PHILADELPHIA – Calm, assured, and composed.

This was how Atlanta Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews characterized quarterback Kirk Cousins during the clutch drive that secured their 22-21 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Night Football.”

“He didn’t hesitate,” Matthews stated.

Cousins approached the moment as if he was in practice.

“You could tell he was experienced,” mentioned Matthews, who has been in the league for 11 years and initially played alongside Matt Ryan.

Despite having faced the Eagles 12 times in his career (with a record of 7-5), this was a different experience for Cousins. He has played at Lincoln Financial Field eight times. This marked his 14th game on “MNF,” and for someone with a less-than-perfect reputation in prime-time games, it was an opportunity to justify the $100 million in guarantees he received from the Falcons after recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.

Cousins has won 4 of his last 5 “MNF” outings. A pivotal moment occurred when Eagles running back Saquon Barkley dropped an easy third-down pass, allowing the Falcons an extra 40 seconds to overcome a six-point deficit. Cousins successfully led the Falcons 70 yards in just six plays, throwing to wide receiver Drake London for a 7-yard touchdown that leveled the score.

“Kirk made excellent throws,” said cornerback Darius Slay, who was outmaneuvered by London for the game-tying score. “You have to respect his game.”

Younghoe Koo’s extra point from 48 yards out, following a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct on London, ultimately decided the game.

“Pure poise,” summed up London when describing Cousins. “He knows what he’s doing, and we have faith in him. We just need to catch the passes he throws.”

Cousins finished the game completing 20 of 29 attempts for 241 yards and two touchdowns, significantly improving in the second half with a 13-for-16 performance, 166 yards, and a passer rating of 149.5.

Facing doubts about his recovery from a severe Achilles injury last season, Cousins appeared to regain his form. He confidently took snaps under center—starting with the first three plays of the game—and executed play-action passes effectively, despite the Falcons running 30 out of 58 plays from shotgun, including all six during the final drive.

The critical drive began at the Falcons’ 30-yard line with 1:39 on the clock. Cousins connected with tight end Kyle Pitts for an 11-yard gain to kick off the series, followed by two successful passes to Darnell Mooney for gains of 21 and 26 yards. Just a few plays later, London celebrated the tying touchdown.

“It felt like we were in practice, everything running smoothly during a two-minute drill,” said Matthews. “It’s not easy, but translating that to a game like we did is a testament to our preparation. We were ready to seize the moment.”

Cousins noted that coming from behind in such a challenging environment helped build character and tenacity that the team would rely on throughout the season.

“This is typical NFL football; we need to adapt and feel comfortable in this setting, as games are often decided this way,” Cousins stated. “The more we face challenging moments, the better we will be prepared for future games.”

However, Cousins didn’t see winning on “MNF” as particularly special.

“I simply aim to play football to the best of my ability, no matter if it’s at noon on a Sunday or a night game during the week,” Cousins remarked.

Head coach Raheem Morris emphasized that securing victories in the playoffs is what truly matters. This win also marked his first victory as the official head coach of the Falcons.

“We’re still far from that target,” Morris said. “We need to position ourselves to experience these critical moments, and while we have yet to showcase that fully, we proved we could win in a tough environment and execute under pressure.”

Later that night at the team hotel, Cousins encountered Nick Foles, who was honored for his Super Bowl achievements and served as the team’s honorary captain. It was a reunion for Cousins and Foles’ parents, whom he hadn’t seen since college back in 2007 at Michigan State University.

Reflecting on the past 17 years brought back fond memories for Cousins.

“Seeing Foles honored made me reminisce, and I told him at the coin toss, ‘It all worked out for both of us,’” Cousins shared, recalling Foles’ subsequent transfer to the University of Arizona. “So, playing here tonight brought back so many memories, and it was a delightful way to secure the win.”