When you hear “Kirk Cousins vs. Jalen Hurts” you generally think of higher scoring games than 9-7. Well, not this time; at least, not until the 4th quarter of the Eagles – Falcons showdown in Philadelphia last night when things started to get real and the two quarterbacks realized that they were in danger of ending the game in single digits. The Eagles and Falcons faced off on Monday Night Football in a surprisingly moribund game that did not offer much drama until the 4th quarter.
Throughout the first three quarters of the game, the score sat, unmoving, taunting fans with its inertia. Neither offense nor defense of either team could get much going. The Falcons came out kind of strong in the first half, but the Eagles sort of rallied in the second, and then Cousins proved he still had some juice left in the tank, setting the stage for a more dramatic conclusion than the rest of the game really deserved.
Kirk Cousins: Old Reliable
As we pointed out in our post “Top 10 Moments of the 2024 Offseason” [Top 10 Moments of the 2024 Offseason], Kirk Cousins has been the subject of much wailing and gnashing of analyst teeth over his contract with the Falcons. Nobody could seem to figure out why Atlanta would both pay him and draft a rookie quarterback in the higher rounds. We suggested that it was because Cousins is a solid, reliable veteran quarterback that can at least get his team to the playoffs, and that solid, reliable veteran quarterbacks that can at least get their teams to the playoffs will always get paid, regardless of when their successors are drafted. In this game, Cousins proved once again why he is, indeed, considered one of the more reliable quarterbacks in the league. His poise under pressure and ability to read the defense were on full display, especially in the game’s final moments. Compare Cousins’s performance to the rookies around the league, and Atlanta’s decision seems far more sensible than the sports media wanted to give them credit for. Suddenly, Michael Penix, Jr. sitting for the next couple of years doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Cousins’ leadership extends beyond his physical abilities on the field, as is usually the case with older veterans. His calm demeanor and clear communication ensure that his teammates know exactly what is expected of them, fostering a sense of unity and confidence.
Eagles Crash Without Brown
Jalen Hurts had basically figured out how to mitigate the loss of AJ Brown, who was out with a hamstring injury. All night he had managed to make plays with his legs and occasionally find holes in the Falcons’ secondary. With 6:47 left on the clock he marched his team into the red zone and then ran the ball in himself for a touchdown to give the Eagles the lead.
Unfortunately, his teammates couldn’t quite keep up with him as the final stretch of the game wore on. Although former Giant Saquon Barkley did mostly well, with 95 yards on the night, along with DeVonta Smith’s 76, neither could pull through in the crucial moments to seal the game. With just under a minute left in the game, Barkley dropped a dime from Hurts in the flat and Philly had to settle for a field goal.
That’s when disaster struck for the Eagles. With just 34 seconds left on the clock and the Falcons trailing by four points, Cousins orchestrated an impressive, game-winning drive. The dirty birds soared down the field, culminating with a perfectly executed touchdown pass by Cousins to secure the win. This is why Atlanta is paying him, despite also drafting Michael Penix.
Hurts finished the game with 23 of 30 completions, for 183 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Cousins ended with 20 of 29 completions, for 241 yards, and 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. The Eagles face off against the Saints and an apparently irate Derek Carr next Sunday at 1:00pm, while the Falcons next contest is against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night at 8:30.