Kirk Cousins spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the then-Washington Redskins before departing after the 2017 season to sign with the Minnesota Vikings.
After six record-setting seasons in Minnesota, Cousins signed a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason. After a rough start to his Atlanta career in a Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cousins and the Falcons were on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Cousins played much better in his second game for the Falcons, but it looked like Atlanta was headed for an 0-2 start until Eagles running back Saquon Barkley gave his opponents a gift.
With the Eagles in the red zone, instead of running the ball and burning more clock, Philadelphia chooses to throw the ball, and quarterback Jalen Hurts found a wide-open Barkley on third-and-3. Here’s what happened:
Barkley dropped what would’ve been a game-winning first down. So, on fourth down, the Eagles kicked a field goal, taking a 21-15 lead, but Cousins and the Falcons would have one minute and 35 seconds to score a touchdown.
How would Cousins respond?
The 13th-year quarterback led the Falcons on a six-play, 70-yard drive that took just over one minute of game time before finding wide receiver Drake London in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Atlanta made the point-after attempt, taking a 22-21 lead.
The Eagles had one more chance, but Atlanta safety Jessie Bates intercepted Jalen Hurts to shock the Philadelphia crowd.
The Eagles fall to 1-1 and are now in a first-place tie with the Dallas Cowboys and Cousins’ old team — the Washington Commanders — for first place in the NFC East. Yes, it’s early, but you aren’t going to find any Washington fans sad to see the Eagles lose on a Monday night.
Unfortunately for the Commanders, they will be on next week’s edition of Monday Night Football against the winless and fired-up Cincinnati Bengals.
It may not last long, but Washington can enjoy first place for a few days, thanks to Cousins.