4 record during that stretch, including a four-game losing streak that significantly damaged their playoff chances.

Cousins also leads the league in interceptions with 16 total, and his 12 fumbles are tied for the most in the NFL with Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield. The struggles prompted Morris to announce the quarterback change last Tuesday following the Falcons' 15-9 Monday Night Football loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Despite the respect Penix Jr. has for his veteran quarterback, he knows that he belongs on the field and was eager to seize his opportunity.

"I know that I'm here for a reason," Penix said, per Raimondi. "I worked extremely hard to get to this position and I just had to go out there and execute and we executed to get a win today."

The Michael Penix Jr. era has arrived in Atlanta.

The Falcons rookie quarterback made his first start on Sunday, leading Atlanta to a dominant 34-7 win over the New York Giants after Kirk Cousins' benching earlier this week.

The No. 8 overall pick had a decent outing in his first start, throwing for 202 passing yards on 18-of-27 passing. He had one interception, but it was hardly his fault as he found Kyle Pitts for what would have been a first down, but Pitts bobbled the ball and gave it away to the Giants' defense.

Juggled and picked off by the Giants at the goal line!

📺: #NYGvsATL on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/PdRfXIGHCa

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024

The Falcons didn't need Penix to shine in his first start as the defense stepped up in a big way, accounting for two touchdowns on the day. Jessie Bates III had a 55-yard pick-six and Matthew Judon had a 27-yard touchdown off of an interception. Running back Bijan Robinson also had two touchdowns on the ground.

After the win, fans were excited by Penix's promising first start.

Overall, a VERY solid game for Penix. Good control of the offense, outstanding poise, and some great accuracy MOF(which has been one of his weaknesses). Without the pick and drops, would’ve been a much better game statistically.

— Ev Glaze (@Everett_G07) December 22, 2024

Penix Jr.???? pic.twitter.com/iOAFQrCmdE

— ThrillaFrmCamilla (@_Ahreeahnah) December 22, 2024

Penix is playing WAAAYYY better than the box score shows.

— K (@projectjax) December 22, 2024

Even tho no TDs solid game from Penix. Good reads and looked comfortable in the pocket

— ‘1993 (@K_Bell8) December 22, 2024

penix easily wins rookie of the year if he plays the full season btw

— . (@falconshateme) December 22, 2024

If you wondered whether the game in Las Vegas would’ve been close had Penix been the starter, this answers your question.

— Ev Glaze (@Everett_G07) December 22, 2024

you can’t tell me penix hasn’t boosted everyone on dis team

— ahkie (@1moham3d) December 22, 2024

Ladies and Gentleman! The #Falcons have found their franchise QB! #Penix is a baller! pic.twitter.com/wWpg8XxYvR

— ATL Sports Zone (@ATLSportsZone) December 22, 2024

Watching Penix play and thinking about all the losses we took that could have been Wins smdh.

— SHA (@NileShabazz) December 22, 2024

Such a beautiful start to the penix era pic.twitter.com/OZCcbWSUjt

— Hennylock (@Hennylock018) December 22, 2024

I’m covering the Falcons game, and Penix has seemingly steadied the ship on offense. Yes, his defense provided two Pick 6s. Yes, it’s Giants’ D. But Penix is moving chains, making smart throws, etc. Nothing overly memorable… which is exactly what they needed after last 5 weeks.

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) December 22, 2024

NFL fans were surprised when Atlanta decided to draft Penix so early after giving Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract this offseason, but that decision could end up paying off if he continues to develop well over the next few years.

The Falcons have a decision to make about whether or not to cut Cousins, but for now, fans have something to look forward to with Penix under center.

Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler and the New Orleans Saints took a bizarre approach to prepare for his upcoming start against the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin on Monday.

Lambeau Field is notorious for its chilly games and with Monday's forecast calling for low 30s and potential snow, Rattler and the other Saints' quarterbacks took to the team's cafeteria walk-in freezer to run through their plays.

"This morning, (Andrew) Janocko took us in the cafeteria freezer, where it was like 10 degrees, and we're just going through the whole script in there, and so just doing that, that helped a lot," Rattler said, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell. "So hopefully it's not 10 degrees, but we'll be ready."

