Article by Allison Smith
Photos courtesy of Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay 35/Atlanta 22
11.24.19
The Falcons return home after a long time away from Mercedes Benz Stadium, ready to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Inactives for the day, due to injury are John Cominsky, Devonta Freeman, Austin Hooper, and Kemal Ishmael. Other inactives, Matt Gono, Brandon Powell, and Deadrin Senat.
The extra captain on the day is Damontae Kazee. Each Falcon wears a number on their helmet representing a fallen soldier, with their families in attendance for Military Appreciation Day. And you know, no one appreciates the military more than Dan Quinn. Note that this year, the Falcons are representing 94 fallen heroes, each player representing several heroes on their helmet. All of these families had a great Sunday receiving jerseys with their name on them as well as spending time with the team and touring the facilities.
The Falcons win the toss and will take the ball on offense again. This has led to back to back wind the last two weeks. The opening kickoff goes way back in the end zone and the Falcons offense will start the game at the 25.
Matt Ryan is already in the shotgun and hands off to Brian Hill for no yards. In the no huddle, Ryan yells commands. Again in the shotgun, Ryan drops back and lobs it to wide open Jaeden Graham for a big 53-yard gain. About half and half pass and YAC. Now on the Bucs’ 23, a sweep to Calvin Ridley along the right side, Ridley goes down to the 7, behind a good Graham block. Ryan throws the next pass way out of the back of the end zone. From the shotgun, Ryan is under pressure, gets itchy feet, but throws the ball out of the back of the end zone again. Now on 3rd and goal, Ryan hits Ridley, who is double covered, and cannot hold onto the all. With 2 receivers double covered, you would think someone would have been open. Younghoe Koo kicks the 25-yard field goal.
With 12:47 to go in the first quarter, the Falcons with the early lead, 3/0.
Jameis Winston begins at the 25 and a rush for 11 yards by Ronald Jones II who is met and sat down by Kazee. On the second offensive play, Winston has his first pick of the day. Desmond Trufant is running the route in from of Mike Evans like he is the receiver, Winston still makes the pass and Tru picks it off.
Falcons take over at their own 47. A rush by Hill for a 1-yard gain. Next a pass along the right side to Russell Gage who forces his way past the first down marker. Ryan’s next pass is out of bounds. Still in the shotgun, Ryan quickly passes to Gage on the left for 7 yards. With Hill in the medical tent, Qadree Ollison gets the call and gains no yards along the left side. On 4th and 3, Graham has a false start forcing the punt. The ball rolls out of bounds at the 3.
On the first play of their second possession, the Bucs have a false start and are at the ½-yard line. Winston drops back, then chooses to run, past the first down marker where Isaiah Oliver makes the tackle. From the 11, Winston hands off to Jones for a few yards. Grady Jarrett is over center with Vic Beasley, Jr. beside him, rushing 4, but Winston gets the ball out to Jones who is tackled after the first down by Ricardo Allen. Rushing 4 again, Winston hands off, Jones up the middle and he is med and stopped by De’Vondre Campbell after a 4-yard gain. Adrian Clayborn nearly gets to Winston, but he manages to get the ball away, even with it tipped by Deion Jones, Chris Godwin makes the reception, escapes Kazee, and goes 71-yard for the touchdown. With 6:45 to go in the quarter, the Bucs lead 7/3.
Another touchback and the Falcons begin on their 25 again. Ryan throws over the middle to Julio Jones, but the ball is deflected. Hill is back in the game and takes the fake as Ryan throws near the marker to Ridley. On 3rd and 3, Ryan throws big for Julio on the right side, even with his jersey being held, catches the 31-yard pass. Hill gets the call and gains 3 yards. Another fake to Hill, Ryan avoids the sack and throws a low ball toward Julio as a Bucs defender lays him out. 3rd and 7, Ryan drops back then decides to run it himself, short of the first down marker. There is an offensive hold on the play by Jake Matthews (that opened the hole for Ryan). 3rd and 17, Ryan hits Ridley, but he can’t get high enough to hold on, with the help of the defender’s shove. Ryan Allen punts out of bounds at the 10.
Winston hands off to Peyton Barber who gains 3 yards. Winston drops back and throws out of bounds over the receiver out of bounds. On 3rd and 7, Winston makes another errant pass under pressure, tipped by the receiver and Campbell comes up with the interception.
