Kirk Cousins throws for 509 yards as Falcons high Buccaneers in OT

ATLANTA — Kirk Cousins certain earned all that cash Thursday evening.

The $180 million quarterback threw for a career-high 509 yards and 4 touchdowns, the final of them a 45-yard scoring cross to KhaDarel Hodge in time beyond regulation that gave the Atlanta Falcons an unbelievable 36-30 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“What an evening,” Cousins stated. “I’m exhausted.”

After a wild fourth quarter that featured a blocked subject purpose, a fumble and an interception, Cousins and the Falcons (3-2) bought the ball again at their very own 20 with 1:14 remaining in regulation and no timeouts, trailing 30-27.

Cousins accomplished 5 passes to push Atlanta to the Buccaneers 29, then hustled to the road to spike the ball with a single second left. In all of the confusion, the Falcons had been referred to as for delay of sport as they lined up for a tying subject purpose, however it didn’t price them.

Younghoe Koo knocked it by from 52 yards to power time beyond regulation, one week after he made a 58-yarder with 2 seconds left to beat the New Orleans Saints.

“I’m happy with the grit,” Cousins stated. “On this league, that’s what it takes. We had been gritty tonight.”

The Falcons (3-2) received the coin toss in time beyond regulation and made certain Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (3-2) didn’t get their fingers on the ball once more.

Cousins related with Drake London on a few passes earlier than throwing a brief one to Hodge, who broke a sort out on the 40, sliced by a spot within the secondary and raced untouched to the tip zone to finish the sport.

The 4 TD passes tied Cousins’ profession greatest, whereas his yardage by the air simply eclipsed his earlier excessive of 460 with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.

“The blokes performed laborious,” coach Raheem Morris stated. “They performed to the tip.”

After signing his massive free agent take care of the Falcons, which included $100 million in assured cash, Cousins bought off to sluggish begin in Atlanta.

However he heard nothing however cheers on an evening when the Falcons inducted longtime beginning quarterback Matt Ryan into their Ring of Honor. Cousins even swayed to the rap hit “Swag Surfin” in the course of the postgame celebration, firmly establishing his chops within the A-T-L.

Mayfield threw three landing passes, together with a pair to Mike Evans, and Chase McLaughlin booted three subject targets. The final of them was a 53-yarder that put the Buccaneers forward 30-27 with 10:23 remaining.

Mayfield felt like he let this one slip away.

“All I care about is wins,” he stated. “I’ve bought to discover a technique to end that sport out on offense.”

The Falcons tied it with a gutty fourth-down name by Morris early within the fourth quarter.

After Tyler Allgeier was thrown for a 2-yard loss on third-and-2, the Falcons didn’t even take into account a subject purpose from the Bucs 12.

Atlanta lined proper again up and Cousins threw a cross to Darnell Mooney, who made the seize proper on the marker however wasn’t content material with only a first down. 

He shook off a tackler and scooted to the tip zone.

Mooney additionally had a 24-yard landing catch throughout a wild first half that ended with the Buccaneers up 24-17.

Each offenses ran up and down the sphere over the primary two quarters, combining for 488 yards, 28 first downs and only one punt,

Cousins had an 18-yard landing cross to London, who completed with 12 catches for 154 yards. Mooney had 9 receptions for 105.

“I unfold it round and the gamers made performs,” Cousins stated. “I’m grateful for the progress we’ve made. We’re getting higher and higher every week.”

Koo missed his first subject purpose of the 12 months from 41 yards however related from 54 and 48 yards earlier than splitting the uprights with the tying kick.