The Falcons saved their best for last in Monday night’s rally at the Eagles

PHILADELPHIA – Kirk Cousins ​​exorcised the demons of “Monday Night Football” and got the Atlanta Falcons their first win of the season with one drive.

Down six and with 1:39 remaining, Cousins ​​took the Falcons 70 yards and found wide receiver Drake London for a 7-yard, go-ahead touchdown with 34 seconds left. Atlanta escaped Lincoln Financial Field with a 22-21 victory in week 2. Cousins ​​moved to 4-10 on Friday night and has won four of the past five MNF games.

Cousins ​​was 20-of-29 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has 97 yards on 14 carries and 122 total yards from scrimmage. The Eagles went ahead with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jalen Hurts with 6:47 left.

Here are the most important things to know from Monday night for both teams:

For at least eight quarters, the Falcons looked like they really needed to figure it out on offense.

For the second week in a row, the team sputtered on the ball side, which should be the main strength with the addition of quarterback Kirk Cousins. But Cousins ​​has yet to return after missing the 2023 season with a torn right Achilles. And, despite a strong offense, Atlanta couldn’t convert on third downs or in the red zone.

Until the closing time of the game. Cousins ​​took the team 70 yards and connected with wide receiver Drake London for the go-ahead touchdown with just 34 seconds left. That didn’t erase the uneven play from Atlanta’s offense in the first two games. But it was enough to put a notch in the win column, at least.

The Falcons really needed a win against the Eagles. Over the next few weeks, things could get tough, especially with the way the team is playing. Atlanta hosts the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty next week in prime time. After that? The Falcons welcome the rival New Orleans Saints and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams, Atlanta’s NFC South rivals, are currently undefeated.

Cousins ​​and the Falcons have to hope that last-minute drives will now be the rule, not the exception. This is the NFL, and it’s all over here.

Promising trends: Bijan Robinson is the focal point of the team’s offense, which is critical of the Falcons’ playcalling in 2023. The second-year running back became the first Falcons running back to have 100 or more yards from scrimmage on each of the first two teams. game in the season since Michael Turner in 2011.

Eye stats: Cousins ​​has 51 pass touchdowns against the blitz over the past five seasons, which is tied for the most in the NFL during the period with Josh Allen. Patrick Mahomes is third with 47. That’s a glimpse of what the Falcons could have if Cousins ​​returns to his pre-injury form.

The biggest hole in the game plan: The Falcons secondary provided quite good coverage, and the pass rush had moments, but Hurts could improvise and make big plays with his feet. Atlanta had no answer for him, and it resulted in Hurts converting two fourth downs, three crucial third downs and scoring with his feet. — Marc Raimondi

Next game: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 22)

Life without receiver AJ Brown can be a slog. The Eagles were reminded that during the slugfest on Saturday night against the Falcons as Brown sat out with a hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him for several games.

Still, it seems they have done enough to muscle through the Falcons – and then the wheels come off. Atlanta mounted a lightning-quick six-play, 70-yard drive in 1:05 to stun the capacity Lincoln Financial Field crowd and drop the Eagles to 1-1.

The road gets tougher from here. He played the New Orleans Saints and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before Week 5.

Adversity has struck this team early. After falling 1-6 last season, all eyes will be on whether the Eagles can pick up the pieces after the gut punch of the loss.

Describe the game in two words: A brutal loss. The victory was in the hands of the Eagles before Atlanta broke away with a six-play, 70-yard drive in the closing moments. A last effort by the Eagles offense ended in a Hurts interception.

Pivotal play: Nursing a three-point lead with less than two minutes remaining, the Eagles faced a third-and-3 deep in Atlanta territory. Hurts had Saquon Barkley open in the flat, but Barkley dropped, forcing Philadelphia to settle for a field goal. Moments later, the Falcons mounted a game-winning drive.

Disturbing trends: The Eagles edge rushers struggled to put the heat on the quarterback for the second straight week. Much of the focus will be on Bryce Huff, the former Jet who signed a three-year, $51 million deal in free agency to offset the eventual departure of Haason Reddick. He had zero pressure through two games.

Fun Stats: Kirk Cousins ​​hit just 2 of 14 dropbacks (14%) in the first half, the lowest rate he’s faced in a half since Week 1 of 2023. — Tim McManus

Next game: at New Orleans Saints (1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 22)