PHILADELPHIA — Kirk Cousins spent the previous week answering questions on his well being, whether or not or not his tough efficiency in Week 1 was simply rust or one thing extra regarding. Possibly his surgically repaired proper Achilles tendon had not absolutely recovered.
Cousins put these inquiries to relaxation, at the very least within the interim, by main the Atlanta Falcons on a elegant game-winning drive Monday on the highway in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“We discovered a approach to win, and we are able to construct on that, and I feel [it’ll] construct some character and a few resolve in our group,” Cousins stated within the postgame information convention.
The Falcons received 22-21 after a 70-yard scoring drive was capped by Cousins’ 7-yard landing cross to extensive receiver Drake London with 34 seconds left. Cousins has now received 4 of his previous 5 “Monday Evening Soccer” video games. And this was Raheem Morris’ first victory because the full-time head coach of the Falcons.
On the ultimate drive, Cousins was 5-of-6 passing. He now has six go-ahead passing touchdowns within the closing minute of regulation or additional time since changing into a full-time starter in 2015, based on ESPN Analysis. Solely Derek Carr (8) has extra throughout that span.
In a Week 1 residence loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cousins struggled in his first sport again after tearing his proper Achilles in Week 8 final season whereas taking part in with the Minnesota Vikings. He was 16-of-26 passing for 155 yards with a landing and two expensive interceptions. It was a disappointing efficiency for the quarterback, whom the Falcons signed to a four-year, $180 million contract within the offseason.
Issues did not begin off easily Monday, both. The Falcons had only one landing within the first three quarters. However by the tip, Cousins had posted a robust stat line: 20-of-29 passing for 241 yards and two touchdowns.
“[Cousins] was simply getting a lot criticism all through this entire week,” stated Atlanta security Jessie Bates III, who had the game-sealing interception. “[People were saying] ‘Kirk cannot transfer, Kirk cannot do that.’ Watch his poise. I imply, that wasn’t his first two-minute drive.”
And most significantly, the Falcons obtained a much-needed win previous to the dynastic Kansas Metropolis Chiefs coming to Atlanta in Week 3 for an additional prime-time sport. The Falcons will host the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — their NFC South rivals, each of whom are undefeated — after that.
“It is actually, actually necessary for us to have the ability to are available right here and get a win,” Cousins stated. “We needed to do it any approach we may and, as so many NFL video games do actually, it got here right down to the ultimate drive. Simply happy with the best way we stored taking part in, stored combating.”
