Kirk Cousins’ stunning, game-winning drive shows why the Falcons paid him
PHILADELPHIA — Kirk Cousins wouldn’t say it, but Jessie Bates III finally admitted it.
That’s what the money is for.
The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 22-21 at Lincoln Financial Field on “Monday Night Football,” thanks to their most expensive free-agent signings of the last two offseasons.
Cousins engineered a 70-yard game-winning drive that lasted just 1:05 and was capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass to Drake London with 34 seconds left. Bates intercepted a last-ditch pass from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts with 19 seconds left to ensure that Philadelphia would not regain the lead.
The Falcons (1-1) signed Cousins to the largest free-agency deal in NFL history this offseason, a four-year contract that could be worth up to $180 million. Bates was the big free-agency addition two offseasons ago, signing a four-year, $64 million contract. In addition to his game-sealing interception, Bates also had a critical pass breakup on the goal line against receiver DeVonta Smith to force a field goal in the third quarter.
“I think when you’re in big moments and big games, you expect those players to make plays,” Bates said. “You lean on those players to step up and lead. I know we’re talking about money, but all that stuff doesn’t matter as much. It’s about getting the right guys in here, guys that can change the game.”
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And if you change the game enough, you get money, right?
“You could say that,” Bates said with a smile, “certainly.”
Bates was also the Falcons’ leading player with 12 tackles.
“Jessie making plays was a big deal,” coach Raheem Morris said. “That’s why he’s here. That’s why our owners put all that money into what we have now, on defense and offense.”
Cousins avoided the money issue with the same nonchalance with which he appeared to conduct the final drive, completing 5 of 6 passes for 70 yards.
“That’s not how I think,” he said. “I just try to play football with my teammates and come away with a win. It’s so important to find ways to win. That’s how you have a great season, when you have these games that can go either way, you find a way to make it go your way. That’s what this league is, so if you can find those inches, it can really change the story of the season.”
Cousins’ pass to London was Atlanta’s first game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes to play since 2016, according to ESPN Stats & Info, and it was the last of six lead changes in the game. With 1:56 remaining, the Falcons had a 0.7 percent chance of winning, according to Next Gen Stats. It was the seventh-most unlikely comeback since Next Gen Stats began tracking win probability in 2016.
Fly, Drake, Fly
ESPN | NFL+ photo.twitter.com/kOAF4pIlir
—Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 17, 2024
“Kirk got so much criticism all week. ‘Kirk can’t move. Kirk can’t do this,'” Bates said. “And then to see his composure, that wasn’t his first two-minute drive and how sharp it was … The leaders on this team, when it’s time to make a play, that’s who we lean on and I’m glad we have him.”
Cousins had 20 of 29 games for 241 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, improving his record in “Monday Night Football” starts to 4-10.
“I just try to play the best football I can, whether it’s a Sunday afternoon game or a night game, no matter what day of the week it is,” the quarterback said. “You just try to do the best you can and then let it go.”
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Darnell Mooney led the Falcons with three catches for 88 yards, including back-to-back catches for 47 yards on the final drive and a 41-touchdown catch in the third quarter. London had six catches for 54 yards and added a big sigh of relief after Younghoe Koo hit a 47-yard extra point that was necessary because London was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct following his draw.
“Luckily, Koo is a great kicker,” London said. “He sealed the deal. That was the only thing on my mind after the flag was thrown. I can’t do that. I can’t brag like that. I can’t put my team in danger, but Koo came in and saved us.”
Matt Ryan responds to the #Falcons game-winning touchdown on the Manning Cast: photo.twitter.com/TXyM1Dyrk7
—Bryce Lewis (@Bryce_Lewis86) September 17, 2024
Atlanta rushed for 152 yards, with Bijan Robinson leading the way with 14 carries for 97 yards.
“I thought (offensive coordinator Zac Robinson) did a phenomenal job committing to the run game,” Cousins said. “I was happy with that and I think it gave us a chance to come out and win.”
The Falcons threw a wild locker room party. Team owner Arthur Blank emerged with his suit jacket soaked with water splashing around. Several Atlanta players excitedly echoed Cousins’ signature “You like that?!” chant. And Morris showed up for the postgame interview session with a game ball tucked under his arm.
Atlanta, how are you feeling this morning? photo.twitter.com/uC0o3H9MJC
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 17, 2024
However, the coach does not want the celebration to go any further than that.
“I’m pretty stable,” Morris said. “I didn’t come here to beat the Philadelphia Eagles. I came here to put us in a position to win championships and that’s what we’re going to do. You can’t ride the emotional roller coaster. They’re all the same. We’re going to go out there next week, go through our process and get right back to it.”
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Next week, the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are scheduled to visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium for “Sunday Night Football.”
Cousins would acknowledge only one special moment from the weekend. It was when he saw former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles Sunday night at the team hotel and again for the coin toss, where Foles served as Philadelphia’s honorary captain. Cousins and Foles arrived at Michigan State as freshmen in the 2007 recruiting class.
“At Michigan State, we were concerned about how this would work out for both of us,” Cousins said, “and I was reminded of that when he was honored tonight, so I said to him when we flipped the coin, ‘It worked out well for both of us.’”
(Photo: Eric Hartline / Imagn Images)
