Falcons 31, Bucs 26 – Bucs Lose to Atlanta Falcons in Week 8

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Atlanta Falcons in a nail-biter, 31-26. Baker Mayfield completed 37-of-50 attempts for 330 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Cade Otton led the offensive attack with 81 yards on 10 receptions and two touchdowns.

Tampa Bay won the toss and started off on offense. Jessie Bates III punched the ball out on the second play from scrimmage and recovered it at the 43-yard line, sending Kirk Cousins and company onto the field. On fourth down after Drake London dropped a screen on third down, Kyle Pitts worked over the top of the Bucs’ defense and Cousins hit him in stride for a 36-yard touchdown. Atlanta capitalized on the turnover to take an early 7-0 lead inside Raymond James Stadium.

Bucky Irving became the catalyst on the following drive for Tampa Bay with lethal jump cuts and outstanding vision behind his blockers. Baker Mayfield kept the football to keep the drive alive, converting from fourth-and-one. Cade Otton capped off the 15-play, 70-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown on National Tight End’s Day. The Bucs’ defense answered with pressure. Calijah Kancey quickly bypassed the guard on second down, forcing an errant throw. On the subsequent play, Lavonte David sent Cousins running for his life and the Falcons had to punt following an incompletion.

On the Bucs’ next possession, the team converted 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 pass from Mayfield and accelerating down the left sideline for an 18-yard score. The Falcons tied the game at 14 on the next possession on a Kyle Pitts 49-yard touchdown. It appeared Antoine Winfield Jr. poked the ball out right at the goal line but upon review, it was ruled a score for Atlanta. The Bucs’ offense stalled, and the Falcons took the lead after Cousins connected with Darnell Mooney for a 30-yard touchdown. Mooney worked over the top to provide Atlanta with a 21-14 cushion. Despite a 25-yard pickup for Trey Palmer on the following drive that set the Bucs up at the 34, the club had to settle for a 52-yard field goal before the half.

Younghoe Koo kicked a 39-yarder before the half mark to give the Falcons a 24-17 advantage as both teams 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 converted from third-and-12 with a first down by rookie Jalen McMillan. Irving showcased his shiftiness and contact balance on the drive, evading tacklers for yardage. The drive was cut short as Mayfield was intercepted by Bates at the Atlanta eight-yard line on an attempted flea flicker, thrusting Cousins and the Falcons’ offense back on the field. Atlanta as not able to capitalize with points and C.J. Brewer got home for a sack on Cousins on first down. He quickly collapsed the pocket with penetration up the middle, setting up second-and-long.

The Bucs then tried a fake punt, but Tavierre Thomas was dropped short of the sticks and the Falcons took over at the Tampa Bay 38-yard line. Bijan Robinson scored from 36 yards out, but the touchdown was nullified due to a holding penalty. The Falcons still reached the end zone, courtesy of a six-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Robinson. Atlanta took a 31-17 lead on the Bucs, following Cousins’ fourth touchdown pass of the day to conclude the third quarter.

The Bucs marched down the field following a 20-yard gain by Rakim Jarrett on a crossing route, but the promising drive was halted after Mayfield was picked off by A.J. Terrell at the Atlanta six-yard line to begin the fourth. An ensuing fumble by Cousins resulted in a safety for the Bucs as the ball rolled out of bounds in the end zone, making it a 31-19 game.

For the Bucs on the following drive, a 10-yard scramble by Mayfield from third-and-four and a 19-yard gain by Rakim Jarrett on an out route set up Otton’s four-yard touchdown to make it a 31-26 score midway through the final frame.

On the ensuing Atalanta drive, Cousins scrambled for 13 yards from second-and-14. Tyler Allgeier was stopped for no gain on third down by Brewer but the Falcons went for it on fourth down and converted with a quarterback keeper. The Falcons were forced to kick a field goal but Koo’s 46-yard attempt was no good. The Bucs took over with no timeouts left. A 19-yard gain by Jarrett gave the Bucs a chance with nine seconds on the clock for a hail mary. Mayfield’s deep lob went out of bounds, sealing the defeat 31-26.