NFL Thursday night: Former Alabama prep star catches 2 TD passes in Falcons’ OT win

Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 509 yards and four touchdowns, including a 45-yarder to wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge on the opening possession in overtime, in the Falcons’ 36-30 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.

Two of Cousins’ touchdown passes in the NFC South game went to wide receiver Darnell Mooney. The former Gadsden City High School star came down with a 24-yard touchdown toss as Atlanta took a 14-10 lead with 11:58 left in the first half and caught a 12-yard TD pass as the Falcons tied the game at 27-27 with 13:18 left in the fourth quarter.

Mooney had nine receptions for 109 yards as Cousins set a franchise record for single-game passing yards. But in his first NFL game with two touchdown receptions and his fifth 100-yard game, Mooney almost went from hero to goat.

With Atlanta trailing 30-27, Mooney dropped a third-and-6 pass that would have been a first down and, because the Tampa Bay defender had fallen down, maybe a touchdown with 6:37 to play.

The Bucs then blocked Younghoe Koo’s field-goal attempt to keep a three-point lead.

On the Falcons’ next possession, Cousins was intercepted trying to connect with Mooney.

Atlanta got one more chance with 64 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, and Cousins hit Mooney for 17 yards as the longest play in a 51-yard drive that netted a game-tying field goal by Koo as time expired in the fourth quarter.

Three other players with Alabama football roots got on the field during the Tampa Bay-Atlanta game:

· Buccaneers safety Marcus Banks (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Buccaneers outside linebacker Chris Braswell (Alabama) made one tackle.

· K.J. Britt (Oxford, Auburn) started at linebacker for the Buccaneers. Britt made a career-high nine tackles.

· Jamel Dean (Auburn) started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Dean made nine tackles and broke up one pass.

· Falcons linebacker Rashaan Evans (Auburn High, Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Buccaneers cornerback Keenan Isaac (Midfield, Alabama State) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Falcons running back Jase McClellan (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Falcons outside linebacker Monty Rice (James Clemens) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Buccaneers running back D.J. Williams (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

The teams stay in the NFC South for their next games. The Buccaneers (3-2) play the New Orleans Saints at noon CDT Oct. 13 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Atlanta (3-2) plays the Carolina Panthers at 3:25 p.m. CDT Oct. 13 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.