Throwing confidently and decisively, Kirk Cousins passed for a career-high 509 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Falcons to an overtime win over the Bucs.
ATLANTA — As Kirk Cousins ran back through Tunnel No. 4 inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium late Thursday night, a small crowd of Atlanta Falcons fans started screaming for his attention, yelling „Kirk!“
Cousins, who had just finished the game of his career in a 36-30 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, looked over, smiled and offered a quick thumbs up.
These were the type of moments the Falcons brought Cousins to Atlanta for in March and paid him $180 million to pull off — when it all mattered, in the final moments, in overtime, to make the plays that mean wins over losses.
On Thursday night, Cousins did that in a performance that set personal and franchise records.
Cousins passed for 509 yards against Tampa Bay, the first time he has ever reached that milestone, breaking his personal best of 460 yards set two years ago. He also set a Falcons record for passing yards in a game, snapping a mark set by former Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, who threw for 503 yards in 2016 against Carolina.
„This is the first time doing that, but honestly, needed an extra quarter to get there with overtime. But Zac kept putting the ball in my hand, gave me a lot of at-bats“, Cousins said, referring to Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
„It’s amazing what you can do when you’re out there on the field and you’re getting more chances.“
Coincidentally, it came on a night where Ryan was put in the Falcons‘ Ring of Honor at halftime. Cousins had opportunity after opportunity to break Ryan’s mark. He completed passes to seven Falcons, including a career-high 12 to receiver Drake London for 154 yards and a touchdown. He also completed nine to receiver Darnell Mooney for 105 yards and two touchdowns and seven to tight end Kyle Pitts for 88 yards.
