NFL fans hail Kirk Cousins after leading game-winning drive vs Eagles on MNF - "Ice in his veins," "He was cooking"

For more than a week, Kirk Cousins has had to listen to armchair quarterbacks complaining how he was washed up and how the Atlanta Falcons made a huge mistake in giving him a contract and making him the face of the franchise. Every play was scrutinized and it did not let up even during their Week 2 game against the Philadelphia Eagles as they struggled in the first half.

A couple of missed throws during the two-minute warning before the break was enough for some people to declare him a failure. But there is a reason why Kirk Cousins is an NFL quarterback for a team that is in a win-now mode and he showed his full caliber with a magnificent drive toward the end of the game.

With just over a minute and a half left on the clock and no timeouts, Kirk Cousins set to work with his team trailing by six points. He connected on passes to his wide receivers and took the Falcons down to the endzone in no time.

While the first attempt at a touchdown was missed, the only incomplete reception of that drive, the next one nestled safely in Drake London's arms. A conversion gave them a 22-21 lead over the Eagles, and that is how it ended as Jalen Hurts was intercepted.

It was quite the turnaround, not just from the first week but also during the game. And fans quickly took to X/Twitter to praise the Atlanta quarterback.

Here are some reactions from fans:

Some fans mentioned that Cousins needed more respect to be shown to him for his career achievements and now engineering this drive:

"Kirk Cousins’ game-winning drive for the Falcons showcases clutch performance under pressure. Did you know he’s known for his exceptional late-game play, with numerous game-winning drives throughout his career?" one fan said.

"Kirk is a Beast," another fan added.

"What a nail-biter! Cousins really pulled through when it mattered most," one fan said.

Raheem Morris heaps praise on Kirk Cousins as Falcons defeat Eagles

Raheem Morris has also taken a lot of flak from fans and the media as they lost meekly to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. But the coach was vindicated with this win and paid special praise to his quarterback. But instead of waxing lyrical, he kept it short and sweet:

The Falcons head coach also sent a signal out to his quarterback as well as the media. To the reporters and the watching public, it showed that Atlanta means business this season. To Kirk Cousins, it means that the head coach has got his back but he has to keep delivering as the expectation remains sky high.