CNN
—

The Atlanta Falcons literally waited until the last minute to win their first game of the new NFL season. Kirk Cousins ​​led a late drive to a 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.

With 1:39 left and trailing by six points, the veteran quarterback held his nerve and took on the Falcons for a 70-yard drive, closing the game with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Drake London with 34 seconds left.

Younghoe Koo then scored the decisive extra point after London was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Cousins ​​was making only his second appearance for the Falcons after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in October while playing for the Minnesota Vikings.

The four-time Pro Bowler was brought in for his invaluable veteran leadership and – after a tough Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers – the Falcons got exactly what they paid for in a winning drive.

Although he doesn’t feel he’s delivered his best performance, the 36-year-old hopes Monday’s win will be the catalyst for the season.

“I’m still not sharp enough. I felt like I wasn’t sharp enough today, not accurate enough. I have to get better,” Cousins ​​said immediately after the game.

“But that last drive can hopefully give us a boost for next week and we can build on that.

“I was happy with the way we finished tonight, but there is still so much that can be improved.”

“Today he stepped out on the field and played a big role in the biggest moments, the biggest moments,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said of Cousins ​​after the game.

“And those are the things you want to happen when you get the opportunity to go out there and win. It was great to see with Kirk Cousins.”

Cousins ​​finished the night 20 of 29 for 241 yards and two touchdowns, also throwing a 41-yard touchdown to Darnell Mooney in the third quarter.

In reality, Cousins ​​was not at his best throughout the game and the Eagles had a chance to decide the game just before the end.

New Eagles running back Saquon Barkley dropped a pass late in the fourth quarter that proved to be the deciding factor. The former Giants star muffed an easy catch on a Jalen Hurts throw, resulting in the Eagles having to kick a field goal instead of running out the remaining time on the clock.

The missed pass gave Cousins ​​and the Falcons the chance to advance on the other side, an opportunity the visitors did not waste.

On Atlanta’s final drive, Eagles quarterback Hurts saw his pass intercepted by Jessie Bates in the final moments of a dramatic game, prompting wild celebrations from the Falcons’ bench.

The Falcons (1-1) hope the win will motivate them when they host the two-time reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) on Sept. 22.

Meanwhile, the Eagles (1-1) travel to New Orleans to play the red-hot Saints (2-0) on Sunday as Philly tries to get back on a winning streak.