Kirk Cousins proved why he is worth every penny of that monster contract he signed during free agency.
The $180 million quarterback threw for a franchise-record 509 yards on Thursday Night Football as the Atlanta Falcons rallied to come from behind in a high-stakes division game to beat Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 36-30 in overtime.
After Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo came through in the clutch to nail a last-second 52-yard field goal to tie the game and force OT, Cousins was perfect, going three-for-three on his throws for 69 yards, connecting with KhaDarel Hodge, who is predominately used on special teams, with a 45-yard touchdown pass, the signal callers fourth touchdown of the game, to escape with a dramatic victory.
The 36-year-old, who signed an $180 million contract with the Falcons in March following his move from the Minnesota Vikings, to his wife’s hometown, beat the previous franchise record of 503 yards set by Matt Ryan against the Carolina Panthers in 2016. Ironically, the new record came on the night that Ryan was inducted into the Falcons’ Ring of Honor.
Cousins also shattered his own career high of 460 yards, which he threw in 2022 while with the Vikings, as well as tying his personal best of four touchdown passes in a game.
The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback joins some elite company, the G.O.A.T. Tom Brady as the only players to record 500-plus passing yards and four-plus touchdown throws in a primetime game, according to NFL Research.
“What a night,” Cousins said afterwards, according to AP. “I’m exhausted.”
The Falcons are a couple of plays away from being 0-5. They do not care, nor should they. Atlanta has trailed in the final minute of the fourth quarter in all five of its games this season, but have been victorious in three of them. The Falcons are the first team in NFL history to pull off such a feat to open the season.
“I’m proud of the way our team fought,” Cousins said, per NFL.com. “I’m proud of the resiliency we showed to just keep going and keep playing through things. I’m just proud of the grit. That’s what this league takes, and we were gritty tonight so pleased to come away with a in.
“Win or lose, I would have been pleased with the steps we took on offense tonight, but it’s a lot of fun to win and have that moment on the field with your teammates and home fans.”
Embed from Getty ImagesBoth teams came out of the locker room ready to go, finding the end zone on their first possessions of the game, with Cousins starting off the contest with an 18-yard touchdown toss to Drake London.
After Buccaneers signal-caller Baker Mayfield’s two-yard touchdown pass to his No. 1 target Mike Evans and a 53-yard field goal from Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin, Cousins took aback Atlanta’s lead with a 24-yard touchdown to Darnell Mooney in the second quarter.
Mayfield was not too shabby in the loss and put on a show in his own rite, throwing a pair of touchdown passes before halftime, and another field goal from McLaughlin late in the third meant the Buccaneers entered the final frame in the catbird seat up 27-20.
With the clock winding down, Cousins found Mooney at the 10-yard line, who spun past Tykee Smith and raced into the end zone to tie the game again, before McLaughlin’s third field goal of the night made it 30-27 in favor of Tampa Bay.
But with 1:14 remaining, the Falcons got the ball back at their own 20-yard line and with ice water in his veins, Cousins completed five passes to push to the ball to the Bucs 29. In the final second, Koo’s field goal forced overtime, allowing Cousins the opportunity to cement his name in the history books.
He found Hodge at the 40, who broke away from a tackle, found a gap in the secondary and sprinted to the end zone to complete the improbable walk off win.
