ATLANTA (AP) — Kirk Cousins has found his comfort zone in his new Atlanta Falcons offense.
That exciting realization came in the second quarter of Cousins' record-setting 36-30 overtime win over Tampa Bay on Thursday night. Cousins said he felt more decisive in his passes to such targets as Drake London and Kyle Pitts and realized he could “let it rip.”
The more confident Cousins set a personal and team record by passing for 509 yards and four touchdowns, including a game-winning 45-yard scoring pass to KhaDarel Hodge. The flurry of touchdowns was especially dramatic one week after Atlanta's offense was held out of the end zone in a 26-24 win over New Orleans.
“It was a drive in the second quarter when I threw a couple passes where I was basically anticipating where Kyle was going to be or where Drake was going to be," Cousins said of his new-found comfort zone.
“I was ahead of it a little bit in a good way and threw it decisively. I just haven’t been that decisive the first few weeks. I’ve been trying to ensure that’s where they’re going and ensure that’s what I’m seeing before I let it rip.”
Added Cousins of his ability to better anticipate receivers' routes: "That’s what I was used to kind of having when you play with guys for three, four, five, six years. I can feel it starting to come.”
Falcons coach Raheem Morris remained even-keeled when he described Cousins' night as “OK” and added "We’re just scratching the surface with him.”
If so, that's bad news for the NFC South after the Falcons (3-2) moved into a tie for first place in the division with the Buccaneers.
The Falcons took advantage of impressive depth and balance in their passing game. London had game-high totals of 12 catches for 154 yards and scored a touchdown. He had ample support as five players had more than 60 receiving yards and Cousins completed passes to seven targets. With nine catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns, Darnell Mooney continues to surpass expectations as a relatively quiet offseason addition from Chicago.
Defensive tackle David Onyemata recorded the Falcons' only sack. Through five games, Atlanta ranks last in the league with five sacks.
Pitts' 88 yards receiving were a high mark since the tight end's 2021 rookie season. His seven receptions tied for the second-highest total in his four-year career. Before Thursday night, Pitts did not have more than three catches or 59 yards in a game this season.
Younghoe Koo made each of his nine field goals in the first four games before encountering some difficulty against the Bucs. Koo had a 54-yard attempt blocked in the fourth quarter after he was wide left on attempts from 46 and 41 yards in the first quarter. The 46-yarder was negated by an offside penalty against the Bucs. Koo made three attempts, including a 52-yarder at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime.
The Falcons will have extra time to heal. A player to watch will be CB Dee Alford, who left in the first half with a concussion. Also, the status of LB Troy Andersen will be a key next week. Andersen was the NFC defensive player of the week after leading the team in tackles and scoring a touchdown against the Saints, but he did not play against Tampa Bay due to a knee injury.
250 x 2 — Cousins passed for 253 yards in the first half and 256 in the second half, plus overtime. The Falcons cited research from OptaSTATS that showed Cousins to be the only quarterback in the Super Bowl era to throw for at least 250 yards in each half of a game.
Following home wins over New Orleans and Tampa Bay, Atlanta will try to continue its strong start in the division when it visits the Carolina Panthers (1-3) on Oct. 13.
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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (1) reacts after his score against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris speaks to the media after the team defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during overtime in an NFL football game Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) celebrates after throwing a game-wining touchdown pass to wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during overtime in an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) celebrates with the fans after the team defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during overtime in an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
REDFORD CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris denounced Donald Trump as a “union buster" as she campaigned in the labor stronghold of Michigan on Friday, stepping up her political battle with the former president for the support of working-class voters who could tip the scales in this year's election.
Harris' remarks followed U.S. dockworkers suspending their strike in hopes of reaching a new contract, sparing the country a damaging episode of labor unrest that could have rattled the economy. A tentative agreement was reached to raise salaries, although other issues still needed to be resolved.
Visitng a firehouse in Redford Charter Township, outside Detroit, the vice president shouted out to “labor brothers and sisters” that the tentative dockworker agreement demonstrated the power of collective bargaining.
