Loser: Raheem Morris
How patient will Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank be with his head coach? As a reminder, the Falcons turned down an NFL head coaching legend in favor of hiring Morris and Mike Vrabel is still on the market. Blank has been historically extremely patient with his head coaches allowing them time to adjust or have a lost season. This is the right approach to take typically but with great options on the market could the owner make a change to his typical outlook?
Raheem Morris deserves another season if the Falcons can end the losing streak and beat the tanking teams on the schedule. If you can finish 3-1 and just miss the playoffs to a hot Tampa team there is still a way to justify keeping Morris.
However, there is no defending just how sloppy this team plays and the lack of answers Morris has had during the losing streak. The head coach is easy to love and pull for, but winning is all that matters in this league and Morris hasn't done nearly enough. Games against the Chargers and Saints will continue to haunt this team and wipe away any margin for error the four-game division lead is now gone.
Loser: Terry Fontenot
What is the defense for Atlanta's GM that allows him to keep his job? Outside of relationships in the building or a red-hot finish to the season there is no reasonable explanation that keeps Fontenot in his current position. You've put the Falcons into this position with poor roster design and awful drafting over the last four years.
Arthur Smith is now long gone and cannot be blamed for this season's poor decisions and incapable draft class. The defining moves of the offseason have been complete failures. Losing a pick for signing Kirk Cousins and spending a pick on Matthew Judon were the headlines. Both moves have clearly failed and the draft class has offered nothing.
It is a team that has no idea what direction they are heading in and the roster construction shows this. There is no more defending a GM who was perhaps a big part of the issue for Arthur Smith as well. It is time for the Falcons to make a change and attempt to find someone who can find talent in the draft and fix the quarterback position. Fontenot is the most likely name to pay for this season's late frustrating collapse.
Loser: Kirk Cousins
Rewind to a season ago and you can offer the same sentiments at a much higher cost to the Falcons. Atlanta's quarterback is extremely easy to like off the field and someone you want badly to root for. His kindness and accountability are noted and consistently a reason why Cousins has been loved throughout his career.
With that said, you cannot play at this level and continue to be a starting quarterback. Cousins has lost four straight games and thrown 8-interceptions without a single touchdown. Even in garbage time with the Vikings having the game won the Falcons still couldn't score while leaving the quarterback in to keep Penix on the bench.
It seemed there simply wasn't any defense left for a veteran who leads the league in interceptions. It cost the Falcons a win against the Saints and Chargers. When plays need to be made there simply is no reason to have any faith the veteran can do anything other than put together a drive derailed by a turnover or penalty. If the Falcons want a chance to turn the season around it is time to start Penix. Cousins has been far too detrimental for the team's chances of winning to continue to start.
Winner: Michael Penix Jr.
With how this team has chosen quarterbacks in recent years it is hard to fully believe in Penix. As a reminder, Deshaun Watson, Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, and Taylor Heinicke have all been at the top of this team's wish list in recent seasons. It isn't as if they have given much reason to believe their quarterback evaluation deserves any respect whatsoever.
Still, the talent of Penix and hope that he can save the season has made him a popular name in Atlanta. Whether there is truth behind it or not the rookie quarterback is winning on reputation alone. Falcons fans are ready to put their arms around the quarterback of the future and retire Kirk Cousins. While this ignores the reality of the situation, it is still a win for a quarterback fans are excited to see.
Not since Matt Ryan has there been this level of speculation and excitement around the position. It is fun to imagine what the Falcons could be if Penix is the franchise quarterback he is expected to be. Another loss and it seems impossible we won't get a glimpse of the quarterback to finish out the season. Barring a late surge from Cousins, this should be Penix's team moving forward.
Loser: Atlanta's secondary
What was supposed to be the one reliable part of the defense was absolutely cooked by Sam Darnold. You could call out nearly every Atlanta defensive back that took the field on Sunday. This was a masterclass on how NOT to guard Justin Jefferson and Minnesota's explosive offense. Losing track of the ball consistently the Vikings were able to simply sit and allow Sam Darnold to arm punt the ball their way.
Unafraid the Falcons would be able to make a play on the ball the Vikings racked up the explosive plays. This was a complete mess and there is no explaining away what was put on the field on Sunday.
Winner: Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson
Allgeier was once again a big part of the offense and set the tone with the early touchdown. It gave the Falcons life and reason to believe they could compete in this game. Robinson consistently picked up the blitz and ran hard as well. The rushing game is there and simply needed consistent support from the quarterback.
Fix the issues in the passing game (Kirk Cousins) and you have an offense with the potential to be elite. A great game from one of the league's best duos.
Loser: Kyle Pitts
It is time for the Falcons to throw their hands up and give up on tight-end Kyle Pitts. It is clear the quarterback has zero trust in Pitts, and it isn't hard to see why. With the game under wraps and the Falcons driving for a garbage time score Kirk Cousins attempted to get Kyle Pitts the ball for the late score. The drop and inability to play the ball perfectly showed why the Falcons aren't getting the former first-rounder the ball more often.
Pitts plays small and cannot be relied on to consistently make plays within this offense. It is time for the Falcons to move on and attempt to find better production from the position. Former Falcon Jonnu Smith was an offseason cut to help save cap space. With Kyle Pitts under contract, the thought was Smith was not needed in the team's new scheme.
Smith is enjoying a far better season than Pitts and contributing to Miami's second-half surge. The player the Falcons tossed away having a great season while Pitts cannot surpass Tyler Allgeier or Ray-Ray McCloud in this offense defines the Kyle Pitts experience perfectly. It is time to make a change and give up on what was a missed pick.