It was a stunning victory for Cousins ​​and the Falcons, but also a shocking defeat for the Eagles, who appeared to have the win wrapped up, holding Atlanta’s passing attack to 171 yards for nearly four quarters before Cousins ​​conjured a magical victory from his helmet.

This was a flop, as they lost the game in Week 1. It was the kind of performance that underscores why the Falcons offered Cousins ​​a lucrative contract this offseason, and it raises the bar for what Atlanta might expect.

“Coming from behind. Finding a way on the road in a tough environment against a good football team,” Cousins ​​said of what made the win special. “That builds some grit, builds some perseverance, builds some character that we’re going to have to lean on as the year goes on. That’s NFL football. We’ve got to get used to it a little bit and get comfortable with it because that’s usually how these games go. The more we get tested and have those moments, the better prepared we’re going to be for what’s coming our way.”

With just 1:39 to play, Cousins ​​took over with the Falcons trailing 21-15. Although he threw a 41-yard touchdown to Darnell Mooney in the third quarter, Cousins ​​was less than stellar for much of the game. Trailing by six points with 70 yards to go, Cousins ​​was sharper than ever.

He looked fearless and threw with authority, completing 5 of 6 passes for a total of 70 yards.

He started with an 11-yarder to Kyle Pitts, then a pair of 20-plus-yard gains to Mooney and finally London, first with a 6-yard hook-up to the Eagles’ 7-yard line. Then, on third-and-5, Cousins ​​found London again, this time hitting it inside the right cone.

The drama wasn’t over yet, however, as London was awarded a controversial unsportsmanlike penalty, forcing Koo to score a game-clinching 48-yard PAT.

Shortly afterwards, Bates secured victory.

While the Eagles were left in disbelief after their home game, the Falcons were cheering.

The first six quarters of the season they played with difficulty against two teams from Pennsylvania.

In Week 1, Cousins ​​threw for just 155 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in an 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On Monday, Cousins ​​and Co. trailed 7-6 at halftime, with the veteran QB completing just 7 of 13 attempts for 75 yards.

In fairness, the Falcons’ running game was productive, at least in terms of yards. Atlanta ran for 109 net yards in the first half, but it was Cousins ​​who revived the offense and led a thrilling comeback.

It wasn’t long ago that Cousins ​​had a reputation for not being ready for prime time, especially Monday night games. He began his career losing his first nine games on Monday nights. Since that 0-9 start, Cousins ​​has changed the narrative. After the thriller in Philly, he has won four of his last five games on Monday nights.

Next, he wants to change the narrative in Atlanta, where Cousins ​​was brought in with hopes of ending a six-season playoff drought.

“It’s so important to find ways to win,” Cousins ​​said. “And that’s how you have a great season, when you have these games that can go either way, you find a way to make it go your way. That’s what this league is. So if we can find those inches, it can really change the story of the season. We’re going to get more of them, and we’re going to have to keep finding ways as a team to make the plays to get it done.”