Quarterbacks coach Janocko joked that the movie Cool Runnings inspired his decision, per Terrell. The film features a scene where a character sits in an ice cream truck to prepare for freezing temperatures as an Olympic bobsledder.

Janocko, who spent eight years coaching in the NFC North with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, has plenty of experience preparing his players for cold conditions.

"I think there's something we said about just preparing for [the cold], so you're not shocked and it's not something surprising," Janocko said, per Terrell. "It's something that you deal with as far as you prepare for the opponent and prepare for the venue. So I just thought it was good to do something a little different. At this time of the year, it's fun to do different stuff. It's a long season and sometimes other than just sitting in a meeting day after day after day, just doing something different, changing up the scene. Guys thought it was hilarious. The cafeteria workers think I'm out of my mind."

Rattler will start in place of the injured Derek Carr, with head coach Darren Rizzi stating that Carr is improving and that "the last couple of days have definitely been encouraging," according to Terrell.

The New Orleans Saints offense will be very depleted in their Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

The Saints released their injury report ahead of the Monday night matchup on Saturday and will have six players ruled out and five questionable heading in. Among those that will not be active are running back Alvin Kamara, quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Chris Olave.

Saints ruled out Alvin Kamara, Derek Carr and Chris Olave for Monday night’s game at Green Bay.

Packers ruled out Quay Walker and Javon Bullard. pic.twitter.com/pZh7I1k8s1

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 21, 2024

The Saints will likely start Spencer Rattler at quarterback while the running back duties will be split between Kendre Miller, Jamaal Williams and Jordan Mims. Olave will be replaced by Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Kamara's injury occurred in the Saints Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders. He exited the game during the fourth quarter and was diagnosed with a groin injury. He has 950 rushing yards with six touchdowns while also leading the team with 68 catches for 543 yards and two touchdowns.

Carr has missed four games in 2024 and New Orleans has lost all of them. He last played on Dec. 8 and is currently dealing with a left hand injury. He has 2,145 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions thus far in 2024.

Olave has been on injured reserve due to multiple concussions during the season. He was cleared to practice this week but will still be on the sideline. He has 32 catches for 400 yards and a touchdown in eight games in 2024.

New Orleans is currently 5-9 and will hope depth contributions can lead the team to victory.

The Atlanta Falcons are committed to Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Penix is going to remain atop the depth chart barring an injury.

Video version of Kirk Cousins update. pic.twitter.com/snId4nAodu

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 21, 2024

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris announced on Tuesday that Penix was replacing Kirk Cousins as the starter "going forward."

Even though that seemed to signal Penix was locked in to the starting job for the rest of the season, Morris did leave some wiggle room during his Wednesday press conference.

"I don't think anything is ever permanent in the National Football League, but right now Michael Penix is our quarterback," Morris said. "We're gonna back him and give him the utmost support that he needs."

While it's not uncommon for coaches to avoid speaking in absolute terms because things can flip in a hurry in the NFL, it wouldn't make sense for the Falcons to make this change to a rookie without being fully committed to him.

It would be especially odd if they had such a short leash on him with just three games remaining in the regular season. Another wrinkle in the situation is ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that Cousins is expected to be released before his $10 million roster bonus kicks in on March 17.

The roster bonus is for the 2026 season, but kicks in on the fifth day of the 2025 league year and is also injury guaranteed, so if Cousins were to suffer a major injury before the end of this season, he would be owed that money no matter what.

The Falcons could still make the playoffs since they are only one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South and hold the tiebreaker by winning both head-to-head meetings, but the top priority right now has to be seeing what Penix can do as they think about 2025.

Penix, the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft, will make his first career start on Sunday against the New York Giants. He is 3-of-5 for 38 yards in two games playing mop-up duty in the fourth quarter this season.

After being benched earlier this week, Kirk Cousins' stint with the Atlanta Falcons will barely last 12 months.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Cousins and the Falcons moving in different directions is "inevitable" with a release expected to be finalized before he is owed a $10 million roster bonus on March 17.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris announced on Tuesday that rookie Michael Penix Jr. would be the starter "moving forward."

Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons on March 13, the first day of the 2024 league year. The deal included $100 million in guaranteed money.

Atlanta's hope was that Cousins would provide stability at the quarterback position after the previous two years with Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder didn't produce positive results.

It was certainly a risky bet because Cousins was coming off a torn Achilles suffered in Week 8 of the 2023 season. He looked limited at the start of this season before a really good five-game stretch in the middle of the year.

Cousins threw for 1,464 yards, 13 touchdowns and completed 72.2 percent of his attempts from Weeks 5-9. His five games since then have been awful with 1,180 yards, one touchdown, nine interceptions and a 62.7 completion percentage.

The Falcons went from seeming like a virtual playoff lock with a 6-3 record and a three-game lead in the NFC South plus the tiebreaker over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They proceeded to lose four straight games before an ugly 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15.

There's still a chance the Falcons win the division, but they will need the Bucs to lose at least one of their final three games for that to happen.

Releasing Cousins will cost the Falcons $65 million in dead money, though they can spread that across two seasons by designating him as a post-June 1 cut to ease the burden.

$65M dead in 2025 unless they designated him post June 1 (in which case it’s still $65M dead total anyway).

Definitely feels like Kirk put his foot down on waiving the no-trade clause. I think there would have been a market for sure even on his existing deal. https://t.co/wl4LJZwkSy

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) December 21, 2024

It will be interesting to see what happens next for Cousins. He did show enough over a multi-week stretch this season to suggest he's still capable of being a good starting option, but the way things fell off a cliff with no obvious warning sign complicates matters.

Cousins, who will turn 37 on Aug. 19, might have to accept a backup job or at least go into a situation where he has to compete to be a starter in 2025.

Alvin Kamara's 2024 season could be over.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the New Orleans Saints running back is "still being evaluated" but that his groin injury could potentially be "season-ending."

Saints RB Alvin Kamara’s groin injury still is being evaluated but it’s possible it is a season-ending injury and he has played his last down this year, per sources. pic.twitter.com/QYuFpl72VS

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 19, 2024

Kamara left Sunday's game early due to the injury and did not return. He did not practice on Thursday and is currently "questionable" for Monday's game against the Green Bay Packers.

Prior to leaving Sunday's game, Kamara had five carries for 12 yards and four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. New Orleans would fall 20-19 to the Washington Commanders.

He has 950 yards and six touchdowns on 228 carries in 2024 while also adding 68 catches for 543 yards and two touchdowns in the passing game. His dynamic play has been a bright spot for a Saints team that is currently 5-9 on the season.

With him potentially missing the rest of the season, New Orleans will look to Kendre Miller, Jamaal Williams and Jordan Mims to carry the load in the final three games.

It reportedly didn't take long for running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire to find his next NFL home.

New Orleans Saints insider Nick Underhill reported he signed with the NFC South team Wednesday after running back Alvin Kamara suffered an injury during Sunday's loss to the Washington Commanders.

This comes after the Kansas City Chiefs released Edwards-Helaire on Monday.

Adding running back depth bring's Kamara's status further under the spotlight.

Head coach Darren Rizzi told reporters Monday it was a groin abductor injury that will require more testing. Yet the Saints are just 5-9 on the season, so there may not be a need to rush him back.

New Orleans can still turn toward Kendre Miller or Jamaal Williams in the backfield if Kamara is sidelined, although Edwards-Helaire gives it another experienced option.

The 2020 first-round pick wasted no time making an impact in the NFL with 1,100 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns as a rookie. However, he saw his carries drop from 181 that year to 119 in 2021, 71 in 2022 and 70 in 2023.

He has not gotten on the field this season and was buried on a Kansas City running back depth chart that also included Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Carson Steele and Samaje Perine.

Edwards-Helaire also started the season on the non-football illness list, but a move to the Saints could give him the opportunity to finish the campaign on a strong note. He is also back in Louisiana after he starred for LSU as a member of the 2019 national championship team.

The Saints don't play until Monday night against the Green Bay Packers, so there is still time for him to get further adjusted to his new surroundings before he potentially takes the field.