ATLANTA — Shortly after signing a huge free agent contract with the Falcons, Kirk Cousins ​​was talking with a retired quarterback — he didn’t name names — about what he might be looking for. wait in Atlanta.

Cousins ​​was coming to a franchise in the midst of six straight losing seasons and was best known for his historic failure on the NFL’s biggest stage, blowing a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl.

But this ex-quarterback brought a more promising vision to Cousins.

“I look at you in Atlanta and say this could be really fun if you win,” Cousins ​​recalled saying. “This could be a really special place to win.”

Nine games into the Cousins ​​era, Atlanta is having a lot of fun.

The Falcons (6-3) firmly hold first place in the NFC South, putting them in a strong position to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season.

Cousins ​​is a big reason for the revival, showing he was truly worth a four-year, $180 million contract. He ranks among the league leaders with 2,328 passing yards, including a career-high 509 yards in an overtime victory against Tampa Bay. He has 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions, a far cry from the mediocre quarterback play the Falcons had endured in the post-Matt Ryan era.

To show how much Atlanta has improved at the most important position on the field, just look at what they got a season ago from Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.

Cousins ​​has already thrown as many touchdowns as Ridder and Heinicke combined through the entire 2023 season, while making far fewer momentum-crushing mistakes. Cousins ​​is averaging nearly 259 yards per game through the air – a significant improvement over the 220-yard average produced by the duo last year.

The Falcons knew they had plenty of offensive playmakers, from running back Bijan Robinson to receiver Drake London to tight end Kyle Pitts.

They just needed a quarterback who could take advantage.

“Kirk Cousins ​​​​is exactly who I thought he was. He’s ready. He’s able to move the ball,” said first-year coach Raheem Morris, whose aggressive, upbeat coaching style also played a big role in Atlanta’s turnaround. “He’s just a playmaker.”

Now to continue the fun.

Morris knows that six wins don’t make a season.

“This organization deserves more, this team deserves more and these coaches deserve more,” Morris said. “We’re hungry, man. We just want to go out there and keep looking for them.”

What works

Robinson and Tyler Allgeier were efficient 1-2 in the running game, opening things up for Cousins ​​through the air.

Robinson has been exactly the kind of dynamic, versatile back the Falcons envisioned when they selected him No. 8 overall in 2023. He has rushed for 632 yards, an average of 4.7 yards per carry, and caught 38 passes for 303 yards.

“It’s a big deal,” Cousins ​​said. “I see a running back as a running back, and I also see him as a receiver. Bijan has a lot of ability to catch the football, and I also like when he shows up in our passing game.”

What is not

Despite three sacks in a 27-21 win over Dallas on Sunday, the Falcons still rank at the bottom of the league with just nine quarterback takedowns.

This has been a persistent problem in Atlanta, which hasn’t had a player with double-digit sacks since Vic Beasley notched 15 1/2 in 2016. Grady Jarrett leads this team with just 2 1/2.

Store

Another Atlanta free agent, but one who has garnered far less attention than Cousins, WR Darnell Mooney has been a revelation in the passing game.

After two disappointing seasons with the Bears, Mooney teamed up with London to give Atlanta a pair of dynamic receivers.

Mooney already has 41 catches for 588 yards, and his five touchdowns are a career high.

Stock falling

The Falcons traded for four-time Pro Bowler Matthew Judon in hopes of boosting their sack total, but he largely just went around in circles (sparking humorous memes depicting his ineffectiveness) through the first nine games.

Judon, 32, has 1 1/2 sacks and three quarterback hits, a far cry from the 15 1/2 sacks he had just two years ago with the Patriots.

Injuries

LB Troy Andersen (knee) has missed the last five games and C Drew Dalman (ankle) hasn’t played since Week 3, but the Falcons hope to return to the lineup soon.

Also keep an eye on Jarrett (Achilles strain) and London (hip pointer), who were both injured Sunday and listed as day-to-day.

Key number

38.8 percent — The Falcons’ rate of third downs converted, a number Cousins ​​aims to improve. “There’s a lot of stuff to clean up there,” he said.

Next steps

The remaining schedule doesn’t look too imposing, with the last eight opponents combining for a 31-39 record, but five of those games are on the road.

Keep an eye on the Dec. 29 game against the Washington Commanders (7-2), led by former Falcons coach Dan Quinn and off to their best start since 1996.