With Tampa ahead 30-27 on another of kicker Chase McLaughlin’s three field goals on the night, the Atlanta Falcons worked their way downfield where Younghoe Koo attempted and made a 52-yard field goal to tie the game. Just like the game before against New Orleans, he made good on his attempt but this time instead of winning the game, his kick moved the game into overtime. In overtime Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins found Khadarel Hodge, in the game because starting receiver Drake London was hurt on a tackle a play earlier, on a slant and the rest is history. Atlanta 36, Tampa 30.
Welcome to first place.
“We’ve given ourselves a little bit of wind at our back, given ourselves a step in the right direction, and now we have to build on it,” said Cousins during his postgame press conference. “There’s so much football ahead.”
Photo by One Circle Entertainment/The Atlanta Voice
The Falcons played another primetime game this week, but this one was different from the Monday night loss to Kansas City or the Monday night victory in Philadelphia. This game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was for sole possession of first place in the NFC South.
The Falcons came into Thursday’s game on the heels of a two-point victory over New Orleans, while Tampa defeated Philadelphia 33-16 at home last Sunday. Heading into a mini-bye week followed by a game in Charlotte (Carolina Panthers are currently 1-3 overall), the Falcons couldn’t be in even better position to control their destiny two weeks from now.
The second half opened with Tampa extending its lead to 27-20 following a Koo 48-yard field goal that put the Falcons within four points at the beginning of the third quarter. On fourth down on their first possession of the fourth quarter Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins found receiver Darnell Mooney in the flat for what would be their second touchdown connection of the game.
The victory was Cousins’ first 500-yard game of the season and was also his most efficient and complete. The first-year Falcons passed for three touchdowns, a single-game high for the season thus far.
The Falcons began the game with an efficient drive that saw Cousins complete passes to tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Drake London. The latter was the recipient of a 15-yard touchdown reception, his third of the season, that put Atlanta in front 7-0. Tampa duplicated the Falcons’ effort, taking nine plays to march 63 yards downfield and tie the game on a connection from quarterback Baker Mayfield to receiver Mike Evans.
A bad sign for a team that failed to score an offensive touchdown during a previous game is to have its most valuable offensive weapon, kicker Younghoe Koo, miss a 41-yard field goal. On the ensuing possession Tampa took a 10-7 lead on a 53-yard field goal from McLaughlin late in the first quarter.
Photo by One Circle Entertainment/The Atlanta Voice
A Cousins pass to receiver Darnell Mooney put Atlanta ahead 14-10 early in the second quarter. Through a quarter and change, Cousins had completed passes to Pitts, London, Mooney, KhaDarel Hodge, Tyler Allgeiers, and Bijan Robinson. Tampa countered that Atlanta score with another touchdown connection between Mayfield and Evans to go ahead 17-14 at the 10-minute mark. Tampa added to its lead, going ahead 24-17 with less than two minutes to play in the first half when on a third and four from the Falcons’ four-yard line Mayfield found Sterling Shepard for his first touchdown of the season.
Near the end of the first half Cousins was sacked by Bucs defensive lineman Logan Hall for a huge loss that helped to force the first Falcons punt of the game.
What’s Next: Road game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, October 13th. Kickoff is scheduled at 1:00 PM.