Once again the Tampa Bay defense put the team in a hole falling 21-6 behind midway through the second quarter. Then the offense came back and were taking shots at the endzone in the final seconds before falling eight yards short. Jameis Winston had four TDs and another big passing game but had two picks including one on a deflected pass in the endzone. Mike Evans became the franchise leader in receptions during the first half.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING BUCS: Barber 13-82, Winston 5-31, Jackson 1-7, Jones 1-3. FALCONS: Coleman 10-35, Smith 11-22, Ryan 1-13. PASSING BUCS: Winston 41-30-395-2-4. FALCONS: Ryan 41-31-354-0-3. RECEIVING BUCS: Godwin 6-56, Jackson 4-77, Howard 4-62, Evans 4-58, Barber 4-24, Humphries 3-82, Jones 3-16, Brate 1-15, Auclair 1-5. FALCONS: Jones 10-143, Hooper 9-71, Ridley 3-47, Hardy 3-33, Sanu 2-46, Smith 2-(-1), Gage 1-9, Coleman 1-6. INTERCEPTIONS BUCS: none. FALCONS: Poole 1-0, Kazee 1-(-4). KICK RETURNS BUCS: Rodgers 2-31, Auclair 1-9. FALCONS: Hall 1-19. PUNT RETURNS BUCS: Jackson 1-9, Humphries 1-6. FALCONS: Hardy 2-14. SACKS BUCS: Pierre-Paul 1-8. FALCONS: Crawford 1-6, Reed 1-0.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29 Atlanta Falcons 34 Sunday 14 October 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
SCORING TB 11:36-1Q Brate 15 pass from Winston (kick failed) ATL 8:22-1Q Sanu 35 pass from Ryan (Bryant kick) ATL 12:19-2Q Smith 14 run (Bryant kick) ATL 7:30-2Q Hooper 9 pass from Ryan (Bryant kick) TB 0:26-2Q Howard 10 pass from Winston (Catanzaro kick) ATL 0:01-2Q Bryant FG45 TB 2:39-3Q Catanzaro FG35 TB 11:34-4Q Godwin 9 pass from Winston (pass failed) ATL 6:28-4Q Coleman 6 pass from Ryan (Bryant kick) TB 3:47-4Q Barber 5 pass from Winston (Catanzaro kick) ATL 1:10-4Q Bryant FG57
GAME REPORTS Rick Stroud reports on a thrilling end that turned out badly for the Bucs DeSean Jackson bemoans missed opportunities The defense performance meant the Bucs never had a chance A tale of two kickers A game of two halves for the defense Roy Cummings gives an excellent analysis on the entire game Scott Smith’s official game report Click here for the play-by-play and the NFL gamebook
COMMENTARY CREW Thom Brenaman and Chris Spielman
STARTERS OFFENSE DEFENSE LT 76 Smith LDE 97 Curry LG 74 Marpet DT 93 McCoy C 66 Jensen DT 91 Allen RG 77 Benenoch RDE 90 Pierre-Paul RT 69 Dotson MLB 58 Alexander TE 82 Auclair WLB 54 David WR 10 Humphries SLB 53 Taylor WR 13 Evans LCB 24 Grimes WR 11 Jackson RCB 29 Smith QB 3 Winston SS 31 Whitehead RB 25 Barber FS 21 Evans PLAYED 7 Catanzaro, 9 Anger, 12 Godwin, 16 Martino, 17 Watson, 26 Adams, 27 Jones, 29 Smith, 32 Rogers, 35 Elliott, 36 Stewart, 39 Johnson, 45 Cross, 48 Cichy, 50 Vea, 52 Lynch, 61 Wester, 62 Smith, 71 Harris, 80 Howard, 84 Brate, 89 Sanborn, 92 Gholston, 94 Nassib DID NOT PLAY 14 Fitzpatrick INACTIVES 4 Griffin, 33 Davis, 38 Wilson, 56 Nunez-Roches, 57 Spence, 65 Cappa, 67 Liedtke
GAME HIGHLIGHTS Click on the boxes below to view the big plays Jameis hooked up with OJ Howard for a redzone touchdown His fourth TD of the game was to Peyton Barber The final play including the All-22 view - it would have been a legendary score if it had worked