Kirk Cousins Shatters Records in Thrilling Overtime Victory as Falcons Top Buccaneers
In a stunning display of skill and resilience, Kirk Cousins set a new franchise record with 509 passing yards as the Atlanta Falcons triumphed over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 36-30, in an exhilarating overtime showdown on Thursday Night Football.
The drama unfolded as Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo nailed a clutch 52-yard field goal in the dying seconds of regulation, forcing the game into overtime. Once there, Cousins went three-for-three on his throws for 69 yards, culminating in a breathtaking 45-yard touchdown pass to KhaDarel Hodge—Cousins’ fourth touchdown of the night.
At 36, Cousins, who inked an $180 million deal with Atlanta in March after his stint with the Minnesota Vikings, surpassed the previous franchise record of 503 yards set by Matt Ryan against the Carolina Panthers in 2016. Ironically, this milestone was achieved on the same night Ryan was inducted into the Falcons’ Ring of Honor. Cousins also eclipsed his own career high of 460 yards, achieved last year, while tying his personal best with four touchdown passes in a single game. He now stands alongside Tom Brady as one of only two players to throw for over 500 yards and four touchdowns in a primetime game, according to NFL Research.
“What a night,” Cousins reflected after the game. “I’m exhausted.”
Remarkably, the Falcons have found themselves trailing in the final minute of the fourth quarter in all five games this season, yet they have managed to clinch victory in three of those contests—making them the first team in NFL history to accomplish this feat to start a season.
“I’m proud of the way our team fought,” Cousins said. “We showed incredible resiliency to keep pushing through. That’s what this league demands, and we really demonstrated our grit tonight.”
Both teams came out firing, with touchdowns on their opening drives. Cousins launched the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Drake London, quickly matched by Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s two-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans. After a 53-yard field goal from Tampa Bay kicker Chase McLaughlin, Cousins answered with a 24-yard touchdown to Darnell Mooney in the second quarter.
Mayfield had a strong showing as well, tossing two more touchdown passes before halftime. A third field goal from McLaughlin late in the third quarter put the Buccaneers ahead 27-20 entering the final frame.
With just over 13 minutes remaining, Cousins connected with Mooney again, this time from 10 yards out, to tie the game once more. However, McLaughlin’s third field goal reestablished Tampa Bay’s lead at 30-27.
With only 1:14 left on the clock, the Falcons took over at their own 20-yard line. Cousins completed five consecutive passes, pushing the Falcons into field goal range at the Buccaneers’ 29-yard line. In a nail-biting finish, Koo’s field goal sent the game to overtime, allowing Cousins to make history.
In OT, Cousins found Hodge at the 40-yard line. Hodge broke a tackle and dashed through the secondary for the dramatic walk-off touchdown, sealing a thrilling victory for the Falcons and etching Cousins’ name into the record books.