Error code: %{errorCode}
Five takeaways from the Atlanta Falcons defeating the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football
Down six points with 1:39 left, the Atlanta Falcons were without timeouts and a road win over the Philadelphia Eagles looked improbable.
Yet, Kirk Cousins marched them down the field and helped the Falcons steal a 22-21 victory on Monday Night Football.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
Kirk Cousins was captain cool in the clutch
No timeouts and just under 1:40 to author a game-winning drive, Kirk Cousins said no problem.
The veteran quarterback completed five-of-six passes on a six-play, 70-yard drive which ended in a touchdown pass to Drake London.
The Falcons' extra point next put them in the lead for good.
By the end of the Falcons' improbable win, the 36-year-old Cousins had recorded 241 passing yards and two touchdowns for his first victory with the franchise, making Atlanta's decision to sign him a wise one as observed under the national spotlight game.
The Falcons signing Jessie Bates III instantly looks brilliant
Cousins wasn't the only free-agent signing who dazzled for Atlanta on Monday Night Football toward its first win of this season.
Safety Jessie Bates III perfectly read Jalen Hurts on a deep pass to produce a game-ending interception.
Bates had tallied 14 interceptions over his past five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and now gives the Falcons' secondary some real punch.
In addition to the clutch interception, he also stopped an Eagles' touchdown earlier in the game with stellar coverage.
Darnell Mooney came up huge
Yet another free-agent signing, yet another payoff.
The wide receiver hauled in a 41-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to put the Falcons up during the third quarter.
Last season, Mooney produced 414 receiving yards and a touchdown for the Chicago Bears.
Perhaps he can outdo those numbers with Cousins and the Falcons.
Saquon Barkley has to catch that ball
The Falcons had burned through all their timeouts and the Eagles had a chance to put the game away up by three points with 1:46 left.
That's when Hurts rifled a perfect pass to running back Saquon Barkley on a 3rd & 3. It looked as if Barkley might have been thinking about the play he could make instead of focusing on securing the reception.
He wound up dropping the ball as it bounced off his fingertips.
That just cannot happen as a secure reception there would have effectively ended the game. Instead, the Eagles settled on a field goal and returned the ball to Cousins who had enough time to lead the Falcons on a game-winning drive.
The Eagles can run the tush push without Jason Kelce
If the Eagles can take solace in a loss, let it be that they can still run their vaunted tush push play without center Jason Kelce.
The Eagles used the play on a crucial 4th & 1 and again to end their 17-play, 70-yard drive — spanning 9:34 — on a Hurts' TD rush.
