The Atlanta Falcons narrowly avoided their fifth loss of the season, securing a dramatic victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Thursday night matchup. This marks the third time this season that the Falcons have rallied from a seemingly lost position to achieve victory. With just two minutes remaining in regulation, the Falcons orchestrated a crucial drive that culminated in a game-tying field goal, sending the contest into overtime.
In the overtime period, KhaDarel Hodge made a pivotal play, catching a pass, breaking through a tackle, and sprinting for a 45-yard touchdown on the first possession, leading to a 36-30 triumph. Kirk Cousins had an impressive outing, completing 509 passing yards. This victory puts the Falcons at 3-2 for the season, tying them with the Buccaneers for the NFC South lead.
Throughout the game, the Falcons faced moments where things looked bleak but managed to secure an improbable win, continuing a trend they have established this season.
The first half was characterized by explosive offensive plays, with both teams successfully moving the ball. The Falcons kicked off the scoring with a touchdown pass to Drake London, but the Buccaneers quickly responded with a touchdown from Mike Evans. Kirk Cousins completed 21 of 28 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone, showcasing a significant improvement in his performance compared to earlier games. Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield also excelled, completing 12 of 15 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns, highlighting the challenges faced by both defenses on a short week.
Despite a valiant defensive effort from the Buccaneers as they managed to stop the Falcons’ final drive of the half, they went into halftime with a 24-17 lead. Both teams were effective in their offensive strategies, with Tampa Bay scoring on four of their possessions and Atlanta scoring on three, alongside a missed field goal and a punt.
The narrative shifted in the latter half as defensive plays became more prominent, making scoring opportunities scarce. Cousins successfully connected with Darnell Mooney for his second touchdown of the game, but a critical dropped pass by Mooney later led to a blocked field goal attempt.
As the game progressed and with under two minutes remaining, Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving appeared poised to secure a first down when safety Jessie Bates III forced a fumble. The Falcons recovered the ball, but following an interception on a fourth-down play, the team still utilized their timeouts effectively to force a Buccaneers punt.
Cousins led a remarkable two-minute drill drive, hitting London for significant yardage. Despite a delay of game penalty, Younghoe Koo successfully kicked a 52-yard field goal to tie the game as time expired, reminiscent of his game-winning field goal just a week prior.
Winning the overtime coin toss, the Falcons swiftly took control. Although London left the game with an injury, Hodge stepped up, delivering the decisive touchdown that sealed the Falcons’ exhilarating victory. Despite the narrow margins, the Falcons celebrate their close wins.