Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for a career-high 509 yards and four touchdowns to seal an improbable 36-30 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After a wild fourth quarter that featured a blocked field goal, a fumble and an interception, Cousins and the Falcons got the ball back at their own 20 with 1:14 remaining, trailing by three.
After spiking the ball with a second remaining, Younghoe Koo knocked it through from 52 yards to force overtime, where Cousins found a 45-yard scoring pass to KhaDarel Hodge.
“What a night,” Cousins said. “I’m exhausted.
“I’m proud of the grit. In this league, that’s what it takes. We were gritty tonight.”
main character energy 🎥 @KirkCousins8 | @AtlantaFalcons pic.twitter.com/4INZFVFOKb
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2024
Cousins broke Matt Ryan’s team record for passing yards in a game (503) with one of the most prolific performances in NFL history. Only 14 quarterbacks have thrown for more yards in a game, led by Norm Van Brocklin’s mark of 554 yards that has stood since 1951.
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield wouldn’t let missed tackles by the defense take full blame for the loss.
“It looked like it was over a couple times,” Mayfield said. “You know, the back and forth in there and stuff out there. Yeah, that was a crazy scenario there.”
Mayfield said if he had taken advantage of every opportunity “maybe it shouldn’t have even been an overtime situation.”
The NFL comes to London this weekend, with The Minnesota Vikings, one of only two unbeaten sides left in the league, taking on Aaron Rodgers and his New York Jets at Tottenham on Sunday.
