2024 Week 15: Falcons 15, Raiders 9
This was the worst game of the NFL season, so far, and I only say so far because the Jaguars and Raiders are playing this weekend. Both of the QBs for these teams likely won’t be playing in the NFL next year (Kirk might because of his contract). Once Atlanta got a lead it felt like they never passed the ball, and that is sort of true, they ran the ball 37 times and ran out the clock, afraid to let Kirk throw the ball.
The Falcons (7-7) got a big win in the fight for the NFC South, they are one game behind Tampa and only need to make up that one game with 3 to go. Tie goes to Atlanta thanks to the only games Kirk Cousins played well happened to be against the Bucs.
The Raiders (2-12) blew another game where they had a chance. I think the refs wanted the game to be over in the 4th quarter, a BS penalty kept Atlanta’s drive alive allowing them to drain the clock inside of the 2-minute warning. If the Giants weren’t in total tank mode the last month+ then I’d say LV would be the favorite for the #1 overall pick.
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- Alright, the big story from this game is obviously Kirk Cousins (11/17 for 112 yards, 1 TD/1 INT) being benched for rookie Michael Penix, a change that will be for the rest of the season, per HC Raheem Morris. I think there are two potential winners for the Atlanta offense with Penix coming in to start. The biggest winner, which may come as a bit of a surprise, is slot receiver Ray-Ray McCloud (1-14-0/3). This is the classic “easy throw for a rookie QB”, and Ray-Ray is a pretty good slot receiver, but no one talks about him. The other winner, which might not happen immediately, will be Darnell Mooney (0-0-0/1), not Drake London or Kyle Pitts.
- Mooney is having the second-best year of his short career. He is an underrated receiver who is starting to gain a little bit more respect lately. Mooney runs mainly the medium-range routes, similar to Justin Jefferson or Devonta Smith. What was Penix’s best throw throughout his college career? The medium range passes. Mooney and Penix will be a great duo next year, but there’s potential for it to happen as soon as this weekend against the Giants… because it’s the Giants. Facing NYG is a great opportunity for Penix to get comfortable and possibly have one of the better rookie debuts in the last couple of years.
Speaking of, let’s look at the rookie debuts of players I scouted highly:
(Just passing stats as Penix isn’t a big runner)
Jayden Daniels – (184 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs)
Bo Nix – (138 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs)
CJ Stroud – (242 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs)
Will Levis – (238 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs)
- This doesn’t bode well for Penix, HOWEVER, Will Levis is the only QB on that list that sat any amount of games before getting their first NFL start. Stroud, Nix, and Daniels all started in Week 1. I don’t love it, but I am starting Penix in one league where I have Bo Nix, who did decently on TNF, but I like the matchup Penix has against the Giants.
- Why don’t I think London or Pitts will be the winners? It’s pretty simple actually, Pitts (4-28-0/4) has gotten lazy over the years and Penix wasn’t a big thrower to the TE in college… and Kirk would throw as many passes to Drake London (3-53-1/3) as he possibly could, London can’t be the winner because his target % is already so high that he will at best remain consistent, but I think he’ll take a dip as Ray-Ray and Mooney take a bigger role in the offense.
- Aidan O’Connell is expected to be the starter again in Week 16, sidelining Desmond Ridder (23/39 for 208 yards, 1 TD/2 INT; 5 rushes for 28 yards). AOC is a capable backup and is the best QB the Raiders have, and since that team is a wreck they throw the ball a ton. AOC is the best QB for Brock Bowers (3-35-0/6), who has averaged 3.33 receptions per game in 3 of the last 4, and the one AOC start Bowers had a (10-140-1/14) stat line. If you’re considering rostering Penix in redraft, then you could also go with AOC, he’s just the less “sexy” option.
image source: (AP Photo/David Becker)