Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Live Updates: Final Score: Falcons win 16-13
The Atlanta Falcons (3-3) are flying down to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) in Raymond James Stadium, with both teams competing for first place in the NFC South Division.
Neither team was expected to contend. Both the Bucs and Falcons entered the year with less media attention than in previous seasons, as most analysts were focused on the other divisional rivals because of flashier quarterback additions in No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and four-time Pro Bowler Derek Carr.
The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are competing for first place in the NFC South.
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However, Atlanta has shown that it's an ascending, scrappy team. Despite a recent loss, the glass is half full for the Falcons. Quarterback Desmond Ridder has thrown for over 300 yards in consecutive contests, but the difference has been turnovers.
Atlanta has displayed a strong defense this season, led by offseason addition Jessie Bates III. The veteran safety has been a tone-setter as the unit has kept the team in games while the young offense finds its footing.
Luckily, Atlanta has benefitted from its strong run game, which has the eleventh most rushing yards in the NFL, much different than Tampa Bay, which is at the bottom of the league with 394 total rushing yards.
For the Bucs to win, they'll need to get both of their playmaking wide receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, involved throughout the game. The biggest key to the team's success in recent years was the elite quarterback play of Tom Brady.
Now that Baker Mayfield is at the helm steering Tampa's ship, he's experienced a bit of a career resurgence after seeming like his starting days were behind him following a failed stint with the Carolina Panthers.
If the Falcons allow Baker to feel dangerous, it could be a long day, but if their brand of smash-mouth football can slow the pace of the game with occasional splash plays to receiving threats like Drake London and Kyle Pitts, Atlanta could take control of the NFC South.
WHAT: Atlanta Falcons (3-3, 0-2 ROAD) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2, 1-2 HOME)
WHERE: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL (65,844)
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, 1 p.m. ET
TELEVISION: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: WZGC-FM 92.9 The Game
Get your tickets at SI Tickets
Betting via SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Falcons +2.5
TOTAL: 37.5
MONEYLINE: Falcons +120, Buccaneers -141
First Quarter:
Bucs Ball- Pass to Godwin for one yard, Followed by a pass to Evans for a first down.
Rachaad White runs for a loss of one yard. On second and 11, Mayfield's pass is tipped at the line, setting up a long third down.
Shifty feet from White capitalize on the Falcons blitz, helping him pick up the first down.
Mayfield throws the ball away after Lorenzo Carter chased him outside the pocket, but a defensive holding penalty on A.J. Terrell on Evans gives the Bucs a new set of downs.
On third and six, Mayfield's pass fell incomplete, but the team opted to go for it, and Mayfield threw another incomplete pass under duress, turning the ball over on downs.
Falcons Ball- Pass to KhaDarel Hodge for the first down, then a run by Tyler Allgeier followed by a Jonnu Smith first down.
Cordarrelle Patterson gets four yards, followed by another target to Smith for another Atlanta first down. Allgeier runs on first and goal.
Smith has a third of the drive nearing the goal. Ridder runs for a two-yard TOUCHDOWN!
For the second straight week, the team scored a touchdown on the offense's opening drive.
ATLANTA LEADS 7-0 OVER TAMPA BAY, with 6:48 remaining in the first quarter.
Bucs Ball- On first down, Terrell gets charged with holding Evans again, giving the Bucs another first.
The first pass from Mayfield goes incomplete. The second pass goes to Cade Otton for a first down.
Ke'Shawn Vaughn runs for nine yards up the middle, but a false start moved them back by five yards. On second down, a pass picks up five, and Mayfield rushes for a first on third down.
MIKE EVANS with a 40 YARD TOUCHDOWN!
Tampa Bay ties it up 7-7 against the Falcons with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter.
Falcons Ball- WOW! Kyle Pitts with a behind-the-back catch in stride for six yards, but ultimately, the team is forced to punt the ball back to Tampa Bay.
Bucs Ball- Penalties on Tampa force a third down and 15...OH NO, things get even worse. Another false start pushes the team back further. Evans picks up enough to make it fourth and 12 as the first quarter comes to a close.
SECOND QUARTER:
Falcons Ball- Scotty Miller gets a 46-yard reception against his old team. Moving the team into Bucs territory. As the team attempts to score on third and goal, London goes up, but the ball gets broken up. Falcons settle for a field goal.
