A last-minute offensive masterclass by Kirk Cousins provided a thrilling conclusion, ushering the Atlanta Falcons to a slim 22-21 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. With a pinpoint 7-yard touchdown pass to Drake London at 34 seconds before the final whistle, Cousins displayed his prowess and determination on the field.
The entire game-winning drive from Kirk Cousins and the @AtlantaFalcons. #ATLvsPHI pic.twitter.com/7ms5Esas7b
— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2024
The Eagles seemed set to seal their win with under two minutes remaining but were thrown off-balance when Saquon Barkley failed to receive a short pass. This minor hiccup froze the clock at 1:46, forcing the Eagles to opt for a field goal, falling short of a decisive down they could have created.
The opportunity that arose provided ample time for Cousins, a seeming mismatch for a softened Eagles defense struggling to maintain a consistent pass rush. The seasoned 36-year-old playmaker, playing his second game post his Achilles tendon recovery from last October, showed signs of his veteran brilliance, dusting off a mixed performance earlier in the game.
In an enticing sequence of plays, Cousins smoothly fed Darnell Mooney 21 and 26 yard gains back to back, setting the gears of a conclusive drive in motion. A quick lateral pass to London yielded a leveled score, before a spot-on 48-yard extra point by Younghoe Koo edged Atlanta (1-1) ahead due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on London.
The breakneck speed of the go-ahead drive, consuming only 65 seconds of play time, left spectators in awe. Jalen Hurts ended the game with an unfortunate interception by Jessie Bates III, sealing Atlanta’s victory and sparking a wave of relieved celebrations on the sideline.
Hurts had earlier provided the Eagles (1-1) a temporary lead with a 1-yard push score with less than seven minutes left. Saquon Barkley, remarking his home debut for Philadelphia, clocked 95 yards over 22 rushes. But his dropped pass during those crucial moments lent an unexpected lifeline for the Falcons.
When the going got tough, Cousins was nothing short of the playmaker Atlanta anticipated since his signing of the hefty four-year, $180 million contract. His finishing scores stood at 20 completed passes out of 29 attempts for 241 yards, accompanied by two touchdowns.
Kicking off Atlanta’s scoring, Cousins hooked up with Mooney for a breathtaking 41-yard touchdown pass. The match saw Mooney soar with three catches, racking up an impressive 88 yards in total. Hurts, on the other hand, had a successful 23 out of 30 passes for 183 yards, including a touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith.
With A.J. Brown on the bench due to a hamstring injury, Smith rose up to the occasion leading the Eagles receiving squad with seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown under his belt. A duo of field goals by Jake Elliott hiked the Eagles’ score, with his final 28-yard kick at 1:39 remaining setting the game at 21-15.
Although Atlanta’s red zone efforts faltered time after time, three successful field goals by Koo allowed a glimmer of light. A fiery Cousins pass to Mooney led to an unforgettable 15-10 lead in the third quarter. Mooney’s dazzling move left C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the dust before he performed a crowd-pleasing somersault into the end zone.
While the 2-point conversion pass by Cousins didn’t find its target, Hurts displayed some zesty steps during a second-quarter touchdown run, much inspiring memories of the 2022 season. A spontaneous display of emotion witnessed him spike the ball post a 23-yard run, resulting in a delay-of-game penalty.
Despite the 5-yard setback, Hurts was unflappable and scrambled for 9 yards followed by an exciting 15-yard burst, positioning the Eagles within striking distance of Atlanta’s 19-yard line. Under the new defensive coordinator Vince Fangio, the Eagles showed a continued ability to limit its opponents to long drives ending in just three points.
While Koo’s successful kicks at 39, 22, and 34 yards maintained Atlanta’s slight lead, the Eagles witnessed a disappointment on their gamble during Atlanta’s 9-yard line. Hurts’ failed pass resulted in a wasted opportunity. Adding to the see-saw, Elliott’s 29-yard field goal gave the Eagles a 10-9 lead.
For the Falcons, Bijan Robinson hurried a noteworthy 97 yards. However, the Eagles’ defensive line kept him at bay late during a fourth-and-1 situation, right at Atlanta’s 39. Barkley, meanwhile, began to shine during the go-ahead drive, after his stellar 109-yard, three touchdown performance against Green Bay the previous week.
Fans in Philadelphia, anxiously awaiting Barkley’s performance, erupted in cheer when he clocked two consecutive 9-yard runs at the start of the second drive, having not made an entry in the opening drive. Barkley charged through the first half with 40 yards registered.
On a nostalgic note, the crowd cheered as former Eagles QB Nick Foles, who lead the team to their lone Super Bowl victory, performed honorary captain duties and invoked the crowd with a traditional rendition of ‘Fly, Eagles, Fly.’ As for the upcoming games, the Falcons host the Super Bowl champions, Kansas City, on Sunday, while the Eagles clash with New Orleans.