Kirk Cousins threw for a career-high 509 yards and 4 touchdowns, the final of them a 45-yard scoring cross to KhaDarel Hodge in additional time that gave the Atlanta Falcons an inconceivable 36-30 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday evening.
After a wild fourth quarter that featured a blocked area objective, 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 known as for delay of sport as they lined up for a tying area objective, nevertheless it did not price them.
Younghoe Koo knocked it by from 52 yards to power additional time, one week after he made a 58-yarder with two seconds left to beat the New Orleans Saints.
The Falcons gained the coin toss in additional time and made positive Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (3-2) did not get their arms on the ball once more.
Cousins linked with Drake London on a few passes earlier than throwing a brief one to Hodge, who broke a deal with on the 40, sliced by a spot within the secondary and raced untouched to the tip zone to finish the sport.
Stats leaders:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Passing: Baker Mayfield, 19/24, 180 yards, 3 TD
- Dashing: Rachaad White, 10 carries, 72 yards
- Receiving: Mike Evans, 5 catches, 62 yards, 2 TD. Chris Godwin, 5 catches, 64 yards
Atlanta Falcons
- Passing: Kirk Cousins, 42/58, 509 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
- Dashing: Bijan Robinson, 12 carries, 61 yards
- Receiving: Drake London, 12 catches, 154 yards, 1 TD. Darnell Mooney, 9 catches, 105 yards, 2 TD
The 4 TD passes tied Cousins’ profession finest, whereas his yardage by the air simply eclipsed his earlier excessive of 460 with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.
After signing his massive free agent cope with the Falcons, which included $100m in assured cash, the 36-year-old Cousins bought off to sluggish begin in Atlanta.
However on Thursday he broke Matt Ryan’s Falcons document for passing yards in a sport (503) with one of the prolific performances in NFL historical past. Solely 14 quarterbacks have thrown for extra yards in a sport, led by Norm Van Brocklin’s mark of 554 yards that has stood since 1951.
Mayfield threw three landing passes, together with a pair to Mike Evans, and Chase McLaughlin booted three area targets. The final of them was a 53-yarder that put the Buccaneers forward 30-27 with 10:23 remaining.
The Falcons tied it with a gutsy fourth-down name by coach Raheem Morris early within the fourth quarter.
After Tyler Allgeier was thrown for a 2-yard loss on third-and-2, the Falcons did not even take into account a area objective 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 sector 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.
Koo missed his first area objective of the yr from 41 yards however linked from 54 and 48 yards earlier than splitting the uprights with the tying kick.
Scoring abstract
What did they are saying?
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins: “What a night, I’m exhausted. I’m proud of the grit. In this league, that’s what it takes. We were gritty tonight.
“I unfold it round and the gamers made performs. I am grateful for the progress we have made. We’re getting higher and higher every week.”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield: “All I care about is wins. I’ve bought to discover a solution to end that sport out on offense.”
What’s subsequent?
The Buccaneers journey to New Orleans for an NFC South matchup towards the New Orleans Saints on October 13, whereas the Falcons go on the highway for the primary since Week 2 once they journey to face divisional rivals the Carolina Panthers on the identical day.
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