For the second time in a month, Kirk Cousins brought his best against the team most likely to challenge the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South.
If Atlanta is to get back to the playoffs, it might make all the difference.
Cousins passed for 276 yards and four touchdowns as Atlanta held on for a 31-26 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. The victory, which came three weeks after Atlanta eked out an overtime win over Tampa Bay in their first meeting, pushes the Falcons (5-3) a full game ahead of the Bucs (4-4) in the division — and gives them the edge should the teams end the year tied in the standings.
Big plays were the story in this meeting, as Cousins connected with Kyle Pitts for touchdowns of 36 and 49 yards and also threw a 30-yard touchdown to Darnell Mooney. Tampa Bay, which by 14 entering the fourth, had a chance to win late, but Baker Mayfield’s Hail Mary sailed over the end zone.
Meanwhile, the loss puts injury-depleted Tampa Bay in a difficult spot. The Bucs, playing without star receivers Chris Godwin (likely out for season) and Mike Evans (out until the team’s Week 11 bye), will face last year’s Super Bowl teams — the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers — in their next two games.
Kyle Pitts 49-yard TOUCHDOWN. #NationalTightEndsDay
📺: #ATLvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/GTk6Nm51LJ— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
Cousins owns Tampa Bay
Cousins would be fine playing Tampa Bay every week, and Falcons fans would take it, too. In two games against the Buccaneers this year, he is 65-of-87 for 785 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception.
Cousins became the fourth quarterback in league history with more than 750 passing yards and eight or more touchdown passes against a single opponent in a season, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Dan Marino, Joe Montana and Y.A. Tittle were the first three. — Josh Kendall, Falcons beat writer
Why this win could have long-term implications
The Falcons officially took a one-game lead over the Buccaneers with the win, but the actual margin is more lopsided in Atlanta’s favor. The Falcons are now 4-0 in the NFC South, with two of those wins coming over the Buccaneers. — Kendall
The Falcons’ unsung hero
KhaDarel Hodge, who had the walk-off 45-yard touchdown reception in overtime the last time these two teams met, made another big play Sunday. This one was more subtle, though.
Hodge, a reserve wide receiver, tackled Tampa Bay’s Tavierre Thomas for a 2-yard loss on a fake punt attempt that gave Atlanta the ball at the Buccaneers’ 36-yard line. The Falcons scored six plays later to take a 31-17 lead on a 6-yard pass from Cousins to Bijan Robinson. — Kendall
How did the Bucs look without Godwin, Evans?
Tampa Bay tight end Cade Otton leaps over the Falcons’ Jessie Bates III. (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
Who needs wide receivers? Maybe not the Bucs. In their first game without Evans and Godwin, Tampa Bay still produced 432 yards of offense, including 330 through the air. In the first half, the Bucs gained 238 yards on 39 plays despite getting only four touches for 42 yards from wide receivers.
Tight end Cade Otton (nine catches, 81 yards, two touchdowns), running back Bucky Irving (16 touches) and running back Rachaad White (11 touches) were focal points of the offense. Jalen McMillan led Tampa’s receivers in catches (four) and targets (seven). — Kendall
Trending up: Bucky Irving
Irving cemented his status as the favorite running back of Buccaneers fans with an electric effort Sunday. The fourth-round pick had 44 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards, and chants of “Buc-ky, Buc-ky, Buc-ky” regularly rang out in Raymond James Stadium. In the first half, he powered a 97-yard touchdown drive that was Tampa Bay’s longest since 2020. — Kendall
Required reading
(Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
