COMING TO TERMS WITH WHAT JUST HAPPENED — Sometimes in the aftermath of a game as crazy as the one the Falcons just played on Thursday night, my notebook is too chaotic to make much sense of. Sometimes the notes I take in-game are so scattered that you really can't understand them unless you're inside of my own brain. But sometimes there's a word that anchors the chaos. That word in the early morning hours of Friday was "anticipation," and it comes from the section of my notebook dedicated to the notes I take in press conferences.
After tossing for a career-high (and franchise record) 509 passing yards in the Falcons' 36-30 win over the Buccaneers, Kirk Cousins took to the podium to discuss the night's calamity. There's one quote I have fixated on since.
It came when Cousins was talking about what was working for this offense Thursday night.
For the first four weeks of the season, Falcons players and coaches have been talking about what's missing from this offensive performance, how they are just waiting for it all to start clicking. Well, for Cousins, things clicked in the second quarter of the game Thursday, on a play that many will overlook in the grand scheme of a wild finish.
On second-and-4 from the Tampa Bay 46-yard line, Cousins connected on an 8-yard gain to Kyle Pitts in the flat. In a game that featured explosive plays of 20-plus yards a piece to Drake London, Darnell Mooney, KhaDarel Hodge, Ray-Ray McCloud and Pitts, too, why did this one 8-yard gain matter? Well, because it mattered because it's the one play that — in Cousins' mind — showed progress in his connection with his receivers.
After the game, it was this play in the second quarter that Cousins talked about when referring to the offense taking a step in the right direction.
"There was a moment in the second quarter where I threw a couple passes where I was basically anticipating where Kyle was going to be or Drake was going to be and I was ahead of it in a good way and I threw it decisively," Cousins explained. "I thought I just hadn't been that decisive the first few weeks. I had been trying to kind of ensure that that's where they are going and ensure that that's what I am seeing before I let it rip.
"I felt tonight that there was a little bit more — now, after four games — where I know where they are going. I know where they are going to be. And I am going to let it rip early. I think that helped me. So, the anticipation I think took another step tonight."
On a call with Dan Patrick Friday morning (from the parking lot of a Waffle House no less), Cousins detailed this moment.
He said he really didn't know exactly what Pitts was going to do at the top of his route. Would he break to the boundary? Would he stick and hold in the flat? In the split second Cousins used to decide to actually toss the ball Pitts' way, he still didn't know for sure. But he had an inkling, an anticipation of what Pitts was thinking. He thought — and hoped — Pitts would stick, and that's exactly what the tight end did, stutter stepping as he turned back to Cousins to hold right at the numbers of the 40-yard line.
It was a pass that resulted in a first down, yes, but it wasn't flashy, nor was it awe-inspiring, but for Cousins and this offense, it may have been everything they've been searching for.
Against the Steelers and Eagles, Cousins said this type of pass wouldn't have been one he was likely to make. He probably would have held onto the ball a beat too long, or even threw the ball away as the pocket collapsed around him. In this game, though, this moment moved the needle, and the chains. But it wasn't the only one in which this anticipation by Cousins showed up.
There were a few option routes of London that Cousins was getting the ball out faster on, which propelled London to a performance of 154-yards receiving on 12 of his 13 total targets. Thursday was London's fourth career game with over 100 receiving yards.
A play that may have been an example of this, like Pitts', also came in the second quarter and was also a moment that could be overlooked.
With 1:27 to go in the first half and with the Falcons on their own 41-yard line, Cousins motioned Mooney out wide. When he did, London clocked Tykee Smith's movements at safety as he stuck in place. As the ball was snapped, London began his route and you see his head turn first to look at Christian Izien deep before looking down Smith in coverage to his right. A stutter step and change of direction towards the sideline at the 45-yard line put Smith trailing London as he broke to the boundary. Before London had even reached the top of his route to break, Cousins was throwing the ball his way, already anticipating him to break left. It was a 7-yard gain for London, one of his shortest of the night, but it was still incredibly meaningful, nonetheless.
Because this small moment? It matters because the best quarterback and pass-catcher duos have this anticipation, trust and decisiveness with each other.
Look throughout Raheem Morris' coaching career for examples and you'll find a lot. This is a coach who has been around some of the most electric QB/WR duos in the league. Think Matt Ryan and Julio Jones in Atlanta. Think Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp in Los Angeles. As opposition, think Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce most recently.
The best pass-game connections are the ones that involve an innate anticipation between quarterback and receiver. To be able to, as Morris points out, "be able to read each other's minds."
"(With Cousins and the Falcons' pass catchers) you saw it getting better and better through OTAs. You saw it get better through camp. But now you're starting to see the fruits of their labor coming to life," Morris explained Friday. "Last night I kind of described it as it becoming muscle memory, and they start to develop a muscle memory with each other and those things showed up on Thursday Night Football."
That stuff, though, takes time. Which coincides with what Cousins himself said after the win.
He was so used to having that muscle memory, anticipation, trust — whatever you want to call it — with his Vikings receivers who he spent four, five, six years with. He's been with guys like London, Mooney and Pitts for four, five, going-on six games.
And that muscle memory doesn't develop without time to cultivate it.
However, Thursday night showed something different for Atlanta. It showed that for Cousins — in moments both big and small — he could feel a certain sense of trust and anticipation bubbling to the surface. It bode well for the Falcons in a win that unlocked the pass game.
"I can really feel it starting to come," Cousins concluded.
Take an overhead look back at the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Week 5, shot on Sony.
View of the field painted in the throwback diamond style end zones before the Week 5 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
View of the field painted in the throwback diamond style end zones before the Week 5 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
View of the field painted in the throwback diamond style end zones before the Week 5 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett #97 runs out before the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter #0 runs out before the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
The Coin Toss before the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes #21 and Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons #31 during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons huddle before the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offense during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Matt Ryan is inducted into the Ring of Honor during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Matt Ryan is inducted into the Ring of Honor during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons huddle during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo #6 and Atlanta Falcons punter Bradley Pinion #13 during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
A general view during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney #1 scores touchdown during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney #1 reacts during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge #12 scores the game winning touchdown in over time during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
A general view from the roof during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Matt Ryan is inducted into the Ring of Honor during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney #1 scores touchdown during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge #12 scores the game winning touchdown in over time during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge #12 scores the game winning touchdown in over time during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons score a touchdown during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge #12 scores the game winning touchdown in over time during the Week 5 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
