Kirk Cousins gave Falcons followers one thing to imagine in on game-winning drive vs Eagles

The chances weren’t of their favor.

Within the closing minutes of Monday evening’s sport between the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles, the visiting Falcons trailed by three, 18-15, and with the Eagles driving Atlanta’s win in all probability was lower than one %. In accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats, the percentages of a Falcons win with 1:56 remaining, beneath their win chance mannequin, was 0.7%.

As you in all probability know by now, the Falcons gained that sport by a last rating of 22-21

A lot has been mentioned and will likely be written about how the Eagles dealt with the ultimate two minutes of that sport, from a choice on third right down to put the ball within the air to how their protection dealt with Atlanta’s game-winning drive. However one factor is evident:

On that game-winning drive, Kirk Cousins confirmed precisely why Atlanta went out and bought him this offseason.

The drive begins with Cousins exhibiting he nonetheless has the fastball. Atlanta runs a three-receiver idea to the suitable, with Ray-Ray McCloud breaking vertically, Drake London working a dig route beneath him, and Kyle Pitts working a curl route beneath each of them.

Cousins, feeling some inside strain, sidesteps that strain to his proper earlier than drilling in a throw to Pitts to easily transfer the chains:

However with out timeouts, and the clock ticking to beneath 90 seconds remaining, the Falcons are in turbo mode. Cousins will get Atlanta’s offense again to the road of scrimmage for the following play, the primary of two large connections on the drive to Darnell Cash. The receiver runs a deep out route, in entrance of the defender, and makes a sliding catch on an enormous throw from Cousins:

The 21-yard achieve will get Atlanta into Philadelphia territory, however the seconds proceed to tick off the clock. Cousins will get the Falcons proper again to the road of scrimmage, and the ball is snapped with simply 56 seconds remaining within the sport.

The play? One other out-breaking route from Mooney, this time in opposition to tighter protection from Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, their first-round choice final spring. Cousins places this throw in an absolute shoebox, and Mooney spins away from Mitchell earlier than choosing up extra yardage earlier than lastly dipping out of bounds to cease the clock:

The route from Mooney is equally spectacular, as he stresses the within leverage of the rookie CB earlier than breaking to the skin, getting simply sufficient separation for Cousins to drill on this throw.

Now, the clock is stopped as Atlanta faces a 1st and 10 state of affairs on the Eagles’ 12-yard line, with 46 seconds remaining. The Falcons have an opportunity to huddle, they usually dial up a Flat-7 Smash idea to the left facet with Pitts working the nook route, and Drake London releasing to the flat.

The protection on Pitts behind the top zone is stable, so Cousins takes the beneath throw to London for a brief achieve, however the receiver will get out of bounds to once more cease the clock:

Now dealing with 2nd and 5 on the Eagles’ 7-yard line, Atlanta has one other likelihood to huddle, they usually come out for the following play in a 2×2 alignment. Pitts and London are on the left facet of the formation in a stack, and Pitts runs one other nook route whereas London checks up on a curl route. To the suitable facet, Mooney and McCloud are in a stack, with Mooney off the road and to the skin of McCloud. He’ll break beneath, utilizing visitors created by McCloud, whereas McCloud runs a thin submit route:

McCloud has inside leverage in opposition to Avonte Maddox, and Cousins takes his shot. There may be numerous contact and the move falls incomplete, with out a flag.

Third down.

However with the incompletion, the Falcons have one other likelihood to huddle, they usually break that huddle with a three-receiver bunch to the suitable with Pitts, London, and McCloud. Initially, London is on the within, however he shifts to the skin, leaving Pitts on the within and McCloud within the center.

The cornerbacks bump over, and Darius Slay slides to the skin over London in response.

Whereas each Pitts and London break inside on a pair of slant routes, London jab steps to the within earlier than breaking to the entrance pylon. On the actual second, London makes his break, Slay has his eyes on the opposite two routes, and that’s all Cousins and London want to attach on the game-winning landing:

Slay conceded as a lot on social media after the sport:

The cornerback’s admission apart, one has to understand the timing and anticipation on the throw. Have a look at the state of play when Cousins lets this move fly:

London has but to show his head round, Slay is peeking to the within, and Cousins is letting it fly. Textbook from Cousins on this play, and this drive.

After all, a lot of the post-game chatter has centered on the Eagles. From Saquon Barkley’s drop on third and three that stopped the clock, and set the stage for this drive, to how Philadelphia’s secondary performed on this last possession from Atlanta.

Nonetheless, we will additionally acknowledge that that is what the Falcons have been hoping for. These are the sorts of moments Atlanta envisioned once they signed Cousins to a four-year deal price as much as $180 million, with $50 million of {that a} signing bonus and $100 million assured: A game-winning drive executed to perfection, and the power to steal a win from the jaws of defeat.

One thing Falcons followers have longed to see for a really very long time.