Peyton Manning reaction speaks volumes as Kirk Cousins pulls off the impossible
Peyton Manning was in total disbelief.
The same for Eli Manning on a national TV broadcast.
Then there were all the Philadelphia Eagles fans, who had just watched a dropped pass from star running back Saquon Barkley ignite an unbelievable 22-21 comeback win for Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football.
“Got him, got him, got him!” Peyton said on the ManningCast.
Cousins, who signed a controversial $180 million contract with Atlanta, reminded NFL fans why he previously was the franchise quarterback in Minnesota with a two-minute drill that was executed to perfection.
“He went out and played important in the biggest moments in the biggest times,” Atlanta coach Raheem Morris said. “Those are things you want to have happen when you have a chance to go out there and get wins. It was great to see today with Kirk Cousins.”
It was a stunning loss for the Eagles, who fell to 1-1 and were painfully reminded of their late-season collapse in 2023.
It was a brilliant last-second victory for Cousins and the Falcons — and it was almost impossible – the math says so.
Atlanta had just a 0.7 percent chance to win with 1 minute and 56 seconds to go.
It was 21-15 after Jake Elliott drilled a 28-yard field goal that gave Philly a commanding 21-15 lead.
That kick was set up by a dropped pass by Barkley, who later blamed himself for the loss.
“I let my team down today,” said Barkley, who ran for 95 yards and added 21 receiving yards, but watched a potential game-sealing third-down pass slip out of his hands.
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The 36-year-old Cousins, who was allowed to walk away by the Vikings after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury, then engineered a six-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that left former Falcons QB Matt Ryan and the Manning brothers stunned.
“We’re down six, we need a touchdown,” Peyton said. “Just the way you like it.”
The veteran QB connected with Darnell Mooney for 21 and 26 yards on the textbook drive, smoothly leading a TD march that Philly had no answer for.
“Eagles always find a way to choke,” a fan tweeted.
“What a final drive,” a second fan posted.
Peyton was equally impressed, referencing past drives against Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots and again leaving his seat in disbelief.
“Manning Bro’s in 2 min are something,” a fan tweeted. “You guys need a GoPro on Peyton. He’s jumps all over the place.”
“One-on-one down here,” said Peyton, pointing at the screen just before Cousins hit Drake London for the most exiting TD of the early season.
“He faked the post and ran the out,” Eli said. “Great timing. Threw it right on time right there.”
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“Hey, Matt,” Peyton said “You called it: That’s the most comfortable Kirk looked all night.”
Atlanta evened its record at 1-1 after the Monday night stunner.
Cousins reminded the NFL that there was a reason he was featured in a Netflix “Quarterback” documentary with reigning Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes.
“When you’re down six, you can certainly, go for broke, but we just tried to take what they gave us and move our way down the field,” Cousins said.
“We were able to get some chunks that basically got us down there, low enough where the clock wasn’t really our enemy.”
It was a brilliant finish and an even better TD from Cousins, who was so impressive he wowed the Manning brothers.
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