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Former Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins breaks Atlanta Falcons franchise record

Vaseline October 4, 2024

Former Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins has defied all odds since arriving in East Lansing many years ago. Cousins excelled in situations where he was doubted en route to becoming one of the highest-paid players in National Football League history during his thirteen-year career.

He continued to prove doubters wrong by leading the Atlanta Falcons to an improbable 36-30 victory over the Tampa Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football. Cousins credited his teammates with helping pull off the upset victory.

“I’m proud of the way our team fought,” Cousins said after the game. “I’m proud of the resilience we’ve shown to just keep going and keep playing things. I’m just proud of the courage. That’s what this league needs, and we were brutal tonight, so happy to come away with a win.

“Win or lose, I would have been satisfied with the steps we made on offense tonight, but it’s really nice to win and have that moment on the field with your teammates and home fans.”

Cousins noticed his gradual improvement over the first few weeks of the season. Week 1 was the first live-action Cousins had seen since midway through last season, when he tore his Achilles tendon.

“I threw a couple passes where I was anticipating where Kyle (Pitts) would be, where (London) Drake would be,” Cousins said. “And I was a little bit ahead of it in a good way. I threw it decisively.

“I just wasn’t that decisive the first few weeks. I tried to make sure that’s where they’re going and make sure that’s what I see before I let it go.”

Cousins’ 45-yard touchdown in overtime brought Cousins’ total on the night to 509 yards, the most in a single game in Atlanta Falcons history. Cousins broke the record previously held by quarterback Matt Ryan, who set the record during his 2016 MVP season. Cousins broke Ryan’s record on the same night the Falcons inducted Ryan into the team’s Ring of Honor introduced.

Cousins’ 509 passing yards against the Buccaneers are the most in an NFL game this season and the most by a player age 36 or older in league history, according to NFL Research. Cousins has continued his stellar career and continues to be a positive ambassador for the Michigan State football program.

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