The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29-28 with a walk-off Zane Gonzalez 43-yard field goal as time expired inside Raymond James Stadium.<\/p>\n
Both teams traded punts on their opening drives to begin the Thursday night clash. The Bucs then cashed in off a n 11-play, 83-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown rush by Sean Tucker. The Bucs brought in nose tackle Vita Vee, who served as the fullback. A couple plays before, Jalen McMillan was ruled down by contact after the 20-yard touchdown play was reversed. The Falcons’ ensuing drive culminated in a Zane Gonzalez 31-yard field goal but it was nullified by a penalty on Zyon McCollum that set up the visiting team at first and goal. The next play, Kirk Cousins hit Kyle Pitts Jr. for an eight-yard scoring strike to tie the game at seven early in the second quarter.<\/p>\n
Late in the second frame, the Bucs were forced to settle for a Chase McLaughlin 49-yard field goal despite a 12-yard gain by Mike Evans on a corner route, a 12-yard gain by Emeka Egbuka on a physical grab and spin move and a 19-yard pickup by Jalen McMillan. The Falcons answered with a four-play, 65-yard scoring drive. Pitts picked up 35 yards and followed suit as the recipient of Cousins’ 17-yard touchdown pass. The Bucs moved down the field on the following drive, courtesy of an Evans’ 33-yard gain in which he faked the corner route and once the defensive back bit, he continued running for the explosive gain, however, the club had to settle for a McLaughlin 52-yard field goal.<\/p>\n
Midway through the third frame, the Bucs traveled 90 yards on nine plays, with the drive culminating in a six-yard touchdown catch by tight end Devin Culp. Evans spurred the score with a 45-yard gain off an acrobatic, high-point grab over Cobee Bryant. The Bucs next successful drive, including a 20-yard gain by Irving off a wildcat read option, ended in a punt following an incompletion to Tez Johnson on third down. The defense then followed up with a takeaway. Christian Izien forced a Robinson fumble and Jacob Parrish recovered at the Atlanta 25-yard line. The Bucs were able to capitalize with a touchdown. Mayfield faked the handoff to Tucker and found Chris Godwin Jr. in the end zone on a three-yard touchdown pass. Following the successful two-point attempt to Godwin, the Bucs took a 28-14 lead in the fourth.<\/p>\n
The Falcons’ answered with an eight-play scoring drive that ended in a six-yard touchdown run by Robinson. Atlanta’s two-point attempt failed, making it a 28-20 game. On the subsequent drive, Mayfield’s pass intended for Evans was intercepted by Dee Alford at the Atlanta 33-yard line. The Falcons took advantage with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Pitts. The two-point attempt failed after Antoine Winfield Jr. swarmed Cousins, forcing an incompletion.<\/p>\n
On the following drive, Cousins was sacked by Haason Reddick and he punched the ball out. It was ruekld a simultaneous recovery and the Falcons stayed on the field. Gonzalez kicked a walk-off 43-yarc field goal to give Atlanta a 29-28 win.<\/p>\n
\n TOP PERFORMERS \ud83c\udfc8<\/p>\n
Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 19\/34 for 277 yards – 2 TDs & 1 INT
\nRushing: RB Bucky Irving: 16 rushes for 60 yards
\nReceiving: WR Mike Evans: 6 catches for 132 yards
\nDefense: S Antoine Winfield Jr.: 13 total tackles<\/p>\n
Passing: QB Kirk Cousins: 30\/44 for 373 yards – 3 TDs
\nRushing: RB Bijan Robinson: 18 rushes for 93 yards
\nReceiving: TE Kyle Pitts: 11 catches for 166 yards – 3 TDs
\nDefense: DE James Pearce Jr.: 3 total tackles, 2.0 sacks<\/p>\n