Oct 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers operating again Bucky Irving (7) runs in opposition to Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss (55) through the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Dale Zanine-Imagn Photos ATLANTA — KhaDarel Hodge caught a game-winning 45-yard landing with 8:45 left in additional time and Kirk Cousins handed for a franchise-record 509 yards because the Atlanta Falcons beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 36-30 on Thursday evening.
After Younghoe Koo’s 52-yard subject purpose despatched the sport to additional time as regulation expired, Cousins discovered Hodge, who had zero receptions getting into the competition, for the game-winner.
Cousins accomplished 42 of 58 passes whereas surpassing Matt Ryan’s yardage mark of 503 in 2016. Cousins threw for 4 touchdowns and an interception, because the Falcons (3-2) gained their second straight. Drake London caught 12 balls for 154 yards and a rating, whereas Darnell Mooney caught 9 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
Baker Mayfield threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns, whereas Mike Evans caught 5 passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns for the Buccaneers (3-2).
Trailing 24-17 at halftime, the Falcons minimize into the deficit with Koo’s 48-yard subject purpose with 6:21 left within the third quarter. Tampa Bay answered on the next drive with Chase McLaughlin’s 32-yard subject purpose on the 1:17 mark of the third.
On the subsequent drive, the Falcons superior to the Tampa Bay 10-yard line. After Tyler Allgeier was tackled for a lack of 2 on third-and-two, Cousins discovered Mooney for a game-tying 12-yard rating with 13:18 left within the fourth quarter.
McLaughlin’s 53-yard subject purpose stamped the following Tampa Bay drive, because the Buccaneers reclaimed the lead with 10:23 remaining. After Mooney dropped what would have been a first-down reception, Koo’s 54-yard subject purpose try was blocked by Tavierre Thomas with 6:29 left.
Jessie Bates III then compelled a Bucky Irving fumble, which Atlanta recovered by itself 25 with 2:50 left. Nonetheless, Lavonte David picked off Cousins on fourth-and-15, earlier than Tampa Bay punted after a 30-second drive.
After a nine-play, 46-yard drive, Koo tied the sport with a 52-yard subject purpose as time expired.
On the sport’s opening possession, Cousins led the offense on a seven-play, 70-yard scoring drive, culminated with London’s 18-yard receiving landing.
Mayfield then capped a scoring drive with a 2-yard landing go to Evans, knotting the rating at 7 with 7:36 remaining within the first quarter.
After Koo’s missed 41-yard subject purpose, Tampa Bay took its first lead on McLaughlin’s 53-yard subject purpose with 1:22 left within the opening quarter.
After Cousins and Mayfield exchanged passing touchdowns to start the second quarter, Mayfield answered Koo’s 54-yarder with a 4-yard passing landing to Sterling Shepard.
–Jack Batten, Area Degree Media
