TAMPA, Fla. – Shifts in a division rivalry accurately represent teams’ opportunities in the NFL and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t been quality observers of falconry in losing four of their last five games to the Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta outlasted Tampa Bay, 31-26, to win both games in the season series after the Birds were successful with a 36-30 overtime win in Week 4.
Before the Falcons’ recent streak, the Buccaneers had the best of the Falconers as they won six of seven to take a small lead in the series. With Sunday’s win, Atlanta took a 32-31 advantage in the 63 games in the history of the matchup.
Thinking through both games, Tampa Bay is two plays away from capturing the Falcons in both matchups in 2024. Sunday, there were many opportunities for the Bucs to pick up the victory, but a few mistakes left Tampa Bay one game behind NFC South-leading Atlanta.
Leading 14-7, Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins hit tight end Kyle Pitts over the middle at the 35-yard line. Pitts broke free and was stripped of the football around the goal line by Antoine Winfield, Jr. The referees ruled that the ball had crossed the line and Atlanta tied the game at 14-14 with 7:19 remaining in the first half.
“They said they didn’t have a clear side view of it,” said Bucs head coach Todd Bowles.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield passed for 338 yards and a last-second pass was caught by wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, but he was out of the back of the end zone.
“It was kind of one of those things – you get your hopes up, but then realize it didn’t work,” said Mayfield on the game’s last play. “But you know, for our guys to fight, to get into that situation, you really can’t ask for much else.”
Mayfield threw two interceptions, but he was the catalyst of a late-game rally. He hit Jarrett on a 19-yard pass to set up his nine-yard TD toss to bourgeoning tight end Cade Otton and cut the Falcons’ lead to 31-26.
Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney had a solid day with five catches for 92 yards. He caught a 30-yard TD toss from Cousins that allowed Atlanta to retake the lead at 21-14 with 2:19 remaining before halftime. Mooney also caught a 21-yard pass to set up Younghoe Koo’s 39-yard field goal for Atlanta’s 24-17 halftime margin.
The pass-play defined how Tampa Bay started 3-1 by giving up 14.8 points per game in those first four outings. But the Bucs have given up 28.5 points per contest in losing the next three of four games.
“Either we missed the tackle, or we didn’t play it right, and it’s nothing new we put in,” said Bowles of the team’s inabilities to accentuate big plays against the defense. “There’s no chemistry to it – we’ve just got to play it better defensively, and we have to coach it better defensively. But there’s no excuse for it.”
Still trailing 24-17, late in the third quarter, the Buccaneers were hoping to regain the momentum. On a 4th-and-three on their own 39-yard line, a fake punt was snapped to Tavierre Thomas, who was brought down one-yard shy of the first down marker.
This led to Cousins hitting running back Bijan Robinson for a seven-yard pass play and a 31-17 lead as 14 seconds remained in the quarter.
“I thought defensively we made some bonehead plays in the first half, and we missed some things and got some penalties on offense in the second half,” Bowles commented. “It’s hard when you’re playing against the Bucs and the Falcons at the same time. You cannot beat two teams.”
The ball came to me a little more today, and it might be someone else next week. We just all have to be ready to make the play,” said Otton.
Without starting receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay brought the fight to a much-improved group of Falcons after running back Rachaad White fumbled on the second play of the game.
The early turnover resulted in a 36-yard touchdown pass from Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins to tight end Kyle Pitts on a 4th-and-3. It gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead with just over two minutes gone.
Mayfield hit Otton for his first touchdown catch and then threw an 18-yard catch-and-run in the flat to Rachaad White to give Tampa Bay a 14-7 advantage midway through the second quarter.
Otton again led Tampa Bay’s receiving game with nine catches of 81 yards and the two touchdowns.
Tampa Bay connected with offensive coordinator Liam Cohen’s game plan early in the game as it controlled the football for both 15 and 12 plays to take the 14-7 lead.
“I think Liam was obviously calling the plays, but then as well as the guys that were in there, stepping up and doing their jobs how they’re supposed to,” said Mayfield of positive communication between the sidelined and players.
