Falcons

Falcons TE Kyle Pitts expressed his surprise regarding the team’s decision to bench QB Kirk Cousins before the end of the first season, passing the reins to first-round QB Michael Penix, Jr..

“I didn’t think it would have happened this early or now,” Pitts stated via the team’s website. “Also, I just work here, so I’m not really tuned into those decisions.”

Falcons OT Jake Matthews has formed a close bond with Cousins during their first year together and expressed his support for Cousins, affirming that the team will rally around Penix this week.

“We’ve both been around for a while; it’s hard to come up with something to say in a time like this,” Matthews said. “All I can really say is I support the guy. I love the guy, everything he stood for and done for us this year. We just got to find a way to win. It’s the nature of being a professional. We’re going to have Penix in there this week, and we got to get it done.”

• Penix reflected on earning a win over the Giants in his first career start: “I’ve been preparing each and every day for this. It was such a blessing. A great game. A great team game.” (Tori McElhaney)
• Falcons HC Raheem Morris mentioned that the team rallied around Penix, who played “near flawless football”, adding that he “couldn’t be more pleased with how the team responded.” (McElhaney)
• Morris discussed Cousins’ future, calling discussions about 2025 premature: “It would be hard for me to tell you I don’t want to see Kirk Cousins. Those things will come when we get to those moments. You never know what’s going to happen.” (Josh Kendall)

Panthers

• Despite the Panthers likely securing a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Joseph Person of The Athletic believes Carolina should neither trade the pick nor select a quarterback with their choice. Instead, he suggests HC Dave Canales could focus on continuing to develop Bryce Young and potentially pairing him with a veteran like Andy Dalton, Daniel Jones, or Geno Smith.
• Regarding the job security of DC Ejiro Evero, Person indicates that both sides could agree to part ways mutually if Evero seeks another position elsewhere. If he remains, changes to the defensive assistant coaching staff are expected.
• When discussing whether Carolina should opt for a position of need like edge rusher in the 2025 NFL Draft or select the best player available, Person believes they should pursue Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter if he is still on the board.
• Person doubts that the Panthers will exercise OT Ikem Ekwonu’s fifth-year option, given that he has accumulated a team-high 12 penalties and continues to struggle against speed rushers.
• Mike Kaye from the Charlotte Observer also points out that while Evero is well-respected within the Panthers organization, his future might be in question following a lackluster defensive performance both statistically and visually this season. Kaye sees mutual reasons for a potential split.
• Kaye suggests extending RT Taylor Moton this offseason would be prudent. Although he will turn 31 in 2025, Moton has had an excellent season, and next year marks the final year of his contract. An extension could also reduce his team-high $31.3 million cap hit, as noted by Kaye.

Saints

During Week 16’s game, an incident occurred where 15 seconds elapsed after Saints WR Kevin Austin fumbled the ball out of bounds. Interim HC Darren Rizzi explained they were misinformed about the clock situation by the officiating crew.

“Both covering officials ruled the clock stopped,” Rizzi stated, via ProFootballTalk. “I asked the official, the covering official, if the clock was going to remain stopped. I got a yes, and I turned back to talk to the offensive coaches about our plan for the end of the half, and then they decided that he fumbled the ball forward. It wasn’t communicated to me that the clock had re-started, and we lost some precious valuable time there. That’s what happened.”