Falcons stun Bucs in overtime behind Kirk Cousins' franchise-record 509 passing yards

The 2024/25 NFL Season is almost here, and Craig Carton, Danny Parkins, and Mark Schlereth make some bold predictions about who makes the playoffs in the NFC. This includes the Atlanta Falcons being the 1-seed.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins passed for 509 passing yards on Thursday night, breaking the team's single-game franchise record, while leading a 36-30 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Cousins broke the record on a night where the Falcons honored former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan, who previously held the record with 448. 

Backup wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge came onto the field in overtime to replace an injured player and stunned the Buccaneers on a 45-yard touchdown. 

"God is real, God is good, I pray for this," Hodge said on the Amazon Prime broadcast after the game. "God was on my side, I just did what I had to do."

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Atlanta.  (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The Falcons had appeared to blow a chance at pulling off a win multiple times late in the game. 

Atlanta trailed Tampa by just three points, 30-27, during an Atlanta drive in the fourth quarter. But a Kirk Cousins pass that was delivered perfectly to wide receiver Darnell Moody on third down was dropped. If Moody made the catch, it would have put the Falcons in the Buccaneers’ red zone, or more. 

After the drop, Falcons kicker Yonghoe Koo had a 54-yard field goal try blocked.

The Falcons got the ball back again, down just three points after Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving fumbled deep inside Atlanta territory on the ensuing drive.