PHILADELPHIA (AP) — This is what Atlanta hoped for when they spent $180 million on Kirk Cousins.
They certainly didn’t expect an uncertain performance from the 36-year-old in the season opener, which raised questions about his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon.
However, Cousins stepped up when it mattered most, making all the crucial throws that his opponent Jalen Hurts couldn’t, helping the Falcons secure a win.
During a critical last-minute drive, Cousins led the team flawlessly, throwing a 7-yard touchdown pass to Drake London with just 34 seconds remaining, clinching a 22-21 victory over the Eagles on Monday night.
“He played a huge role in the most important moments,” said Falcons coach Raheem Morris. “That’s the kind of performance you want when you’re trying to win games. It was exciting to see Kirk Cousins shine today.”
In a key moment, Saquon Barkley dropped a simple pass with 1:46 left, which stopped the clock and forced the Eagles to settle for a field goal instead of securing a game-clinching first down. That left plenty of time for Cousins, especially against an Eagles defense that wasn’t putting much pressure on him.
Cousins, playing his second game since his Achilles injury last October while with Minnesota, bounced back from a shaky start and completed passes to Darnell Mooney for 21 and 26 yards in quick succession during the decisive drive.
He found London with a short pass, who then outmaneuvered Darius Slay for the touchdown, allowing Younghoe Koo to give Atlanta (1-1) the lead with a 48-yard extra point after London was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. The game-winning drive took just 65 seconds.
“We managed just enough time for those guys to go down the field and secure that winning touchdown,” said Morris. Cousins completed 5 of 6 passes for 70 yards on that final drive.
“That’s how you pave the way for a great season,” Cousins shared. “In games that could swing either way, you need to seize the moment and make it work in your favor. That’s the nature of this league, and each inch counts in shifting the narrative of the season.”
Hurts ultimately had his last pass picked off by Jessie Bates III, sealing Atlanta’s win and igniting a wild celebration on their sideline.
The Eagles (1-1) had taken the lead earlier with Hurts’ 1-yard touchdown run with 6:47 left in the game. Barkley had 95 yards on 22 carries during his home debut for Philadelphia, but his drop gave the Falcons a glimmer of hope.
Then Cousins finally showed why Atlanta was excited to sign him to a four-year, $180 million contract.
Cousins finished the game with 20 completions on 29 attempts for 241 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown for Atlanta was a 41-yarder to Mooney, who had three catches for 88 yards.
“When you’re down by six points, you definitely want to go for it, but we just took what the defense gave us and moved down the field,” Cousins explained. “We managed to make some big plays and got ourselves into a position where time wasn’t really an issue.”
Hurts completed 23 of 30 passes for 183 yards, including a touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith. With top receiver A.J. Brown sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Smith stepped up for the Eagles with seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.
For the Eagles, Jake Elliott kicked two field goals, including a 28-yarder with 1:39 remaining that put the score at 21-15.
Atlanta struggled in the red zone, relying on three field goals from Koo before Cousins found Mooney in the end zone with 1:21 left in the third quarter for a 15-10 lead, though Cousins missed a two-point conversion attempt.
Hurts had a burst of energy during a second-quarter touchdown drive, running decisively and showing the form he had in the 2022 season. He even spiked the ball after a 23-yard run, which resulted in a delay-of-game penalty, but he quickly recovered, scrambling for gains of 9 and 15 yards to get the Eagles to the 19-yard line of Atlanta.
Celebrities including comedian Shane Gillis and actor Bradley Cooper were in attendance, as Hurts connected with Smith for a 7-yard touchdown, putting the Eagles ahead 7-3.
Koo added field goals of 39, 22, and 34 yards, the last granting Atlanta a 9-7 lead in the third quarter.
“They made a few more plays than we did when it mattered most,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni admitted. “We had our moments; they just had more. Everyone shares responsibility for this loss, from coaching to the players.”
Questionable Call
Instead of opting for an easy field goal, the Eagles opted for a gamble on fourth-and-4 at the Atlanta 9-yard line, which ended in an incomplete pass from Hurts.
Elliott later redeemed the situation with a 29-yard field goal, giving the Eagles a 10-9 lead with 4:31 remaining in the third quarter.
Running Wild
Bijan Robinson rushed for 97 yards for the Falcons, while the Eagles defense managed to stop him on a crucial fourth-and-1 play at Atlanta’s 39-yard line.
Barkley remained largely quiet until the go-ahead drive, a week after recording 109 yards and three touchdowns against Green Bay. Fans voiced their frustration when the Eagles’ opening drive ended without Barkley getting the ball. They were ecstatic when he made back-to-back 9-yard runs to kick off the second drive, finishing the first half with 40 rushing yards.
Foles Honored
Former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, who famously led the franchise to its only Super Bowl title, was honored as an honorary captain and led the crowd in singing “Fly, Eagles, Fly.”
Injuries
The Falcons played without linebacker Nate Landman, who was sidelined with calf and quad injuries.
Up Next
Atlanta will host the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, while the Eagles travel to New Orleans the same day.
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