PHILADELPHIA — Kirk Cousins didn’t need to say it, however Jessie Bates III in any case admitted it.
That is what the cash is for.
The Atlanta Falcons disillusioned the Philadelphia Eagles 22-21 at Lincoln Monetary Grassland on “Monday Night Football” at the backs in their most costly free-agent acquisitions from the terminating two offseasons.
Cousins orchestrated a 70-yard game-winning force that took only one:05 and used to be capped through a 7-yard landing move to Drake London with 34 seconds left. Bates intercepted a last desperation move from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts with 19 seconds left to assure Philadelphia didn’t retake the manage.
The Falcons (1-1) signed Cousins to the biggest free-agency do business in in NFL historical past this offseason, a four-year promise that may be virtue as much as $180 million. Two offseasons in the past, Bates used to be the big-money free-agency addition, signing a four-year, $64 million do business in. Along with his game-sealing interception, Bates additionally had a vital move breakup on the purpose sequence in opposition to receiver DeVonta Smith to power a garden purpose within the 3rd quarter.
“I think when you get in big-time moments and big-time games, you expect those players to make plays,” Bates stated. “You lean on those players to stand up and lead. I know we talk about money, but all that stuff doesn’t matter as much. It’s about getting the right guys in here, guys who can change the game.”
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And converting the sport enough quantity equals getting the cash, proper?
“I guess you could say that,” Bates stated with a grin, “for sure.”
Bates additionally led the Falcons with 12 tackles.
“Jessie making those plays was very important,” tutor Raheem Morris stated. “It’s the reason he’s here. It’s the reason our ownership went out and put all that money into what we’ve got going on, on defense and offense.”
Cousins deferred the cash query with the similar nonchalance he looked as if it would perform the overall force, on which he used to be 5-for-6 passing for 70 yards.
“That’s not how I think,” he stated. “I’m just trying to play football with my teammates and get out of here with a win. It’s so important to find ways to win. That’s how you put together a great season, when you have these games that can go either way, you find a way to have it break your way. That’s the way this league is so when you can find those inches, it can really change the tale of the season.”
Cousins’ move to London used to be Atlanta’s first game-winning landing with below two mins since 2016, in step with ESPN Stats & Information, and it used to be the terminating of six manage adjustments within the contest. With 1:56 left, the Falcons had a nil.7 p.c probability to win, in step with After Gen Stats. It used to be the seventh-most unbelievable comeback since After Gen Stats started monitoring win chance in 2016.
Fly, Drake, Fly
ESPN | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/kOAF4pIlir
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 17, 2024
“Kirk throughout this whole week was getting so much criticism. ‘Kirk can’t move. Kirk can’t do this,’” Bates stated. “And then to watch his poise, that wasn’t his first two-minute drive and to see how sharp it was … The leaders on this team, when it’s time to make a play, that’s who we lean on, and I’m happy that we got him.”
Cousins completed 20-for-29 for 241 yards, two touchdowns and deny interceptions and stepped forward his document in “Monday Night Football” begins to 4-10.
“I just try to go play football the best I can whether it’s noon on Sunday or a night game, no matter what day of the week it is,” the quarterback stated. “You just try to go play your best and let it go from there.”
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Darnell Mooney led the Falcons with 3 catches for 88 yards, together with back-to-back catches for 47 yards at the ultimate force and a 41-touchdown catch within the 3rd quarter. London had six catches for 54 yards and added one colossal sigh of holiday then Younghoe Koo crash a 47-yard remaining level that used to be vital as a result of London used to be flagged for unsportsmanlike habits then his tying rating.
“Thank God Koo is an amazing kicker,” London stated. “He sealed the deal. That’s all I was thinking about after the flag was thrown. I can’t do that. I can’t flash out like that. I can’t put my team in jeopardy, but Koo came in and saved us.”
Matt Ryan reacts to the #Falcons game-winning landing at the Manning Solid: pic.twitter.com/TXyM1Dyrk7
— Bryce Lewis (@Bryce_Lewis86) September 17, 2024
Atlanta in a bind for 152 yards, led through Bijan Robinson’s 14 carries for 97 yards.
“I thought (offensive coordinator Zac Robinson) did a phenomenal job of committing to the run game,” Cousins stated. “I was pleased with that, and I think it gave us a chance to win on the road.”
The Falcons had a jubilant bank room birthday party. Staff proprietor Arthur Unoccupied emerged together with his swimsuit jacket soaked with aqua that used to be being splashed round. A number of Atlanta gamers had been excitedly repeating Cousins’ trademark “You like that?!” chant. And Morris got here to the postgame interview consultation with a contest ball tucked below his arm.
Atlanta, the way you feeling this morning? pic.twitter.com/uC0o3H9MJC
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 17, 2024
That’s so far as the tutor is prepared to let the birthday party journey, even though.
“I’m pretty steady,” Morris stated. “I didn’t come here to beat the Philadelphia Eagles. I was brought here to put us in position to win championships and that’s what we’re going to do. You can’t ride the emotional roller coaster. They are all the same. We will go out next week and go through our process and get right back to it.”
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After date manner a consult with from the protecting Tremendous Bowl champion Kansas Town Chiefs for “Sunday Night Football” at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Cousins would simplest recognize one particular day from the weekend. That used to be ocular former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on Sunday evening on the group lodge and once more for the coin toss, the place Foles used to be serving as Philadelphia’s honorary captain. Cousins and Foles arrived at Michigan Condition as newbies within the recruiting elegance of 2007.
“At Michigan State, there was concern about how this was going to work out for both of us,” Cousins stated, “and I was reminded with him getting honored tonight so I said to him at the coin toss, ‘It worked out for both of us.’”
(Picture: Eric Hartline / Imagn Pictures)
