We hoped and prayed the Falcons would buck a seemingly ancient trend of falling down after a major win against a contender, and we hoped and prayed in vain. Our favorite team went to Tampa Bay in a downpour that turned into a drizzle and washed away their hopes of taking possession of the NFC South lead with an embarrassing effort that undermined almost every positive the Falcons have put forth in recent weeks.
Let’s be honest about what we saw Sunday: It was an ass kicking where Atlanta was entirely
out-coached, out-played, and out-hustled. Baker Mayfield did not complete a pass, yet the Buccaneers didn’t care because they ran for 300 yards. The Falcons had Bijan Robinson, but somehow that didn’t matter because the Falcons got down after throwing too much and then started throwing nonstop late. The Falcons were within striking distance—or at least not dead—all day, but yet could not turn in a single point. There is nothing that can be said about the caliber of performance the Falcons put on the field today that is positive, and aside from a handful of strong individual performances, Atlanta was humiliated and humbled by their rival.
Now 3-5, the Falcons are back down with the Buccaneers and the division is a muddle, and Atlanta’s highs are matched by their lows as they continue to be defined by inconsistency and utterly baffling performances after stunningly good ones. This loss is impossible to justify and tough to swallow, and this is the kind of doubt-sprouting performance that the Falcons will now be combating the rest of the year.
Here’s a drive-by-drive recap of the game you just watched. I suggest not bothering to read it, but thanks for stopping by.
1st Quarter
Bijan picked up three yards on first down, then Michael Penix Jr. hit Jahan Dotson for 19 yards. Bijan picked up three and then Penix hit Kyle Pitts for five yards, and then Bijan got a yard. Penix went up the gut on fourth down to convert. Bijan then went two yards and then was stalled for no gain, and Penix couldn’t connect with Drake London. In the rain from 53 yards, Nick Folk’s field goal attempt went wide left.
The Buccaneers took over near midfield, and then Bucky Irving took it almost 20 yards. Irving got a yard on first down. After three yards, Kendal Daniels got Irving out of bounds. Baker Mayfield then bombed it downfield and threw it a bit behind his receiver, who had it knocked loose by Mike Hughes, who arrived with excellent timing. Chase McLaughlin’s field goal try was good to make it 3-0 Buccaneers.
Zachariah Branch took it to about the 28, and an illegal formation call on the Buccaneers gave Atlanta five more yards. On the next play, Penix simply missed the defender and threw an interception right to him, with Drake London picking up a 15 yard penalty for unnecessary roughness on the same play. Buccaneers ball.
Irving took it five yards on first down. Then in a wildly bewildering sequence, Baker Mayfield got out of a busted situation, scrambled, flipped the ball to Bucky Irving, and Irving was galloping toward the end zone…only to have Jessie Bates come in and chop the ball out of his hands, where it landed out of bounds in the end zone. Falcons ball!
Bijan Robinson got called for a first down, and then picked up five yards. Penix didn’t see anything downfield on second down, and tried the outlet to Bijan, who dropped it. Then Penix threw another interception, again to Anzalone. Buccaneers ball.
Irving was stopped for a loss by Brandon Dorlus. Irving then got three yards. Mayfield missed badly on third down, setting up a McLaughlin field goal. 6-0 Buccaneers.
Branch slid down past the 25 yard line. Bijan then took it for four yards. Bijan then cut it inside for another four. Penix evaded the pressure, but wildly overthrew Pitts. The Jake Bailey punt rolled to the 13 yard line.
Bucky Irving then picked up 12 yards on first down. Baker fumbled the snap and handed it to Irving, who got a yard. Irving then got a couple more yards on second down. Gainwell was then quickly tackled after maybe a yard.
2nd Quarter
Dotson called for a fair catch on the Falcons 39 yard line. Bijan then appeared to run into the pile for a minimal gain, but emerged on the other side for almost 15 yards. Then he picked up two yards. Penix then made a dangerous arcing throw to Dotson, who had it bounce off his hands. Khalil Herbert then ran into the pile for maybe a yard. The Falcons then went for it on fourth down, and Penix threw an interception again. Bucs ball.
