October 3, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Pitching during the game. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images If there’s one constant about Raheem Morris’ Atlanta Falcons, it’s a flair for the dramatic.
In Morris' five games at the helm, the Falcons are 3-2, with the margin in each game being within eight points. Over the past two weeks, Atlanta has been able to get the job done in the final seconds of every game.
After defeating the New Orleans Saints 26-24 in Week 4 on Younghoe Koo's last-second field goal, the Falcons pulled off an incredible comeback to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 36-30 in overtime on Thursday.
On defense, the Falcons, trailing by three with less than two minutes left, forced a punt on Kirk Cousins, who finished with 509 yards ’s single-game passing yards set a team’s single-game passing yards, and with 1 second left in the game, the Falcons took the offense to the 34-yard line. With rules expiring, that was just enough time for Goole to hit a 52-yard field goal that tied the game.
Atlanta then pulled away with the victory after just four plays in overtime, when Cousins found the rarely used KhaDarel Hodge for the 3-yarder in overtime. Completed a 45-yard touchdown.
With week five's work completed, the series can now take a collective deep breath before a stress-free Sunday viewing slate.
“I gave the guys 'Victory Friday,'” Morris said the day after the latest win. “They may come in on their own, get some treatment if they need to, do what they need to do in the gym, but they don't need to be in the building today.”
As exciting as the past two wins have been, the opponents the Falcons defeated make this victory even more impressive. Atlanta is currently in first place in the division with three weeks of games against NFC South opponents and tiebreakers with New Orleans and Tampa Bay.
“The importance of conference play is always very high,” Morris said. “We've discussed this from the beginning. The only way to overtake the South is to beat the South's opponents. Back-to-backs like this are always a big deal, and to do it in dramatic fashion.” Fashion.
Now, Morris and his team have a short bye week before taking on the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 13.
“I'm going to watch everybody play on Sunday,” Morris said when asked if he would be watching the Panthers play this weekend. “That's the best part of the Thursday night game. You go home on Sunday and Sitting on the couch watching RedZone on one TV and the local game on the other I can’t wait.”
–Scene-level media