Falcons offense takes over at the 19. Ollison gets the first carry for 6 yards. On 2nd and 4, Ryan under big pressure, finally gets the ball toward Ridley, who cannot hold the ball with a defender clubbing him. With a 3rd and 4, Ryan scrambles for the first down. At the 5, Ryan is under center, Ollison goes to the 1. Still in, Ollison pushes behind the line, but still cannot get across the line. Ollison jumps over the offensive and defensive lines for the touchdown!!!!! His second in 2 games. Koo for the extra point and the Falcons lead 10/7 as the first quarter is nearly ended.
The Bucs begin again at their 25. Winston, from the shotgun, passes out to Evans who runs before the catch and therefore an incompletion. On 2nd and 10, Winston passes to Jones who is stopped after a 6-yard gain. Time expires on the first quarter.
A quick stop by Debo and it’s 4th and 2, and the Buccaneers have to punt. Kenyon Barner catches at the 13 and is immediately stopped there.
Ryan finds Julio just past the first down marker after a stop and start route. From the 26, Ruan is under center, fakes to Hill and is immediately sacked. 2nd and 19, Ryan is in the shotgun and scrambling, Matthews can’t hold his block and another sack. 3rd and 27 from the 9, hand off to Hill for no gain. Allen from the middle of the end zone, gets the ball to the 39, and special teams allows a return.
The Bucs begin at their 49. Winston drops back, finds Godwin on the far right side who is knocked out by Kendall Sheffield. From the 29, Winston hands off to Jones who loses a yard behind a fierce defensive line, lead by Jack Crawford. Winston from the shotgun, has Debo nearly push the lineman into him, gets the ball out to a receiver, but the Bucs were called for holding and backs them up. 2nd and 21, Winston get it all back by finding Godwin who then gets the 10-yard line. A quick short pass to Godwin for a couple of yards. From the Falcons’ 9, Winston throws left to Miller who is shoved out at the 1. Winston then finds Godwin just inside the goal line for his second touchdown of the day. Kazee nearly tips the ball, but can’t get his fingers on it. With just under 8 to go in the half, the Bucs miss their extra point, but lead 13/10.
Again at the 25, Hill finds a hole on the left side and gains 5 yards. Back under center, Ryan flips it back to Hill who runs along the far left side edge for a first down. From the 35, Ryan finds Gage again for another first down. From the shotgun, Ryan throws just out of Julio’s reach. A hand off to Hill gains 2 yards. On 3rd and 8, Ridley in motion, Ryan is sacked again. Allen punts to the 10, a return to the 35, stopped by Ollison. An illegal black is called and the Bucs will begin on their own 5.
The Bucs come out running and are stopped back to back for minimal gain. Another 3rd and 7, Winston in the shotgun and throws to Breshad Perriman at the 49. Quinn challenged the reception and it was upheld. After a short run, under Claybo pressure, Winston throws out of bounds over the receiver. On 3rd and 9 Winston finds Evans for the first down, Kazee and Rico converge for the tackle. Cover 2 is not working today.
Two-minute warning.
From the Falcons 30, Winston hands off and Jones is met with the whole defense and forced back for a 3-yard loss. From the shotgun, Winston decides to run, not slide, and is stopped after 4 yards. Falcons call a time out. 3rd and 9, Winston finds wide open Godwin at the 3. A run goes for nothing. After another Falcons timeout, Winston from the 1, fakes a handoff and finds a defensive lineman in as a fullback open in the end zone. Vita Vea for the touchdown reception. With 40 seconds til the half, the Bucs lead 19/10.
Ryan throws underneath Julio across the middle and he cannot bring the ball in. Ryan drops back and nearly throws an interception, not seeing the defender step between him and intended receiver Christian Blake. On 3rd and 10 with 29 seconds to go, Ryan finds Hill at the 30, but Hill cannot gain any additional yards. Allen on to punt again with 20 seconds to go. The punt goes to the 17 and takes a Bucs bounds, but roles until 5 seconds remain.
The Bucs take a knee and go to have leading the Falcons by 9.
The Bucs start with no gains, then on a 3rd and 10, Winston runs the ball himself past the marker, fighting with Rico all the way. A sweep to Scotty Miller goes for a loss, spotted and dropped by Rico. On 2nd and 12, Dare Ogunbowale goes up the middle for a first down. Note that Grady was not in on that play. Another run up the middle, then bounces to the right side for a big first down at the Falcons 10. Jones runs up the middle for a short gain, but there is a flag on the play. Illegal formation was declined and the Bucs are at the 14 with a 2nd and 9. Winston finds O.J. Howard over the middle for another first down. Then Jones in for the touchdown.
