Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons are making waves in the NFC South, especially when facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On Sunday, Cousins threw four touchdown passes without any interceptions, completing an impressive 79.3% of his passes (23 of 29) and gaining 276 yards in a 31-26 victory at Tampa Bay. This strong performance follows his record-setting 509-yard game with four touchdowns in a 36-30 overtime win over the Buccaneers on October 3.
Cousins’ Consistency Key for Falcons’ Dominance
With 8 touchdown passes and only one interception in two matches against the Buccaneers, Cousins is proving to be the driving force for the Falcons. In his other six games this season, he has only managed 6 TD passes alongside 6 interceptions. His standout play against Tampa Bay has solidified Atlanta’s position atop the NFC South. Now at 5-3, Atlanta holds first place with a 4-0 record against division opponents and has the tiebreaker advantage over Tampa Bay.
Cousins even delivered a surprising 13-yard scramble, an unexpected feat for the 36-year-old quarterback coming off an Achilles injury. Even head coach Raheem Morris was impressed, jokingly comparing him to Patrick Mahomes: “He looked like Mahomes out there!”
Cousins Providing Stability for Falcons’ Playoff Path
The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed, aiming for stability at the quarterback position. His leadership has the Falcons on track for their first playoff appearance since 2017. Though Cousins’ stats may not always satisfy fantasy football managers, he has been a consistent leader, helping guide Atlanta to success.
Falcons Defense Delivers with Jessie Bates III Leading the Way
Alongside Cousins’ standout performance, the Falcons’ defense stepped up as well. Safety Jessie Bates III recorded a forced fumble, a recovery, and an interception, showcasing his big-play ability. Bates forced the ball out of Rachaad White’s hands on the second play, setting up Cousins’ first touchdown pass to Kyle Pitts. Bates has accumulated three forced fumbles and two interceptions this season, with cornerback A.J. Terrell adding to the strong defense with an interception off Baker Mayfield.
Areas for Improvement
Despite their success, Atlanta has areas that need fine-tuning. Kicker Younghoe Koo missed a 39-yard field goal, making only one of his last three attempts in recent games.
Pitts’ Rising Stock
Tight end Kyle Pitts had his first career game with multiple touchdowns, catching passes of 36 and 49 yards and finishing with 91 receiving yards on four catches. Pitts has hit his stride, recording at least 65 receiving yards in his last four games. However, he nearly fumbled close to the goal line during his second touchdown, which was only confirmed after a review. Both Cousins and coach Morris had a talk with Pitts afterward, reminding him to stay focused. “I’ve learned my lesson. Thank the tight end gods we got lucky today,” Pitts said.
Conclusion
With Cousins performing at his peak and the defense showing resilience, the Atlanta Falcons are in the hunt for a strong finish in the NFC South and are building a path toward the playoffs. The combination of Cousins’ leadership and a proactive defense has positioned the Falcons as serious contenders this season, keeping their sights set high as they aim to make an impact in the postseason.
