‘Worked the system’ – Kirk Cousins could cost Falcons $115m with 3 TD that saved his NFL career

The Atlanta Falcons’ season is over.

But Kirk Cousins’ NFL career definitely is not.

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While Baker Mayfield was forced to take responsibility for a numbing loss on Thursday Night Football and head coach Todd Bowles cursed out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ‘Captain Kirk’ Cousins unleashed one of the most impressive performances of his storybook career.

Playing without injured wide receiver Drake London, the 37-year-old Cousins burned the Bucs for 373 passing yards, three touchdowns and a 117 passer rating.

“Pro football tests you,” Cousins said.

“It keeps me on my knees (in prayer). It’s been a difficult two years since tearing my Achilles. All I know to do is trust and keep going and walk by faith, not by sight, and that can be hard sometimes. Nights like tonight, you get a boost.”

Cousins reminded NFL fans across the globe why he’s collected $321 million in career earnings and was signed to a four-year, $180m contract.

That monster deal — made controversial when the Atlanta Falcons also selected Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft — featured a whopping $100m guaranteed.

But with Penix initially being promoted this year as the Falcons’ starting QB, there was a shot that Atlanta could have moved on from Cousins following the 2025 season.

Now, the former Washington and Minnesota QB could be heading into 2026 as the Falcons’ primary QB.

Cousins could also cost the Falcons $115m in salary cap money if he remains with the team through 2027.

Some NFL fans regularly bash Cousins for being overpaid.

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talkSPORT reacts ... Easy to be jealous of Cousins

It’s always been fair to question whether Kirk Cousins was a Super Bowl-caliber QB.

But hating on Mr. Kohl’s — AKA Kirko Chainz — completely misses the point.

He was one of the best QBs in the NFL in December, burning the Bucs on national TV.

He’s also carried Washington and Minnesota, and Cousins never ‘forced’ an NFL team to overpay him.

Being a good teammate can be wildly underrated, and that’s also helped Cousins surpass $300m in career earnings.

It’s easy to hate.

It’s hard to throw for 373 yards and be guaranteed $100m while becoming a backup.

Cousins is a modern sports genius for those achievements — more power to him.

Brian T. Smith, Senior US Sports Reporter

But after the 14-year veteran torched Bowles and the Bucs, other supporters hinted at outside ‘jealousy’ and credited Cousins for continuing to perform at a high level after major injuries.

“He worked the system perfectly and cashed out at more than 100 percent of his league worth,” one fan tweeted.

“He has maximized his talent,” a second fan wrote. “Was ****sy in DC getting two franchise tag contracts and then walking to the Viks. He puts up numbers and scandal has never touched him.”

“He’s my best friend in my head since I watched Quarterback on Netflix,” a third fan wrote.

Cousins has thrown for 44,197 career yards and 294 TD while making four Pro Bowls and earning Comeback Player of the Year votes.

He was a strong supporter of Penix when the rookie was promoted last year, didn’t cause drama within the Falcons this year, and only added to his trade value with 373 passing yards for a 5-9 Atlanta team that has already been eliminated from the playoffs.

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Cousins could keep playing for years, if he wants to.

He infuriated Bowles on TNF by embarrassing the Bucs’ defense.

“You got to f***ing care enough where the s*** hurts,” Bowles said in a postgame tirade. “It’s got to f***ing mean something to you. It’s more than a job. It’s your f***ing livelihood.

“How well do you know your job? How well can you do your job? You can’t sugarcoat that s***.”

Cousins could surpass $400m in career earnings before his NFL career is complete.

He’s won for Washington, Minnesota and Atlanta — and won over all three fanbases, despite never reaching the Super Bowl.

“A good QB for a long time,” one fan tweeted. “Reliably healthy until last year. Some bad moments but he’s won a helluva lot of games on the last drive.”

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