Since Matt Ryan left in 2021, the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback position has been a revolving door. After last night, it’s safe to say we officially have another true franchise quarterback: Kirk Cousins.

During the October 3 game against division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cousins ​​was simply sensational. He threw for 509 yards and went 42 of 58 with four touchdowns and just one interception. And more importantly, he secured the home win in extra time. Cousins ​​showed his clutch gene, first by orchestrating a game-tying drive at the end of regulation to send it into OT and then the game-winning drive on the first possession of OT. He threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to back up wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge, bringing joy to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“God is real; God is good – I pray for this,” Hodge said during the post-match broadcast. “God was on my side – I just did what I had to do.”

God was clearly on the Falcons’ side last night. In the fourth quarter, the Falcons trailed 30-27 and fumbled several drives that could have won or tied the game. First, it was a perfectly placed drop pass from Darnell Mooney; Then the next possession was an interception by Cousins. Despite all that, the Falcons had one last chance to force OT, and they did so with a Younghoe Koo field goal with one second left.

In overtime, the Falcons won the coin toss – and from then on it was all Atlanta. Cousins ​​surgically drove off the field and refused to give Baker and the Bucs even a chance to win. It was probably a good thing the Bucs never got the ball, because Baker Mayfield was cooking too. His stats weren’t all that flashy — 180 passing yards and three touchdowns — but all he could focus on after the game were the missed opportunities.

“I had several chances, that (Atlanta) punt they made (to send the game into overtime), they should have needed a touchdown,” Mayfield said. “That (the foul) is definitely my fault. We shouldn’t have even been in the overtime situation.”

Cousins ​​was the star of the night, but his career night wouldn’t have happened without some incredible performances from a few of his teammates. He threw to seven different Falcons: wide receiver Drake London caught 12 targets for 154 yards and a touchdown; receiver Darnell Mooney caught nine for 105 yards and two touchdowns. And – after not catching a single pass in last week’s win – tight end Kyle Pitts caught seven targets for 88 yards.

Who would have thought that on the night the Falcons honored Ryan, Cousins ​​would have the game of his life? He set a career high in passing yards – the first time he ever passed for more than 500 yards, breaking his personal record of 460 yards set at Minnesota. This mark would also break Ryan’s franchise record of 503 yards that he set during his MVP season in 2016.

Cousins ​​showed all of Atlanta something last night: he is a legitimate franchise QB. This is no Marcus Mariota. This is no Desmond Ridder. This isn’t Taylor Heinicke. The quarterback position struggles that the Falcons have faced over the past three seasons are a thing of the past. Atlanta finally has a QB that gives them a chance to win every week. He showed that five days ago with a winning game against the rival New Orleans Saints, and he showed it to the whole world during Thursday Night Football on October 3. Winning the division – and hosting a playoff game – now looks like a real possibility.

As Cousins ​​likes to say: Atlanta, you like that?