Irving spun his way to five yards, and then Mayfield scrambled for a first down. Irving then picked up another five yards. Irivng was tripped up by Daniels for another four yards. Irving got another first down and five yards, and followed that up with six yards. Irving was then tackled by Zach Harrison on second down just shy of a first down. Maason Smith then got Gainwell, but not before he squeezed past the line for another first down. Gainwell then took it almost 20 yards. Gainwell went up the middle for a yard or two. A false start on the Bucs backed them up five yards. Mayfield had the ball flip out of his hand and then ran for five yards. A carry for Gainwell then went for three yards, setting up a field goal try. McLaughlin hit it again to make it 9-0 Buccaneers.
A one yard gain by Bijan gave way to a nice, physical run where he picked up nine yards and a first down. Herbert then picked up two yards. Penix then sort of threw it away to the sideline in the direction of a receiver. Bijan somehow then managed to bully his way to a first down on 3rd and 8, but on booth review he was ruled down after a six yard gain. On fourth down, they gave it to Bijan, who came up a little short of a conversion. Bucs ball.
Irving then rolled for 13 yards on first down. C.J. Henderson then got Irving after a couple of yards. Irving then got two more, and Stefanski surprisingly called a timeout. Gainwell was hit by Cameron Thomas and got a yard, with Atlanta spending their last timeout.
Ryan Neuzil’s snap bounced off Matthew Bergeron’s leg. Half over.
3rd Quarter
The Bucs returned it to about the 28 yard line, and then Irving went two yards. Irving then picked up three yards. Baker Mayfield’s pass to Gainwell was tipped and ultimately dropped by the running back. Punt, and it went over Jahan Dotson’s head and rolled back inside the 10 yard line.
Bijan was stonewalled on first down. Bijan then took it about seven yards. Pitts then caught a short pass and took it just shy of a first down. Punt.
Mayfield faked a pass and scrambled for three yards. Irving then ran into a brick wall. Mayfield tried to scramble and was brought down for a loss. The Falcons get the ball back after a penalty and a touchback.
Bijan rolled forward for a yard, and then picked up another yard on second down. A quick pass to Herbert went for five yards. Punt, and Mike Ford Jr. got Tez Johnson inside the 10 yard line.
Irving took it eight yards on first down. Irving then got loose and ran to the Falcons 35 for 46 yards. Kenneth Gainwell then went one yard. Gainwell then got loose, evading multiple tackle attempts and picking up 28 yards. Irving was smothered after maybe a yard. Irving then powered through contact to pick up a touchdown. 16-0 Buccaneers.
Herbert took it to about the 35 yard line on the kickoff return. Penix then felt pressure and threw it at Herbert’s feet, but a roughing the passer call gave the Falcons life. Herbert then took it almost nine yards. Herbert then got tackled for no gain, with one defender latching on to his ankles. Bijan was then stuffed. On fourth down, Penix scrambled for a first down. Austin Hooper then made a leaping roll on a catch for nine yards. Penix then had to throw it away on second down. Then Penix snuck it on third down but didn’t quite get it.
4th Quarter
The Falcons got it again on a two yard Penix run, and then Penix hit Olamide Zaccheaus for four yards. Then Penix threw his fourth interception of the day looking for Charlie Woerner.
Gainwell took it three yards, and then picked up five yards over the middle. Gainwell then spun through a tackle and got a first down. Gainwell then picked up eight yards, and then picked up 10 yards on the next play. Then he got three yards, and took a toss another six yards. Maason Smith came up and tackled Irving for a loss on third down. Punt.
Penix threw the ball away with the blitz coming. Penix then threw it well short of Pitts with the pressure coming in again. Then Penix missed London down the sideline. Punt, and Harold Perkins Jr. murdered the returner.
Gainwell took it one yard, and followed that up with another yard or two. Then Gainwell was stopped cold again. Punt, and it was downed at the one yard line.
Penix managed to hit Dotson on the sideline, and Dotson flew down the field for 76 yards. Then Penix hit London low for eight yards. Penix then almost threw another interception going for Dotson again after rolling out and not finding any open options. Penix then had his next pass batted, and then threw it low to Zaccheaus, who didn’t catch it. Turnover on downs.
Gainwell picked up five yards, picked up a few more, and then plunged ahead for ten yards and a first down. Gainwell picked up another first down on the next play. Gainwell then picked up five yards and then four yards. After a first down run, the Bucs ran one more play and it was all over.
