Cordarrelle Patterson discusses history-making performance, emotions following Atlanta win

ATLANTA – Cordarrelle Patterson knew he needed to make a play within the second quarter of the Falcons 27-24 win towards Chicago on Sunday.

On the earlier Falcons possession, Patterson lined up at working again, lower left, and bounced off a pair defenders earlier than seeing open discipline.

As he lower up discipline, Bears’ defensive again Jaquan Brisker got here from behind and knocked the ball free, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Chicago. The Bears in the end capitalized on the play, extending the rating to 17-7 when Justin Fields ran it into the endzone from 4 yards out with 4:31 left within the first half.

“That was in my head the entire time,” Patterson stated, “and as a soccer participant, you simply obtained to maneuver on to the following play.”

As Bears kicker Cairo Santos kicked downfield, Patterson stood agency deep ultimately zone. He caught the ball, and the remainder was historical past. Actually.

The ten-year NFL veteran took off up the center of the sphere, maneuvering his manner by defenders earlier than lastly breaking free for a 103-yard kickoff return landing.

This marked his first for the Falcons and ninth of his profession, turning into the NFL’s all-time kick return landing chief.

“I used to be glad when he kicked me the ball,” Patterson stated. “I simply needed to make a spark for my group.”

Falcons gamers briskly ran over to Patterson, serving to him have a good time the record-setting kickoff return. Mercedes-Benz Stadium went right into a frenzy.

“Truthfully man, I used to be making an attempt to cry however all the fellows was working up on me and doing all of this and doing all of that,” Patterson stated with amusing. “It felt good man, I used to be making an attempt to shed a tear, they would not let me.”

“Simply my hungriness this 12 months, you recognize, I did not play a number of kick return final 12 months and this 12 months man, coach gave me the inexperienced gentle,” Patterson added. “I simply should thank Marquice [Williams] for that. He is a hell of a particular groups coach.”