2024 NFL Season, Week 5: What We Learned From Falcons’ Win Over Buccaneers on Thursday Night

1. Cousins Leads Falcons to Dramatic Overtime Victory with 509 Yards Passing

 

For those waiting to see the Falcons’ offense hit its stride, Thursday night provided the answer. Kirk Cousins delivered an outstanding performance, throwing for a career-high 509 yards and guiding Atlanta to a thrilling overtime win. Despite a late interception that put the Falcons in a tough spot, Cousins rallied his team, overcoming a 30-27 deficit with just 1:52 left in regulation.

 

At that point, Atlanta’s chances of winning were only 5%, according to Next Gen Stats. However, a key defensive stop and a penalty that pushed Tampa Bay out of field-goal range gave the Falcons a chance. Cousins took advantage, orchestrating a drive that set up a game-tying field goal to send the game into overtime.

 

 

In the extra period, the Falcons’ offense remained sharp. Even after losing top receiver Drake London to injury, KhaDarel Hodge stepped up, catching a 45-yard walk-off touchdown on the very next play to seal the win. The game showcased the Falcons’ potential on offense, with Cousins at the helm.

 

 

2. Mayfield Shines but Bucs’ Mistakes Prove Costly

 

 

While Cousins was dominant, Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield had a strong performance as well. After a rough outing in Week 3, Mayfield bounced back with a three-touchdown first half on Thursday. He seemed in control, even contributing with his legs in key moments. However, the Buccaneers struggled in the second half, scoring only six points.

 

A late fumble by Bucky Irving, combined with a missed facemask call, left the door open for the Falcons to tie it and eventually win in overtime. Despite a solid game from Mayfield, the Bucs’ inability to finish off the game on offense allowed the Falcons to capitalize on mistakes.

 

 

3. Falcons Spread the Wealth on Offense

 

 

Though not perfect, the Falcons’ offense was impressive throughout the game, particularly in the passing game. They overcame penalties and a dropped pass from Darnell Mooney to keep moving the ball. Kyle Pitts was more involved than in previous weeks, racking up seven catches for 88 yards.

 

London was unstoppable, finishing with 12 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown, including a key 14-yard grab late in regulation to set up the tying field goal. In overtime, London’s contributions helped set up Hodge’s game-winner. This performance showed what the Falcons’ offense is capable of when they play to their full potential—if they can clean up the self-inflicted errors.

 

 

4. Bucs’ Defense Struggles Against Falcons’ Passing Attack

 

 

The Buccaneers’ defense, which had been strong just days earlier against the Eagles, couldn’t contain Cousins and the Falcons’ passing attack. Despite good run defense, Tampa Bay’s secondary was exploited, with Cousins piling up 253 passing yards by halftime.

 

The Bucs were already shorthanded, missing starting safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jordan Whitehead, and it showed. The secondary was repeatedly beaten, with coverage breakdowns allowing several big plays. Tampa Bay also missed opportunities to seal the game, including an interception by Lavonte David that could have clinched a victory.

 

 

5. A Big Win for Raheem Morris, but Mistakes Nearly Cost Falcons

 

 

For head coach Raheem Morris, Thursday’s victory was sweet, especially as it came against his former team. The win was crucial for the Falcons, who were on the brink of falling to 1-3 at home. However, the win wasn’t without its flaws. The Falcons made several special teams mistakes, including two missed field goals by Younghoe Koo and a blocked attempt in the fourth quarter.

 

They also allowed long kick returns and had a delay-of-game penalty before Koo’s game-tying kick. On defense, A.J. Terrell dropped an interception early, and the secondary struggled to contain Mike Evans. Despite these issues, the Falcons pulled out the win, but Morris and the team will know they were fortunate to escape.

 

 

6. Next Gen Stats Insight

 

Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge reached a top speed of 19.70 mph on his game-winning 45-yard touchdown reception in overtime. His touchdown was one of the most improbable of the season, with just a 0.03% chance of occurring, according to Next Gen Stats.

 

N/B: NFL Research

 

Kirk Cousins became the 13th player in NFL history to throw for 500 or more yards and four or more touchdowns in a single game.