The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted to prove they were the best team in the NFC by beating the Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Bucs gave everything they had, but the Falcons made more plays when it counted and come away with the 27-21 win.
“I like the way out team prepared this week,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. “We went about our business. I love the effort.”
However, Smith went on to say they have a lot of things they need to get corrected, specifically on special teams. With the Falcons up 14-0 early in the second quarter, Tampa Bay return man Michael Spurlock returned the ensuing kickoff for 66-yards which led to a Josh Freeman 14-yards touchdown pass to Arrelious Benn to cut the Falcons lead to seven.
The Falcons had another special teams break down in the third quarter, as Spurlock returned a kickoff for a 89-yard touchdown which cut the Falcons lead to 27-21.
Tampa Bay had a chance to win the game, as they had possession on the Falcons 2-yard line with 2:44 left in the game and down by six. But the Bucs could not convert a fourth-and-one thanks to a huge tackle on LaGarrette Blount by Thomas DeCoud in the backfield and the Falcons were able to run out the clock.
“We knew it was going to come down to the fourth quarter,” DeCoud said. “A lot of games in the NFL come down to the fourth quarter. It was a chance for us to show up and make plays.”
Despite Tampa having a chance to win the game and prove they were the best team in the NFC, the Falcons controlled the game and had a chance to put the Bucs away earlier in the contest. The Falcons started the game as good as anytime they have played this season with a 13-play, 61-yard drive which ended with a Michael Turner 2-yard touchdown run.
“You like to start fast, and we certainly did that today,” Matt Ryan said who threw for 235 yards and one touchdown. “I think we only had three or four possessions in the first half and I think we were 3-for-4 on them.”
Ryan was right when he said they were 3-for-4 on offense when it came to scoring. On the Falcons next possession, they started on their own 1-yard line and thanks to some big runs by Michael Turner and a Ryan 43-yard pass to Michael Jenkins, the Falcons ended the drive with a Turner 10-yard touchdown run to put them up by 14. Turner ended his day with 107 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns and since the start of the 2008 season Turner has 31 rushing touchdowns which puts him in second place during that span.
However, the Falcons received a scare during that offensive series as White injured his knee and was taken into the locker room before halftime. He was able to return to the game in the second half.
“I just banged [my knee]” White said who finished the day with four catches for 49 yards. “A guy jumped on top of me, which is never good. After that, I felt pretty good. In the second half I could run around and be me.”
The Falcons third possession was a success as Matt Bryant nailed a 31-yard field goal to give the Falcons the 17-7 lead. The Bucs were able to answer, though, as Freeman threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams to cut the Falcons lead to three. It was play where Dunta Robinson was on one-on-one coverage with Williams and Robinson slipped while trying to make the tackle and Williams was able to run free.
“Just took a long step and I was on the ground,” Robinson said who made his return after suffering a concussion three weeks ago in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. “That play was totally my fault.”
The Falcons were able to get off to a fast start in the third quarter, as Jonathan Babineaux intercepted a Freeman pass and that led to a Ryan 5-yard touchdown pass to reserve tight end Michael Palmer to put the Falcons up 24-14. They were able to tack on three more points later in the quarter with a Bryant 41-yard field goal to increase their lead to 13.
The Falcons improve to 6-2 and have sole possession of first place in the NFC South and also have the best record in the NFC. So is Smith ready to say the Falcons are the best team in the NFC?
“No I’m not prepared to say that at all,” Smith said. “We are the best team of the two teams that played today, for today.”
The Falcons will not have time to salvage this win because as of now, they have to prepare for the Baltimore Ravens who come into town for Thursday night tilt. Baltimore is also 6-2 and they are also coming off a big win, beating the Miami Dolphins 26-10. If the Falcons are able to come away with a win Thursday night, this would the Falcons in the category of best team in the NFL, let alone best in the NFC.
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