Kirk Cousins discovers Atlanta Falcons GM's true feelings after Michael Penix Jr. draft

Kirk Cousins was embraced by the Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot after the quarterback orchestrated a game-winning drive against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

Question marks were raised in the offseason when the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the first round despite handing Cousins a four-year, $180 million deal . That was intensified after Cousins struggled to lead Atlanta to victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, where he was sacked in the dying moments by T.J. Watt confirming defeat.

Cousins looked his old self against the Eagles, though, on the road at Lincoln Financial Field, where he threw the Falcons to a narrow 22-21 victory over Philadelphia. He went 20 for 29 on the night for 241 yards and two passing touchdowns.

After the extra point was kicked to end the game in regulation time, Cousins walked off the field and embraced Fontenot, who was ecstatic to see his mega contract and NFL Draft gamble pay off. Fontenot revealed that the decision behind bringing in Cousins with Penix Jr. as his backup was to set forward a succession plan for the Falcons' present and future franchise quarterback.

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"Coming from behind. Finding a way on the road in a tough environment against a good football team," Cousins said after his 70-yard game-winning drive. "That builds resolve, builds some grit, builds some character that we're gonna have to lean on as the year goes on.

"This is how NFL football is. We've got to kind of get used to this and get comfortable in this because that's how these games tend to go. The more we can be battle-tested and have these moments, I think it will set us up well for what's coming down the road."

He added: "It's so important to find ways to win. And that's how you put together a great season is when you have these games that can go either way, you find a way to have it break your way.

"That's the way this league is. So, when we can find those inches, it can really change the tale of the season. We're gonna have more of those up ahead, and we're gonna have to keep, as a whole team, finding ways to make the plays to get it done."

Penix Jr. will remain patiently waiting in the wings for his shot in the NFL. The Falcons will want to carefully manage Cousins, who signed for Atlanta off the back of a major Achilles injury at the Minnesota Vikings.

"Today he went out and played important in the biggest moments, in the biggest times," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said of Cousins. "And those are the things you want to have happen when you get a chance to go out there and get wins. It was great to see with Kirk Cousins."