The Atlanta Falcons pulled off a thrilling 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, thanks to a last-minute drive led by Kirk Cousins. After a shaky start to the season, Cousins redeemed himself, connecting with Drake London for a 7-yard touchdown with just 34 seconds left.
This drive demonstrated why Atlanta invested $180 million in Cousins, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure and deliver clutch throws in critical moments. Falcons coach Raheem Morris praised Cousins’ leadership in guiding the team to victory, particularly during the final minutes when everything was on the line.
Saquon Barkley’s late-game mistake played a pivotal role in the Eagles’ downfall. His dropped pass with 1:46 remaining allowed the Falcons to get the ball back, as the Eagles were forced to settle for a field goal.
With plenty of time left, Cousins took advantage of Philadelphia’s soft defense and lack of pass rush, completing key passes to Darnell Mooney to set up the game-winning touchdown. Younghoe Koo’s extra point following a London penalty secured the Falcons’ win.
Cousins completed the game 20 of 29 for 241 yards and two touchdowns, with his first touchdown being a 41-yarder to Mooney. Despite the Eagles going ahead late in the game with a Jalen Hurts 1-yard rushing touchdown, Cousins’ quick response and efficiency during the final drive were the deciding factors.
Hurts finished with 183 passing yards and a touchdown, but his late interception to Jessie Bates III sealed the Falcons’ victory and ended any hope of an Eagles comeback.
The Eagles had their opportunities but failed to capitalize in key moments. In addition to Barkley’s dropped pass, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni’s decision to go for it on a fourth-and-4 instead of kicking a field goal in the first quarter backfired when Hurts threw an incomplete pass.
Philadelphia also struggled to contain Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, who ran for 97 yards, though the Eagles’ defense did manage to stop him on a crucial fourth-and-1 late in the game.
Both teams now look ahead to their next opponents. The Falcons will host the Kansas City Chiefs, while the Eagles travel to New Orleans. The Eagles will need to regroup after this narrow loss, while Atlanta hopes to build on the momentum created by Cousins’ standout performance and a resilient team effort.