The Bucs kicker has his extra point blocked by Sheffield. Sharrod Neasman picks up the ball, goes for a number of yards before being touched, then spins and waits for blockers and is finally pushed out of bounds. Grady and other lineman were down field still blocking.
Ryan in the shotgun at the 25, to Hill on the right side for a yard. Ryan finds an open Gage up at the 45. Hill on the left side for no gain. Ryan throws big downfield for Ridley, who catches the ball in tandem with Carlton Davis III and the refs give the ball to the Bucs.
From the Bucs 11, Winston hands off twice. On 3rd and 2, under pressure, Winston throws an incompletion.
After the punt, the Falcons begin on their 44 and Ryan finds Ridley for a 17-yard gain. After a false start on James Carpenter. Ryan throws an incompletion toward Stocker and high to Gage who cannot haul it in. Ndamukong Suh has an illegal use of hands after a misthrow by Ryan towards Ridley.
Automatic first down, Hill gets the ball on the left side for no gain. At the 40, it’s 2nd and 10, Ryan drops back and hits Julio for the first down just past the marker. Another reception by Julio, and its 2nd and 3 at the 21. Hill goes up the middle for a gain of one yard. On 3rd and 2, Ryan is lined up on the left side of the line, Gage takes the snap and tosses to Ollison for the first down. A fake to Ollison leads to a short pass to Julio, which is negated by a flag on Matthews. On 1st and 18 Ryan almost throws an interception. Then he hits Ridley in the corner of the end zone, but he lands with one foot in, one foot out. Another hold on Matthews. It’s now 2nd and 28, Gage with the 9-yard reception. On 3rd and 19, Hill gets the call for short yardage. Koo on for the successful 40-yard field goal. With 1:40 to go in the 3rd quarter, Falcons down 25/13.
Winston comes out slinging to Godwin again, who avoids tackles before Kazee gets him down. Quickly driving with multiple missed tackles, as the quarter ends.
The Bucs are at the 33 as the fourth quarter begins. Debo’s pressure on Winston does not stop his quick pass and completion. Then Jones around the left side for another few yards. On 3rd and 4 at the 14, Claybo and Grady are both held with no penalties called. The Bucs do not get the first down and are forced to kick the 32-yard field goal and lead the Falcons 28/13 with nearly 13 minutes to go in the game.
The first pass of the next possession goes to Gage for a first down. Then to Julio for another first down. Gage along the sideline for 6 yards. Near the 50, Ryan misses Ridley over the middle with defenders cloaking him. On 3rd and 4, Ryan scrambles, finally throws low toward Graham which falls incomplete. The Falcons go for it on 4th and 4, Gage catches the ball at the marker. Ollison up the middle for 7 yards, then a pass to Ollison over the middle for the first down. Ridley goes down the left side and is stopped at the 14. After an incompletion to Gage in the end zone, Ryan is sacked – on Matthews’ side. There is a near sack, the ball is in the air, nearly intercepted. This leads to a 38-yard field goal. Falcons still down 28/16 with just over 8 to go in the game.
Winston starts again with a quick first down pass. Then no gain as Rico makes a big stop. On 2nd and 10, Winston is under pressure and throws incomplete to the tight end with Rico in coverage. The next incompletion is null as Beasley is offsides. On 3rd and 5, there is a false start on the Bucs. Third and 10 meets a Trufant pass breakup. The Bucs punt to the 19.
The first play is a sack given up by Kaleb McGary. Ridley has another catch, again with one foot in and one foot out. Another failed play and the Falcons punt again.
After another short Bucs’ drive, the Falcons give up their 6th sack of the day, which is also a fumble. Bucs take the ball and increase their lead to 35/16.
Matt Schaub replaces Ryan at quarterback, has a low ball to Blake which is intercepted, but the turnover is overturned and marked incomplete. Schaub hits Ridley for the 21-yard touchdown. The Falcons go for the unsuccessful 2-point conversion. The score is 35/22 with just under 2 minutes to go in the game.
The Bucs run out the clock and issue the Falcons their first lost in the NFC South and end any insane hope of a playoff run.
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