ATLANTA –– Kirk Cousins delivered a career-best performance, throwing for 509 yards and four touchdowns, including a dramatic 45-yard game-winner to KhaDarel Hodge in overtime, as the Atlanta Falcons secured an improbable 36-30 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.
In a chaotic fourth quarter that saw a blocked field goal, a fumble, and an interception, the Falcons (3-2) got the ball back on their own 20-yard line with 1:14 left in regulation, trailing 30-27 and without any timeouts. Cousins completed five passes, moving Atlanta to the Buccaneers’ 29-yard line before spiking the ball with just one second left. Despite a delay of game penalty, Younghoe Koo drilled a 52-yard field goal to force overtime, just a week after his game-winning 58-yarder against the New Orleans Saints.
The Falcons won the coin toss in overtime, ensuring Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (3-2) wouldn’t touch the ball again. Cousins connected with Drake London twice before hitting Hodge on a short pass. Hodge broke a tackle at the 40-yard line and sprinted through the secondary untouched, sealing the win.
Mayfield had an impressive game, throwing three touchdown passes, two of them to Mike Evans, while Chase McLaughlin added three field goals. McLaughlin’s 53-yarder gave Tampa Bay a 30-27 lead with 10:23 left in the fourth quarter.
Atlanta’s comeback was fueled by a gutsy fourth-down call from coach Raheem Morris earlier in the fourth quarter. After Tyler Allgeier was stopped for a 2-yard loss on third-and-2 from the Bucs’ 12-yard line, the Falcons bypassed a field goal attempt. Cousins found Darnell Mooney for a clutch pass, with Mooney not only securing the first down but shaking off a tackler and sprinting into the end zone.
Mooney also scored earlier in the game on a 24-yard touchdown reception during a thrilling first half, which ended with the Buccaneers holding a 24-17 lead. Both offenses dominated early, combining for 488 yards, 28 first downs, and only one punt.
Cousins had an 18-yard touchdown pass to London, who finished with 12 catches for 154 yards. Mooney contributed nine receptions for 105 yards. Koo missed his first field goal of the season from 41 yards but made up for it with successful kicks from 54 and 48 yards before nailing the game-tying 52-yarder.
Injury Report:
- Buccaneers: S Tykee Smith returned to action after being evaluated for a possible head injury. LB Lavonte David limped off after a cut block from Falcons G Chris Lindstrom but missed only a few plays. S Jordan Whitehead exited in the fourth quarter with a groin injury.
- Falcons: CB Dee Alford left the game with a concussion. London also sustained a head injury but was cleared to return before halftime. LB Troy Andersen, the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week, did not play due to a knee injury.