Buccaneers try to break Kirk Cousins curse in key Week 15 matchup vs Falcons

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins might be wearing new colors, but for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the feelings he brings up are familiar. Few quarterbacks in the league have carved up Tampa Bay’s defense the way Cousins has over the years, and as the Falcons come to town for a Week 15 matchup on Thursday night, the Bucs know exactly what kind of challenge he presents.

The QB who’s haunted the Bucs is back

Cousins has faced Tampa Bay five times in his career, and his numbers against them are staggering: a 74.5% completion rate, more than 330 passing yards per game, 14 touchdowns, just two interceptions, and a 116.1 passer rating. Last season alone, he threw four touchdowns in each of Atlanta’s two wins over the Bucs, igniting a rivalry that carries over even as both teams navigate wildly different seasons.

This time, the stakes are high for Tampa Bay. The Bucs are trying to stay atop the NFC South while fighting through injuries and retooling an offense that has struggled to find rhythm. Atlanta, already eliminated from playoff contention, enters the game with nothing to lose. Cousins, now filling in for the injured Michael Penix Jr., has a long track record of spoiling Tampa’s best-laid plans.

His 2025 numbers in relief haven’t been at his usual Pro Bowl level - three touchdowns, three interceptions and modest yardage totals - but the Bucs aren’t taking the veteran lightly. They’ve seen what he can do, and more importantly, how quickly he can do it. From his infamous “You like that?!” comeback against Tampa while in Washington to last year’s aerial assault in Atlanta, Cousins has been a recurring problem the Bucs have never quite solved.

For Tampa Bay, the formula for changing that trend is simple on paper and brutal in reality. Pressure him early, pressure him often, and don’t let him get comfortable. The Falcons boast a revived pass-catching group even without Drake London, and Cousins has always been dangerous when given clean platforms from the pocket.

The Bucs’ front seven will have to dictate the matchup, collapsing the pocket before Atlanta’s downfield routes can develop. With Tristan Wirfs returning on offense and the secondary getting healthier, the Bucs hope a more complete roster can finally flip the script.

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