Thurday Night’s game was all but over when Bucs’ linebacker Lavonte David intercepted a fourth down pass from Falcons’ QB Kirk Cousins with under two minutes in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay was on their way to a 4-1 record, pushing themselves ahead early in this NFC South race.
After failing to gain a first down, the Falcons with 1:14 on the clock and down three, drove down into field goal range to set up kicker Younghoe Koo for a 52-yard field goal to force overtime. Cousins drove the Falcons down the field to capitalize on a 45-yard game-winning touchdown in the first drive of OT. It was a devastating loss for the Bucs, who thought they had it all but wrapped up.
There were multiple opportunities, especially in the final two minutes, for this Tampa Bay team to finish the job. The offense failed, not only to get a first down, but keep themselves in field goal range, after David’s pick set them up deep in Atlanta territory. A hold and negative offensive plays backed them up, enough to even force the Bucs to punt.
It set up Cousins, notorious for being a great two-minute quarterback, with a minute 1:14 and only needing a field goal, with no timeouts. Tampa Bay’s head coach Todd Bowles was asked about the final three offensive plays in regulation:
“They came through on the first play and then the holding call kind of set us back and kind of put us out of field goal range and we kept going backwards. We at least have to be stalemated and get a field goal, so they need a touchdown to win instead of a field goal.” Bowles said.
The final three plays only played a part in the 36-30 loss, as both the offense and defense had other opportunities to put themselves ahead and close it out. But the last offensive drive proved to be huge, as they couldn’t keep it within reasonable range for kicker Chase McLaughlin to potentially put the team up six.
It was an overall great offensive performance, although it was a lackluster second half. The last drive was stalled by a holding penalty, matched with conservative playcalling that helped the Falcons’ defense push the Bucs out of field goal range.
It’s still early in the season and this game shouldn’t effect the Bucs’ hopes to win the division too much, but this game will be one that alters the playoff race later in the season. These two teams matchup just around the corner during week eight in Tampa Bay, it will be a game the Bucs have to find a way to win if they want to put themselves in position to win the NFC South.
Thurday Night’s game was all but over when Bucs’ linebacker Lavonte David intercepted a fourth down pass from Falcons’ QB Kirk Cousins with under two minutes in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay was on their way to a 4-1 record, pushing themselves ahead early in this NFC South race.
After failing to gain a first down, the Falcons with 1:14 on the clock and down three, drove down into field goal range to set up kicker Younghoe Koo for a 52-yard field goal to force overtime. Cousins drove the Falcons down the field to capitalize on a 45-yard game-winning touchdown in the first drive of OT. It was a devastating loss for the Bucs, who thought they had it all but wrapped up.
There were multiple opportunities, especially in the final two minutes, for this Tampa Bay team to finish the job. The offense failed, not only to get a first down, but keep themselves in field goal range, after David’s pick set them up deep in Atlanta territory. A hold and negative offensive plays backed them up, enough to even force the Bucs to punt.
It set up Cousins, notorious for being a great two-minute quarterback, with a minute 1:14 and only needing a field goal, with no timeouts. Tampa Bay’s head coach Todd Bowles was asked about the final three offensive plays in regulation:
“They came through on the first play and then the holding call kind of set us back and kind of put us out of field goal range and we kept going backwards. We at least have to be stalemated and get a field goal, so they need a touchdown to win instead of a field goal.” Bowles said.
The final three plays only played a part in the 36-30 loss, as both the offense and defense had other opportunities to put themselves ahead and close it out. But the last offensive drive proved to be huge, as they couldn’t keep it within reasonable range for kicker Chase McLaughlin to potentially put the team up six.
It was an overall great offensive performance, although it was a lackluster second half. The last drive was stalled by a holding penalty, matched with conservative playcalling that helped the Falcons’ defense push the Bucs out of field goal range.
It’s still early in the season and this game shouldn’t effect the Bucs’ hopes to win the division too much, but this game will be one that alters the playoff race later in the season. These two teams matchup just around the corner during week eight in Tampa Bay, it will be a game the Bucs have to find a way to win if they want to put themselves in position to win the NFC South.
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