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

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

Cousins ​​broke the record on a night when 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 with a 45-yard touchdown.

“God is real, God is good, I pray for it,” Hodge said on the Amazon Prime show 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 on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The Falcons appeared to have missed the chance to win on several occasions late in the game.

Atlanta trailed Tampa by just three points (30-27) on an Atlanta drive in the fourth quarter. But a pass from Kirk Cousins ​​that was perfectly passed to wide receiver Darnell Moody on third down was discarded. If Moody had made the catch, the Falcons would have gotten into the Buccaneers' red zone, or even further.

After the drop, Falcons kicker Yonghoe Koo knocked down a 54-yard field goal attempt.

The Falcons got the ball back and trailed by just three points after Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving fumbled deep into Atlanta territory on the ensuing drive. But that drive went nowhere as Cousins ​​threw an interception on a fourth down conversion attempt.

The college football team is stranded on buses on the flooded interstate highway during Hurricane Helene's devastation

KhaDarel Hodge (12) of the Atlanta Falcons reacts after recovering a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C Cox/Getty Images)

The Falcons got the ball back again and had another chance to tie or win the game. They were still down by three points with over a minute to play when Tampa punted on the ensuing drive after a 14-year loss.

Cousins ​​led the Falcons back into field goal range and recovered the ball with just one second left. A delay of game penalty extended Koo's field goal attempt to 52 yards, but he managed to send the game into overtime.

The Falcons then got the ball to start overtime, and Cousins ​​initiated the offense in Tampa Bay territory with an 18-yard pass to Drake London. London was injured during the game, so Hodge came off the bench and started the game in London's place. The touchdown pass went to him on the very next play.

The Falcons emerged victorious in a game between two teams from states hit hard by Hurricane Helene.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge (12) celebrates his touchdown after a New Orleans Saints fumble during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Georgia and Florida are among the states most devastated by Helene's destruction. The storm's death toll in Georgia rose to 33 on Thursday, with damage totaling $417 million.

In Florida, several cities were almost wiped out, including the city of Clearwater Beach.

Before the game, the respective teams' two quarterbacks, Cousins ​​and Baker Mayfield, announced that they would each donate $50,000 to Team Rubicon to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.

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