The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night and the NFL celebrated the electric overtime finish with a video of fans brawling in the stands at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was the perfect way to honor the best best game of the season so far.
And to make it even funnier, the league likely did not realize what it was posting when the video was posted.
Kirk Cousins finished with one of the craziest stat lines of his career. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards and four touchdowns (and one interception) and connected with seven different receivers.
KhaDarel Hodge finished with a team-low two receptions. However, the 29-year-old wide receiver made the most important play of the night, a game-winning touchdown catch in overtime. A quick comeback route went 45 yards for six.
This angle shows just how fast KhaDarel Hodge is 👋 #TBvsATL pic.twitter.com/HYA72yTLn4
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2024
The NFL gave Hodge its phone on the field after the game. He filmed a celebratory message that was posted to X. In the background, a group of Atlanta Falcons fans were throwing hands in the crowd.
Talk your talk, Hodge! 🗣️🗣️🗣️ pic.twitter.com/skmKwNAWN5
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2024
Security even had to step in and break things up before it escalated any further. Win or lose, somebody in the ATL was catching a fade.
Only in Atlanta can the Falcons win in dramatic OT fashion, but the real show starts in the stands with fans throwing hands right after. Win or lose, someone’s catching a fade 😂🏟️ pic.twitter.com/b5Ck8nF4uW
— Carlos Gil (@carlosgil83) October 4, 2024
More than three million people have watched the NFL’s video. Whomever was responsible for the post was clearly oblivious to the background shenanigans, because there is no way the league is thrilled to have such unruly behavior going as viral as it is. Oops!
Fortunately, most everybody who has seen the video seems to be thoroughly entertained. This is one of the best social media blunders of the year and it happened organically. Nothing was staged. Nothing was preplanned. It just so happened that knucks were being chucked while Hodge help up the league-issued phone in celebration of his walk-off overtime touchdown. That rules.