Kirk Cousins’ stunning game-winning drive shows why the Falcons paid him

PHILADELPHIA — Kirk Cousins didn’t want to say it, but Jessie Bates III finally admitted it.

This is what the money is for.

The Atlanta Falcons upset the Philadelphia Eagles 22-21 at Lincoln Financial Field on “Monday Night Football” on the backs of their most expensive free-agent acquisitions from the last two offseasons.

Cousins orchestrated a 70-yard game-winning drive that took only 1:05 and was capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass to Drake London with 34 seconds left. Bates intercepted a final desperation pass from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts with 19 seconds left to ensure Philadelphia didn’t retake the lead.

The Falcons (1-1) signed Cousins to the largest free-agency deal in NFL history this offseason, a four-year contract that could be worth up to $180 million. Two offseasons ago, Bates was the big-money free-agency addition, signing a four-year, $64 million deal. In addition to his game-sealing interception, Bates also had a critical pass breakup at the goal line against receiver DeVonta Smith to force a field goal in the third quarter.

“I think when you get in big-time moments and big-time games, you expect those players to make plays,” Bates said. “You lean on those players to stand up and lead. I know we talk about money, but all that stuff doesn’t matter as much. It’s about getting the right guys in here, guys who can change the game.”

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And changing the game enough equals getting the money, right?

“I guess you could say that,” Bates said with a smile, “for sure.”

Bates also led the Falcons with 12 tackles.

“Jessie making those plays was very important,” coach Raheem Morris said. “It’s the reason he’s here. It’s the reason our ownership went out and put all that money into what we’ve got going on, on defense and offense.”

Cousins deferred the money question with the same nonchalance he seemed to operate the final drive, on which he was 5-for-6 passing for 70 yards.

“That’s not how I think,” he said. “I’m just trying to play football with my teammates and get out of here with a win. It’s so important to find ways to win. That’s how you put together a great season, when you have these games that can go either way, you find a way to have it break your way. That’s the way this league is so when you can find those inches, it can really change the tale of the season.”

Cousins’ pass to London was Atlanta’s first game-winning touchdown with under two minutes since 2016, according to ESPN Stats & Info, and it was the last of six lead changes in the game. With 1:56 left, the Falcons had a 0.7 percent chance to win, according to Next Gen Stats. It was the seventh-most improbable comeback since Next Gen Stats began tracking win probability in 2016.

Fly, Drake, Fly

ESPN | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/kOAF4pIlir

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 17, 2024

“Kirk throughout this whole week was getting so much criticism. ‘Kirk can’t move. Kirk can’t do this,’” Bates said. “And then to watch his poise, that wasn’t his first two-minute drive and to see how sharp it was … The leaders on this team, when it’s time to make a play, that’s who we lean on, and I’m happy that we got him.”

Cousins finished 20-for-29 for 241 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions and improved his record in “Monday Night Football” starts to 4-10.

“I just try to go play football the best I can whether it’s noon on Sunday or a night game, no matter what day of the week it is,” the quarterback said. “You just try to go play your best and let it go from there.”

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Darnell Mooney led the Falcons with three catches for 88 yards, including back-to-back catches for 47 yards on the final drive and a 41-touchdown catch in the third quarter. London had six catches for 54 yards and added one big sigh of relief after Younghoe Koo hit a 47-yard extra point that was necessary because London was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after his tying score.

“Thank God Koo is an amazing kicker,” London said. “He sealed the deal. That’s all I was thinking about after the flag was thrown. I can’t do that. I can’t flash out like that. I can’t put my team in jeopardy, but Koo came in and saved us.”

Matt Ryan reacts to the #Falcons game-winning touchdown on the Manning Cast: pic.twitter.com/TXyM1Dyrk7

— Bryce Lewis (@Bryce_Lewis86) September 17, 2024

Atlanta rushed for 152 yards, led by Bijan Robinson’s 14 carries for 97 yards.

“I thought (offensive coordinator Zac Robinson) did a phenomenal job of committing to the run game,” Cousins said. “I was pleased with that, and I think it gave us a chance to win on the road.”

The Falcons had a jubilant locker room celebration. Team owner Arthur Blank emerged with his suit jacket soaked with water that was being splashed around. Several Atlanta players were excitedly repeating Cousins’ trademark “You like that?!” chant. And Morris came to the postgame interview session with a game ball tucked under his arm.

Atlanta, how you feeling this morning? pic.twitter.com/uC0o3H9MJC

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 17, 2024

That’s as far as the coach is willing to let the celebration go, though.

“I’m pretty steady,” Morris said. “I didn’t come here to beat the Philadelphia Eagles. I was brought here to put us in position to win championships and that’s what we’re going to do. You can’t ride the emotional roller coaster. They are all the same. We will go out next week and go through our process and get right back to it.”

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Next week means a visit from the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs for “Sunday Night Football” at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Cousins would only acknowledge one special moment from the weekend. That was seeing former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on Sunday night at the team hotel and again for the coin toss, where Foles was serving as Philadelphia’s honorary captain. Cousins and Foles arrived at Michigan State as freshmen in the recruiting class of 2007.

“At Michigan State, there was concern about how this was going to work out for both of us,” Cousins said, “and I was reminded with him getting honored tonight so I said to him at the coin toss, ‘It worked out for both of us.’”

(Photo: Eric Hartline / Imagn Images)