In what could be considered one of the most momentous moves of the NFL off-season, the Atlanta Falcons made a splash by signing Kirk Cousins on March 13th. This signing was seen as a major coup for the Falcons, adding a seasoned quarterback to their roster.
Just 43 days later, the Falcons shocked the football world once again by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick in the draft. This move raised eyebrows as Penix, at the age of 24, is one of the oldest quarterbacks ever taken in the first round. The pressure is now on for Penix to prove himself and earn some playing time.
Fast forward to Monday night, where Kirk Cousins put on a show that justified why Penix might have to wait his turn. In a nail-biting game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, the Falcons found themselves trailing 21-15 with only 1:39 left on the clock, no timeouts, and 70 yards to go. Cousins, who had a modest 171 passing yards up to that point, orchestrated a game-winning drive that culminated in a seven-yard touchdown pass to Drake London for a 22-21 victory. With this win, Cousins improved his prime-time record to 13-20.
Before this defining drive, the Falcons had struggled to generate explosive passing plays, with only one such play all night and just two for the season. However, Cousins showcased his talent by connecting with Darnell Mooney for 21 and 26-yard passes, setting up the Falcons in the red zone.
Now sitting at 1-1 after a thrilling victory, both the Falcons and Cousins seem to have a renewed sense of optimism. This new trajectory seemed unlikely just moments before Eagles running back Saquon Barkley dropped a pass that could have sealed the game for Philadelphia.
With all the drama and excitement surrounding the Falcons and Cousins, one thing is for sure – the NFL season is just getting started, and there are sure to be more twists and turns ahead.
