A game that seemed lost for Atlanta on Thursday night somehow wound up with the Falcons in a tie for first place with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kirk Cousins threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to KhaDarel Hodge on the first drive of overtime as the Falcons stunned the Bucs, 36-30.
Hodge was only in the game because Drake London had been injured on the previous play and had to come out of the game.
Cousins found Hodge, who raced into the end zone for the stunning win.
ITS OVER FOLKS! @ATLANTAFALCONS WIN! pic.twitter.com/0siBNxaHKQ
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2024
Talk your talk, Hodge! 🗣️🗣️🗣️ pic.twitter.com/skmKwNAWN5
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2024
Cousins had a monster game, completing 42-of-58 passes for 509 yards and four touchdowns.
A perfect celebration in the locker room for the @AtlantaFalcons! pic.twitter.com/cdQ8ijkXir
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2024
The reason the result was so surprising is the Falcons seemed headed for defeat when Cousins threw an interception to Lavonte David with 1:52 left.
CHAOS AGAIN! @Buccaneers with the pick!!!#TBvsATL on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/YR1Cnys7NE— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2024
Tampa Bay was unable to run out the clock as the Falcons called timeouts and the Bucs were called for a holding penalty that took them out of field-goal range.
Cousins led a game-tying drive that featured one of the gutsiest calls of the season. With 12 seconds left, Cousins found London for 14 yards. However, the wideout was tackled in the field of play and Atlanta had used all of its timeouts.
Cousins got the Falcons set at the line and spiked the ball with one second left.
GOT THE FIRST DOWN AND SPIKED WITH ONE SECOND TO GO
OMG pic.twitter.com/lJafzVlvip
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2024
Younhoe Koo, who was 2-for-4 to that point, kicked a 52-yard field goal only after Atlanta had been called for delay of game.
OVERTIME BABY!!!!!#TBvsATL on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/BtDiRkmBAI— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2024
The kick tied the game at 30 and set up the game-winning drive in OT. It covered 70 yards in four plays and only took 1:15.
Both teams are 3-2 after five weeks in the NFL season.
KIRKO. FALCONS. WHAT A NIGHT pic.twitter.com/NHNfy0yxYT
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2024
