Any player returning from tearing their Achilles is going to need time to re-acclimate to the speed of the game. When that player is a 36-year-old quarterback who is positioned as the solution to a team’s most crippling issue over the last two seasons, expectations will be instantly increased and the grace period won’t last long. The grace period for Kirk Cousins felt over by the second half, where the Falcons’ offense was once again constrained by their quarterback’s glaring limitations.
A familiar sight was taking place for the Atlanta Falcons, with the offense completely overwhelmed by the opposition because of its quarterback’s deficiencies, along with an offensive line being thoroughly dominated by Pittsburgh’s ferocious front.