The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Atlanta Falcons in a nail-biter, 31-26. Baker Mayfield accomplished 37-of-50 makes an attempt for 330 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Cade Otton led the offensive assault with 81 yards on 10 receptions and two touchdowns.
Tampa Bay gained the toss and began off on offense. Jessie Bates III punched the ball out on the second play from scrimmage and recovered it on the 43-yard line, sending Kirk Cousins and firm onto the sphere. On fourth down after Drake London dropped a display on third down, Kyle Pitts labored excessive of the Bucs’ protection and Cousins hit him in stride for a 36-yard landing. Atlanta capitalized on the turnover to take an early 7-0 lead inside Raymond James Stadium.
Bucky Irving turned the catalyst on the next drive for Tampa Bay with deadly leap cuts and excellent imaginative and prescient behind his blockers. Baker Mayfield saved the soccer to maintain the drive alive, changing from fourth-and-one. Cade Otton capped off the 15-play, 70-yard drive with a five-yard landing on Nationwide Tight Finish’s Day. The Bucs’ protection answered with stress. Calijah Kancey shortly bypassed the guard on second down, forcing an errant throw. On the following play, Lavonte David despatched Cousins working for his life and the Falcons needed to punt following an incompletion.
On the Bucs’ subsequent possession, the staff transformed from third-and-eight with a Mayfield throw to Cade Otton. Otton hurdled a Falcons’ defender for a pickup of 29 yards. Rachaad White capped off the 12-play drive, catching a cross from Mayfield and accelerating down the left sideline for an 18-yard rating. The Falcons tied the sport at 14 on the subsequent possession on a Kyle Pitts 49-yard landing. It appeared Antoine Winfield Jr. poked the ball out proper on the aim line however upon evaluation, it was dominated a rating for Atlanta. The Bucs’ offense stalled, and the Falcons took the lead after Cousins linked with Darnell Mooney for a 30-yard landing. Mooney labored excessive to offer Atlanta with a 21-14 cushion. Regardless of a 25-yard pickup for Trey Palmer on the next drive that set the Bucs up on the 34, the membership needed to accept a 52-yard discipline aim earlier than the half.
Younghoe Koo kicked a 39-yarder earlier than the half mark to offer the Falcons a 24-17 benefit as each groups headed into the locker room.
The Falcons’ offense stalled out of the intermission and Trey Palmer returned the punt to the Tampa Bay 39-yard line. The Bucs transformed from third-and-12 with a primary down by rookie Jalen McMillan. Irving showcased his shiftiness and phone stability on the drive, evading tacklers for yardage. The drive was lower quick as Mayfield was intercepted by Bates on the Atlanta eight-yard line on an tried flea flicker, thrusting Cousins and the Falcons’ offense again on the sphere. Atlanta as not capable of capitalize with factors and C.J. Brewer acquired house for a sack on Cousins on first down. He shortly collapsed the pocket with penetration up the center, establishing second-and-long.
The Bucs then tried a pretend punt, however Tavierre Thomas was dropped wanting the sticks and the Falcons took over on the Tampa Bay 38-yard line. Bijan Robinson scored from 36 yards out, however the landing was nullified as a result of a holding penalty. The Falcons nonetheless reached the tip zone, courtesy of a six-yard landing cross from Cousins to Robinson. Atlanta took a 31-17 lead on the Bucs, following Cousins’ fourth landing cross of the day to conclude the third quarter.
The Bucs marched down the sphere following a 20-yard achieve by Rakim Jarrett on a crossing route, however the promising drive was halted after Mayfield was picked off by A.J. Terrell on the Atlanta six-yard line to start the fourth. An ensuing fumble by Cousins resulted in a security for the Bucs because the ball rolled out of bounds ultimately zone, making it a 31-19 recreation.
For the Bucs on the next drive, a 10-yard scramble by Mayfield from third-and-four and a 19-yard achieve by Rakim Jarrett on an out route arrange Otton’s four-yard landing to make it a 31-26 rating halfway via the ultimate body.
On the following Atalanta drive, Cousins scrambled for 13 yards from second-and-14. Tyler Allgeier was stopped for no achieve on third down by Brewer however the Falcons went for it on fourth down and transformed with a quarterback keeper. The Falcons had been compelled to kick a discipline aim however Koo’s 46-yard try was no good. The Bucs took over with no timeouts left. A 19-yard achieve by Jarrett gave the Bucs an opportunity with 9 seconds on the clock for a hail mary. Mayfield’s deep lob went out of bounds, sealing the defeat 31-26.