After Saquon Barkley goes down, Kirk Cousins makes the extra kick as the Falcons beat the Eagles.
September 17, 2024 2024-09-17 4:43After Saquon Barkley goes down, Kirk Cousins makes the extra kick as the Falcons beat the Eagles.
After Saquon Barkley goes down, Kirk Cousins makes the extra kick as the Falcons beat the Eagles.
Introduction: After Saquon
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Kirk Cousins needed a big moment
Monday night. This also applie
s to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons’ offense had just two
touchdowns this season, with Cousins needing a touchdown and a 70-yard rush to win with just 1:39 left in the game. Suddenly the cousins came to life.
Cousins quickly moved the team down the pecking order. Cousins completed 5 of 6 passes on a quick drive and hit Drake London for a 7-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left. The extra point was difficult after London received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but Young Guo made it and the Falcons led 22-21 when Jalen Hurts threw an interception under pressure to end the game.
The Eagles were in position to win. But if Saquon Barkley threw an open pass on third-and-3, it would be a touchdown or a first down and the game would be over. The drop gave Cousins his first big moment with the Falcons.
Until then, the Falcons had to worry a bit about where their $180 million offseason was going. All we’ve heard throughout his career is that he’s weak and shrinking in prime time. And he found a solution that could change the course of the season opener in Atlanta.
He didn’t shoot much on Monday night.
Both teams got off to a bad start. The Eagles led in the first quarter, but on fourth-and-4 from the Falcons’ 9-yard line, Philadelphia repeatedly punted, but the throw failed. The Falcons didn’t have much to offer, but unlike Week 1, Cousins was at least under center. Last week,
the Falcons used pistol and shotgun almost exclusively, and playing options appeared to be limited due to Cousins’ inability to move.
In the second quarter, the Eagles finally got their offense going again. Those two big plays came when the Falcons’ defense somehow clicked and the Hearts converted on 4th-and-3 and third-and-11. Devonta Smith scored his first touchdown of the game with a touchdown run in the back of the end zone with 5:15 left in the second quarter. Philadelphia leads 7-3.
