The Atlanta Falcons had big plans for their offense when they decided to invest heavily in quarterback Kirk Cousins and add new coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

The widespread belief was they only needed an established quarterback and a fresh game plan to utilize the playmakers added in the first rounds of recent drafts — tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson.

Entering tonight’s game against NFC South leader Tampa Bay (3-1), the Atlanta offense has yet to find its momentum. The Falcons (2-2) have shown flashes of promise as Cousins has led two game-winning drives, but the veteran hasn’t matched the production of Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield that has led the Buccaneers to the top of the division.

The most recent evidence of mixed results came Sunday in the Falcons’ 26-24 win over New Orleans. Atlanta won despite not scoring an offensive touchdown, while Pitts was held without a catch and Bijan Robinson ran for only 28 yards.

Morris said he’ll take the win and let others fret about the numbers.

“Really for me, stats are for losers,” Morris said after the game.

Morris and Robinson acknowledge improvement must come and the offense can’t always rely on the defense and special teams to produce the points.

“Have we reached our peak of what you want to play and how you can be best?” Morris asked on Monday. “No. But I think that’s a part of what the season is. I think that’s a part of steady improvement, steady growth, and I love that about our football team. I think we know that, I think they know that, and I think we’re really comfortable being able to go out there and win football games however we can.”

Mayfield threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score in Sunday’s 33-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mayfield has passed for eight touchdowns with two interceptions. Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million deal as a free agent, has four touchdowns and four interceptions.

The Bucs have won the past three NFC South titles. This is their fourth 3-1 start in the past five years.

dolphins’ phillips to have season-ending surgery >> Miami Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips said the knee injury he suffered against the Tennessee Titans on Monday night will require season-ending surgery.

Phillips, a Redlands East Valley High and UCLA product, was injured in the first half of Monday’s 31-12 loss to the Titans when he collided with teammate Jordan Poyer. Phillips played through the injury, which was later revealed to be a partial tear in his right ACL. He received a brace at halftime.

“The mission is still the mission,” Phillips wrote in an Instagram post Wednesday. “I have unfinished business to take care of and I will come out of this trial victorious.”

Phillips went down again in the third quarter and repeatedly slammed his fist on the ground in frustration. After trainers helped him to his feet, the fourth-year linebacker walked to the sideline under his own power and threw his helmet to the ground in front of him. He didn’t return that time.

Phillips had worked his way back from a season-ending Achilles tendon tear in 2023 on that same right leg, which sidelined him the final seven games of last season. Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Monday’s knee injury was unrelated to the Achilles tear.

Raiders trade speculation >> Raiders coach Antonio Pierce channeled his inner Bill Belichick, delivering his own version of “We’re on to Cincinnati” after being asked repeatedly about star wide receiver Davante Adams’ status with the team.

“Davante’s dealing with a hamstring (injury),” Pierce said. “He’s rehabbing, and the rest of us are focusing on Denver.”

The Raiders visit the Broncos on Sunday, and whether Adams will be on the flight to Denver is very much an open question given this week’s developments. He could miss his second game in a row with a hamstring injury, but multiple reports have said he wants out of Las Vegas and that the Raiders might be willing to accommodate such a request.

The first real hint of a potential divorce came Tuesday when Adams went on the “Up and Adams Show” and said he hadn’t heard from Pierce since the coach appeared to like a social-media post about possibly trading Adams.

Around the league

• Rookie Malik Nabers, who leads the NFL in receptions after four games, missed the New York Giants practice on Wednesday because of a concussion. Coach Brian Daboll said the No. 6 overall pick in the draft was still in the early stages of the concussion protocol and his status for Sunday’s game in Seattle is uncertain.

• Cleveland Browns star running back Nick Chubb returned to practice for the first time since suffering a grotesque, season-ending left knee injury more than a year ago. Chubb, a four-time Pro Bowler, could still be a week or two away from playing in a game.

• New England Patriots center David Andrews, a nine-year veteran and two-time Super Bowl champion, is expected to have season-ending shoulder surgery, coach Jerod Mayo said.

• The Minnesota Vikings plan to open tight end T.J. Hockenson’s practice window later this week, putting the two-time Pro Bowl pick another step closer to returning from the torn ACL and MCL in his right knee suffered near the end of last season.