In a thrilling finish, Kirk Cousins led the Atlanta Falcons to a 22-21 victory over the previously unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. Despite trailing 21-15 late in the game, the Falcons pulled off a dramatic last-minute touchdown drive to steal the win at Lincoln Financial Field.
Philadelphia had taken the lead with a Jake Elliott 28-yard field goal, giving them a 21-15 advantage with just 1:39 left on the clock. But Cousins, determined to bounce back after a rough debut in Week 1, marched Atlanta 70 yards in just 65 seconds. With no timeouts, he connected with Drake London for a game-tying touchdown, and after a celebration penalty, Younghoe Koo nailed a 48-yard extra point to put the Falcons ahead.
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles had a final chance, but an interception by Jessie Bates sealed the win for Atlanta. Cousins, in his first season with the Falcons after signing a $180 million deal, acknowledged his need for improvement but was pleased with how the team finished the game.
The Eagles missed a key opportunity to run down the clock when Saquon Barkley dropped a crucial pass from Hurts, forcing them to settle for a field goal instead of extending their drive. Earlier, Philadelphia had led 7-6 at halftime after a touchdown pass from Hurts to DeVonta Smith, while Atlanta’s only points came from Koo’s two field goals.
Cousins had previously led a 70-yard drive, capped by a 42-yard touchdown to Darnell Mooney, giving Atlanta a brief 15-10 lead. But the Eagles responded with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Hurts and a two-point conversion from Barkley, making it 18-15 before the Falcons’ late-game heroics.
