Everyone had a career night Thursday night for the Falcons.
Matt Ryan was inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Honor. The greatest player in Falcons history was the talk of the town heading into Thursday Night Football, but it was the club’s current quarterback who stole the show.
In front of Ryan, Kirk Cousins broke his franchise record for most passing yards in a game, finishing with 509 yards. It also marked his personal best. Ryan threw for 503 yards in a 2016 game against the Panthers, while Cousins topped a 460-yard performance two years ago.
Cousins completed passes to seven different Falcons, including 12 to Drake London, who set a new career-best in receptions in a single game. London went for 154 yards and a touchdown. Cousins also completed nine to Darnell Mooney for 105 yards and two scores, as well as seven to Kyle Pitts for 88 yards.
However, the hero of the night was KhaDarel Hodge. The Falcons special teams ace rarely saw the field with the offense, but a Drake London injury presented an opportunity, and Hodge took advantage, turning a five-yard stick route into the game-winning touchdown.
After the game, Hodge called it the moment of his life.
It’s not hyperbole, either. KhaDarel Hodge waited nearly two calendar years to score an NFL touchdown.
In his first year with the Falcons, his fifth in the league, Hodge caught a pass from Marcus Mariota in a Novemeber game against the Panthers, it was his first NFL touchdown. His second meant a little bit more, to say the least.
