The Atlanta Falcons finding a way to rally toward an exhilarating 36-30 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football might have very well been the most thrilling game of this 2024 NFL season thus far.
With plenty to unpack in this NFC South divisional tilt, DAZN lists five takeaways from the game:
Kirk Cousins has ice in his veins
In authoring yet another rallying victory, the veteran quarterback now has 31 career game-winning drives — three of which have come this season, accounting for all the Falcons' wins.
This latest victory had the 36-year-old air it out for a career-high 509 yards and four touchdowns in an absolutely memorable performance under the national spotlight of a Thursday Night Football game.
Think about Cousins' value to the Falcons' franchise already. Without his presence and being composed under pressure, the Falcons could have easily been 0-5 this season.
Instead, they're tied with the Bucs at 3-2 for the NFC division lead five weeks into the year.
What an improbable finish
Cousins finding Drake London on key strikes paved the way for the game being sent into overtime and also a crucial third-down conversion in OT.
But when the star wideout was shaken up after getting the Falcons that first down in overtime, a cold KhaDarel Hodge took his place in the game.
And who would have ever thought that Cousins would go to him immediately and that Hodge would respond in taking the pass into the end zone for a scintillating, game-winning 45-yard touchdown? It's one of the more improbable finishes you'll ever see because a backup to a star ended it, showing anything's possible.
More heroics from Younghoe Koo
Cousins, with his penchant for game-winning drives, isn't the only Falcons' player with a flair for the dramatic.
After nailing a game-winning 58-yard field goal to lead the Falcons to victory in Week 4, Koo connected on a 52-yard field goal at the end of regulation to send Thursday night's game into overtime. In doing so, he redeemed himself for back-to-back missed field goals earlier in the game.
Darnell Mooney let off the hook with dropped pass
In addition to London's 12 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown, Mooney had himself a great game by hauling in nine receptions for 105 yards and two TDs.
However, the wideout nearly cost the Falcons the game as he dropped a wide open pass on a crucial third down in the fourth quarter.
He did avenge the moment by securing a deep ball from Cousins late in the fourth, showing resiliency. And the dropped pass is an afterthought now that the Falcons pulled out the win. But it could've been ugly for Mooney had they not.
Mike Evans notches 100th career touchdown
Entering Thursday night, Evans had dominated the Falcons with 92 receptions for 1,407 yards and 11 touchdowns in 18 games. And despite his Bucs falling short in overtime, the star wide receiver once again produced against their division rival. Evans caught five passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns — including the 100th career TD reception for the future Hall of Famer.