Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) – Atlanta Falcons (5-3): 26-31
The Falcons won – again – a victory that ended up counting double. After a success in week 5 against these same Buccaneers, the Georgians made the double pass and granted themselves the tiebreaker against direct opponents for the rest of the competition. And with manner. Through a balanced game, a clean Kirk Cousins, a good adaptation in the second half, and a defense which adopted the theory of “bending but not breaking”.
Opposite, Tampa Bay tried its luck in the absence of its two main receivers. Ground game, tight end involved, intermediate passes, the Buccs tried to develop an alternative game but which found its limits when the attack lost possession three times. Destiny could have changed course when Atlanta conceded a well-timed safety, yet the Oranges were unable to find the resources to come back to the score.
Attacks released
At the start of the game, Atlanta played hard. From the third action Jessie Bates (FS, 5 TKL, 1 FF, 1 INT) steals the ball from the Tampa Bay attack, and Kirk Cousins (QB, 23/29, 276 yards, 4 TD) immediately punishes the Floridians by finding Kyle Pitts (TE, 91 yards, 2 TD) for a 36-yard touchdown on a fourth attempt. Opposite, deprived of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (WRs), we concentrate on the ground game and small passes to runners. We are therefore witnessing a festival of Bucky Irving (RB, 84 yards) and Rachaad White (RB, 67 yards, 1 TD) who eat up the field, and release Baker Mayfield (QB, 37/50, 330 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT) to alert Cade Otton (TE, 81 yards, 2 TD) in the paint.
Having finally found its rhythm, Atlanta begins to impose its game on both sides of the leather. A quick defensive stop, receptions on the fly for Otton, and White who escapes along the line to cross the line and complete a 97-yard drive, it clicks for the Floridians. However, the Falcons are not off the hook, far from it. Thus, despite a low time of possession, Atlanta improves its opportunities and knows how to convert chances in the long game. Cousins once again found Pitts on a 49-yard pass to tie the two teams. Even better, the Georgians allowed themselves to take the lead thanks to a 30-yard reception from Darnell Mooney (WR, 92 yards, 1 TD). To round off the score, the two teams exchanged field goals just before returning to the locker room, 24-17 at the whistle.
The Falcons hold on
Back on the field, both attacks are slipping. Atlanta retreats instead of advancing, and Mayfield rewards Bates with a second turnover – an interception – on a missed flea fleacker. The click came a few seconds before the end of the quarter. The Falcons insist on the ground in steamroller mode by alternating runners, and Bijan Robinson (RB, 100 yards, 1 TD) is at the conclusion on a small screen pass. The break is made for the Georgians.
And even more so when AJ Terrell (CB, ) emerges and once again cuts off the trajectory of Mayfield's pass. However, Tampa Bay regains color when Cousins loses the leather on his line, the ball bounces from one player to another then goes into the back of the goal. Safety for the oranges, 2 points plus possession, a good deal! And the wake-up call for the Buccaneers. Progressing in small steps, the locals advance regularly before Mayfield offers his second touchdown to Otton. However, the clock is ticking. It is then time to close the deal for Atlanta. The Falcons therefore engage full Robinson mode. Cousins even goes for it scramble to convert a 3rd&12. And the seconds tick by… And even if the visitors are unable to take cover when Younghoe Koo (PK, 1/2 FG, 4/4 XP) misses his 46-yard attempt, the defense manages to hold the score then as Mayfield embarks on a desperate but unsuccessful comeback attempt. A valuable victory for the Falcons, which will count a lot in the division and for the race for the playoffs.
