The Bucs got back-to-back road wins, clipping the Falcons 30-17. Tampa was able to do nearly everything they wanted to schematically, but execution was a problem again at times. Tampa was able to do enough to get a win in Atlanta, moving to 9-3 on the year.

Brady finished the game 38-51 for 368 yards, four scores and a pick-six. Chris Godwin was the team’s leading receiver with 143 yards on 15 grabs. Mike Evans added 99 yards and Rob Gronkowski found the end zone twice. The running game was lacking the production from last week, managing only 57 yards. Leonard Fournette had 44 yards on the ground, also added 7 receptions for 48 yards and a score.

Fast Start For Bucs Offense

Brady and the offense got right to work on offense, moving down the field with ease. The Bucs threw 13 times, including a successful fourth down conversion. Fournette made a one-handed catch in the end zone from three yards out to give the Bucs an early lead. Defensively, they couldn’t match the offense’s intensity though. The Bucs let up a quick touchdown on a drive fueled by 63 yards on the ground.

Two big receptions by Godwin and Evans set the Bucs offense up inside the red zone. A defensive holding call gave Tampa a fresh set of downs, and Cameron Brate scored on a contested catch the next play. Ryan Succop missed the extra point, making the lead 13-7.

After the Falcons marched all the way down to the one-yard line, the Bucs defense came up with a critical goal line stand. The Falcons had to settle for a field goal, pulling within three points. Tampa answered right back. Big receptions by Evans, Fournette and Godwin moved the chains. Gronkowski finished off the drive with a 27-yard touchdown grab.

Pinned down inside the ten with 22 seconds left after a Falcons punt, the Bucs tried a screen pass that was read all the way by the defense and went for a pick six. The Falcons went into the half with the score 20-17,  and a chance to take the lead to start the third quarter.

Defense Steps Up

Atlanta was rolling to open the half when Pierre Desir punched the ball out, causing a fumble. Carlton Davis recovered, but the offense went three-and-out. Suh again ended a productive drive for the Falcons, sacking Matt Ryan and forcing a punt.

In response, Brady picked apart the Falcons secondary with short passes moving down the field. Atlanta moved to a single-high look on third down, giving Brady exactly the matchup he was looking for. Gronkowski reeled in his second touchdown of the day to move the lead to 27-17.

A quick three-and-out thanks to a Vea sack got the Bucs the ball right back. The defense got just enough on a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage forcing an incompletion and a punt. After a Falcons punt, Tampa’s offense got back to work. Godwin’s 35-yard reception moved the Bucs into Atlanta territory, where they would start to run the clock down. Ryan Succop came in to knock in a field goal and give the Bucs a final 30-17 win.