Atlanta takes a 10-7 lead with 11:51 remaining in the first half
Bucs- Mayfield throws to Godwin for a first down. A deep pass gets away for an incompletion, then another incompletion to force third and 10. A penalty moves them down the field.
Evans gets another first down. Mayfield hits Rachaad White, who runs for a first down to put the team in first and goal territory from the six. Mayfield gets strip-sacked by Calais Campbell, pushing the team back.
White hurdles a Falcons' defender but comes up short as they opt for a kick to tie the game.
Game tied 10-10, with 5:14 remaining in the first half.
Falcons- Ridder hits Pitts for a first down. Ridder runs for another first down.
Drake London gets a first down, which nearly breaks free for more, but his foot just scraped out of bounds.
Pass interference on Tampa Bay moves the team forward. At the two-minute warning, Bijan Robinson still hasn't had a touch.
Ridder's pass to London goes for 12 yards. Patterson gains 13 yards. Atlanta is at the goal line. Ridder sacked fumbles the ball is recovered by Tampa Bay.
The Bucs kneel the ball to end the half.
HALFTIME: 10-10 Tie
SECOND HALF
Falcons- The team goes three and out, but the big story is Bijan Robinson's apparent sickness keeping him off the field.
Bucs- On third down, Mayfield hits Godwin for a first down.
Another penalty from Terrell on Evans gives the team another first down.
Rachaad White nearly had a big gain, but a penalty brought it back for a first and seven. Tampa fumbles, and Atlanta recovers.
Falcons- Ridder hits Allgeier to force third and two; the running back then takes it for a first down.
Ridder hits London, who dives for a diving touchdown attempt, but London loses control on the drive-stopping play as it's reviewed for a potential touchback or touchdown.
First and goal from the half-yard line. After all the waiting, Ridder fumbles the snap, and the Bucs recover.
Bucs- The team punts it back to Atlanta after struggling to move the ball backed up in their own endzone.
Falcons- Ridder runs for a 19-yard gain. Van Jefferson picks up yards, putting the team into field goal range where they opt to kick it instead of trying to advance on fourth and less than one. KICK IS GOOD!
Atlanta takes a 13-10 lead with 2:04 remaining in the third quarter.
Bucs- Rachaad White comes up big in the receiving game, getting 20 yards, but then Vaughn loses four yards on a rush attempt.
END OF THE THIRD QUARTER
Bucs- A deep shot to Godwin just goes out of bounds, but a penalty gives the Bucs a new set of downs. They then hold on the first down, making it first and 20. Godwin picks up yardage to make it third and 10, but Carter sacks Mayfield, forcing a punt.
Falcons- Allgeier and Ridder fool Devin White for a 46-yard pass. Patterson then picks up 18 yards. On third and two, Allgeier runs it for another first down.
Allgeier is showing why some believed he had workhorse potential as a rookie. He runs for another nine yards, putting the team inside the Bucs 10-yard line. On third and one, Ridder runs and picks up a first down.
The Falcons get a delay of game, and then Ridder sprints to the endzone for a touchdown? As he neared the pylon, Antoine Winfield came flying in to punch the ball out, forcing officials to review the play as another potential touchback may have occurred.
TOUCHBACK! The Falcons turn it over at the goalline again. Ridder's third fumble of the game.
Bucs- Cade Otton picks up a first down. Okudah tackles White at the line of scrimmage. Otton catches the ball for a seven-yard gain. On third and three, Chris Godwin breaks free for a 33-yard gain.
Mayfield passes it to the wrong team, and the Falcons get a chance to extend the lead.
Falcons- The team fails to pick up enough yardage to capitalize on the turnover, punting it back to the Bucs.
Bucs- Mayfield runs for 31 yards to the Falcons 35-yard line. Otton picks up a first, and a defensive penalty gives the Bucs first and goal.
Mayfield got sacked on third down, forcing the Bucs to kick a field goal, tying it up.
13-13, 45 seconds remaining.
Falcons-Pitts comes up big with a 39-yard reception. Then, BIJAN ROBINSON gets his first touch, a three-yard rush inside the final minute.
Koo lines up for a field goal and gives them the WIN!
Final Score: Falcons win 16-13 over the Buccaneers
