The Buccaneers led the Falcons by three points late in the fourth quarter Thursday night and they had a chance to end the game after linebacker Lavonte picked off David Kirk Cousins ​​in Atlanta territory.

It didn’t happen. The Bucs lost yardage before kicking and the defense couldn’t stop the Falcons from driving for a field goal. The Falcons then received the kickoff to start overtime and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge won the game with a 45-yard touchdown on a missed tackle by cornerback Zyon McCollum.

The regrettable actions in the defeat started before the final minutes. Running back Bucky Irving lost a fumble, the defense allowed Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​to throw for 509 yards and head coach Todd Bowles said after the game that they “can’t play the Bucs and the Falcons at the same time.” Bowles added that “we just have to close out games” and quarterback Baker Mayfield agreed with that sentiment.

“All me what you care about is winsMayfield said via the team’s website. ‘We have to find a way to finish that game offensively. We have to make the plays when they come. In the second half we have to take care of the football and finish on the attack.”

The Bucs didn’t finish on Thursday and they will now have to make sure this isn’t the start of a slump that results in them missing the playoffs.