After hearing coach Raheem Morris repeatedly say his team needs to “find a way” to win games, the Falcons finally found a way to win.
They did it against a team they could ill afford to lose to, not just because of the damage it would do to their further diminished playoff hopes, but also to their already hurt pride. The New Orleans Saints, a longtime rival themselves down and out with a terrible record and desperate to get out of the NFC South cellar, didn’t make it easy for the Dirty Birds, but the Falcons left the Caesars Superdome holding all aces with a 24-10 win.
With their original starting quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., out of action due to a season-ending injury, Kirk Cousins once again stepped into the role of lead passer for the Falcons. He showed today a performance that hasn’t been seen from him since mid-season last year, when he was swag-surffing and running through the locker room jubulently screaming “You like that!!??” after a win to anyone in sight. Then the wheels came off the following week.
Kirkeaux pic.twitter.com/n6ICtYQ7vY
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 24, 2025
Cousins didn’t make this win happen on his own. He had help, namely WR Darnell Mooney, who caught a 49-yard pass from Cousins and took it to the end zone. He totaled 74 receiving yards for 3 carries and that touchdown. Impressive production after being sidelined by injuries for a lot of this season.
“It felt great,” Mooney said after the game. “It was amazing to be out there today. A little out of shape. But I felt good.”
David Sills took another of Cousins’ passes to the endzone. Bijan Robinson kept moving the ball down the field enough to total 70 rushing yards from 14 carries.
The offensive victories were part of the story of this team’s win, the first in five games. The defense performed too, with Dee Alford and his 10 tackles. Kaden Elliss and the returning Divine Deablo with 9 and 8 tackles, respectively. The defense also brought another heaping helping of sacks, with Jalon Walker, Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, and James Pearce Jr. all totaling five sacks today. It’s the fourth consecutive week the Falcons’ defense has delivered five or more sacks.
X marked the W pic.twitter.com/TbJrBoK3Xy
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 24, 2025
Cousins has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, namely the 199 passing yards he put on the Falcons’ plate. He went 16 of 23 and got 2 touchdowns. He could have left that one interception off his plate, though. His performance was filling enough to be this week’s Baller Of The Game.
Not that there weren’t mistakes. The Falcons racked up penalties, 9 total, that cost them 82 yards. They still struggled on 3rd down, going 3 of 12 conversion attempts. And the coaching, although not a complete disaster unlike previous weeks, still had ill-advised coach challenges and clock management issues.
But this is a team win. The Falcons (or at least the ones well enough to play; there were 21 players on the injured list) worked together to get this win. And they did it on the road, against the New Orleans Saints.
“It’s never easy,” said a grateful Cousins after the game. “I feel like most wins are team wins, but this certainly was one.”
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