“We know, when union wages go up, all wages go up," Harris told a small firehouse crowd featuring representatives from different unions. ”And the bottom line is, when unions are strong America is strong."
She also directly went after her opponent, saying Trump “has been a union-buster his entire career" who would launch a “full on attack” against organized labor.
Trump is “making the same empty promises to the people of Michigan that he did before," Harris said, "Hoping you will forget how he let you down.”
Harris was set to speak later in Flint and her campaign said she'd use those remarks to criticize Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, on auto jobs. She planned to point directly to Vance, who while campaigning in Michigan on Wednesday refused to commit to continue federal support going to the GM plant in Lansing.
Unions have long been a bedrock of support for Democrats, but Harris has failed to secure some key endorsements. The International Association of Fire Fighters announced this week that it wouldn't back a candidate this year, following a similar announcement from the Teamsters. Both unions endorsed Joe Biden four years ago.
Still, Harris was introduced and endorsed at the firehouse by Matthew Sahr, president of Michigan firefighters. Similarly, some Teamsters groups have publicly backed the vice president even as their national union has opted not to make formal endorsements.
There were nonetheless warning signs for Harris.
Justin Pomerville, the business manager at UA Local 85 in Michigan, said 70% of his members’ work hours are tied to the CHIPS and Science Act, which the Biden administration championed and pumped billions of dollars into semiconductor manufacturing.
The workers lay complex networks of pipes that carry exhaust, water and chemicals through high-tech facilities. However, Pomerville said that some members aren’t aware of the connection between their jobs and the legislation.
“Unless someone tells them they’re working because of that, they don’t know,” he said.
It's not a total cold union shoulder for Harris. She won quick endorsements from national teachers unions, the building trades, the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers after replacing Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket.
But the divide within the labor community is a reminder of shifting loyalties in American politics. Democrats have increased their support among white-collar professionals while Republicans try to make inroads among voters who didn’t attend college.
During a rally in Saginaw, Michigan on Thursday, Trump claimed that Republicans are now “the party of the American worker,” glossing over his anti-union record as president. In a reference to labor unrest at the country’s ports, he insisted that “under my leadership Americans won’t have to go on strike for a better wage or a better life.”
The former president also made a trip to Flint last month in an event billed as focusing on the auto industry, a pillar of the battleground state. The two candidates have been in the same cities — and in some cases the exact same venues — within days or weeks of each other.
Pomerville, who is also president of the Tri-County Building and Construction Trades Council, said “We’re voting our pocketbooks" and “It’s got to be our job to get that message out.”
But he warned that “Trump has done an amazing job at marketing false facts” and his message is resonating with some of the union members.
”It’s particularly potent with men who appreciate his anti-establishment message and are exhausted by politics in general," said Pomerville who added that when people try to talk about the election with them, “you can watch some of their walls go up.”
Trump was spending Friday in Georgia with Gov. Brian Kemp, the latest sign that he's patched up his rocky relationship with the top Republican in a key battleground state. Later in the day, he’s holding a campaign event in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Union voters have traditionally leaned toward Democrats, with 56% supporting Biden in 2020. But Trump has pushed hard to win over blue-collar workers traditionally represented by some of the biggest unions. He won 62% of white voters without college degrees — though only 24% of non-white voters without college degrees — in 2020.
It’s frustrating for Democrats, who point to the country's strong labor market — 254,000 jobs were added in September, more than expected — and the White House’s firm support for unions. Biden even joined a UAW picket line last year.
Labor relations could have been a dominant issue in the closing weeks of the presidential campaign if the dockworkers strike continued, leading to snarled ports and shortages on store shelves.
AP Writer Will Weissert contributed from Washington.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he arrives at Augusta Regional Airport to visit areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at Augusta Regional Airport to visit areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Redford Township Fire Department North Station, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Redford Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Redford Township Fire Department North Station, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Redford Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the Ryder Center at Saginaw Valley State University, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in University Center, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she departs after speaking at a campaign rally at Ripon College, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Ripon, Wis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
