PHILADELPHIA — Kirk Cousins overcame his “Night Football” struggles, leading the Atlanta Falcons to their first win of the season in a dramatic final drive.
With 1:39 remaining and trailing by six, Cousins drove the Falcons 70 yards, connecting with Drake London for a 7-yard touchdown, leaving just 34 seconds on the clock. Atlanta escaped Lincoln Financial Field with a 22-21 victory in Week 2. Cousins, now 4-10 on nights, has won four of his last five MNF games.
Cousins completed 20 of 29 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns, while Falcons running back Bijan Robinson racked up 97 yards on 14 carries, totaling 122 scrimmage yards. The Eagles had previously taken the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run from Jalen Hurts at the 6:47 mark.
Key takeaways for both teams:
The Falcons’ offense, despite being a strength on paper, has struggled for most of their first two games. The addition of Cousins, still recovering from a torn Achilles in 2023, has yet to deliver consistent results. Even with a strong running game, Atlanta struggled on third downs and in the red zone—until the final moments when Cousins’ late heroics secured the win. Though the offense remains uneven, this victory was crucial for the team as tougher challenges loom, with upcoming games against the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Falcons hope that Cousins’ late-game magic becomes the norm as the season progresses.
Promising trend: Bijan Robinson was a key part of Atlanta’s game plan. The second-year running back became the first Falcon since Michael Turner in 2011 to exceed 100 scrimmage yards in each of the first two games of a season.
Eye-popping stat: Cousins’ 51 passing touchdowns against the blitz over the last five seasons are tied with Josh Allen for the NFL lead during that period, showing the potential the Falcons have if Cousins returns to his pre-injury form.
Biggest gap: Atlanta’s defense struggled to contain Jalen Hurts, who extended plays with his legs, converting crucial downs and scoring a late touchdown.
On the Eagles’ side, the absence of A.J. Brown (out with a hamstring injury) was felt, but it seemed Philadelphia had done enough to secure the win—until Atlanta’s game-winning drive. The Eagles, now 1-1, face a tough schedule ahead with games against the Saints and Buccaneers before a Week 5 bye.
Key play: With the Eagles leading by three in the final minutes, Jalen Hurts missed a chance to seal the game after Saquon Barkley dropped a pass on third-and-3, forcing a field goal. The Falcons capitalized on the ensuing drive to claim victory.
Troubling trend: Philadelphia’s edge rushers struggled for the second consecutive week, raising concerns about free-agent signee Bryce Huff, who has yet to record any pressures after two games.
Eye-popping stat: Cousins faced pressure on just 2 of 14 dropbacks (14%) in the first half, the lowest rate he’s faced since Week 1 of 2023.
