In an offensive shootout, the Atlanta Falcons defeated The Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime 36-30. The Falcons scored on their opening drive, thanks to a 32-yard gain by Kyle Pitts up the seam on the team’s second play from scrimmage. After a 15-yard gain by Drake London, who exploited a weakness in the zone, the Atlanta receiver crossed the goal line on an 18-yard touchdown. The seven plays and a 70-yard drive gave the Falcons an early 7-0 lead at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. On the Bucs’ ensuing drive, Baker Mayfield’s first pass went to Mike Evans for a gain of 15 and he was targeted for Mayfield over the middle of the field a few plays later. Evans took out the defender at an angle for a nine-yard gain, which set up a first down. After a gain of 15 for Cade Otton down the right sideline from third-and-9 and a physical grab from Chris Godwin to move the Bucs to first and goal, Evans scored. Bucky Irving served as the decoy and drew the defense’s attention while Evans went uncovered in the back of the end zone, tying the score at seven.

On the Falcons’ next drive, Bucs’ nose tackle Vita Vea halted their progress with a third-down sack. Todd Bowles packed the line with seven rushers and Vea came home up the middle and forced a Younghoe Koo punt. Koo missed a 41-yarder to tie the score at seven. The Bucs followed suit with a six-play drive that culminated in a 53-yard Chase McLaughlin field goal on an incompletion on third down.

The Falcons focused heavily on the middle of the field on the next drive, which was capped off by a Darnell Mooney 25-yard touchdown. Lavonte David broke up a pass intended for Pitts on second down, but the Falcons scored from third and 14, giving the home team a four-point lead. The Bucs immediately answered with a touchdown on a three-play, 44-yard drive. Mayfield connected with Evans on a corner route and the Bucs passed their NFC South rival for a 17-14 Atlanta lead.

On the ensuing possession for Atlanta, Jordan Whitehead flew off the edge on a blitz and Cousins ​​quickly got off the pass and was flagged for intentional grounding, setting up a second-and-20. After Bijan Robinson fell short of the sticks on third down, Koo kicked a 54-yard field goal to make it a tie game, 17-17. For the Bucs, Rachaad White became the catalyst on the next drive. After an opposing run, White exploded for a gain of 56 yards, with Tristan Wirfs and Oton clearing the way. He put the Bucs at the Atlanta 15-yard line, marking the longest streak of his career. From third and goal, Mayfield connected with his former Sooner teammate for a touchdown. No. 6 threaded the needle and put the ball in front for Sterling Shepard in the back corner of the end zone. The Bucs took a 24-17 lead on the seven-play, 82-yard scoring drive.

The Bucs defense killed the Falcons’ momentum on the next drive. On first down, Jordan Whitehead dropped into coverage and broke up a pass intended for London and on the ensuing play, Logan Hall dropped Cousins ​​for a loss of eight yards. A Mooney incompletion on third down forced a Falcons punt.

Mayfield completed 12 of 15 pass attempts for 131 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 142.6 first-half rating. With his two receiving touchdowns in the first half, Evans recorded his 22nd career multi-touchdown performance, surpassing Antonio Gates for the seventh-most such games in NFL history.

Starting at the half, the Bucs’ offense stalled, and the Falcons varied their pace and moved around the field. The tide turned in second place. Jamel Dean provided great coverage on Mooney’s field and was not fooled by his double move. Cousins ​​kept the ball and Anthony Nelson took advantage with an eight-yard sack that set up a third-and-22. Koo kicked a 48-yard field goal, making it a 24-20 game.

Mayfield became the X-Factor on the next drive, scrambling into second to find himself third and short. Chris Godwin got the first down on a sweep and an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Falcons due to extra yardage for Tampa Bay. However, from third down, Mayfield was sacked by David Onyemata, resulting in a 32-yard McLaughlin field goal. The Bucs had to settle for three, making it a 27-20 one-possession game.

Just before the end of the third frame, two straight wins for Atlanta put the Falcons at the Tampa Bay 18-yard line (22 by Ray Ray McCloud, 29 by Bijan Robinson). On fourth down, Cousins ​​connected with Mooney, who shook off a defender, for a 12-yard score. The Falcons tied the score at 27 on the eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive. The Bucs couldn’t score on the next drive and settled for three. McLaughlin drilled a 53-yarder to give the visiting team a three-point lead. The Falcons nearly tied the game on the next drive with a 54-yard Koo try after a Mooney drop on third down, but Bucs’ Tavierre Thomas leapt through the air to block the kick, keeping Tampa Bay on the driver’s seat.

The Bucs’ drive was cut short with a Jessie Bates III fumble. The ball was recovered by Kaden Ellis at the Atlanta 25-yard line, but the Tampa Bay defense stepped up. Yaya Diaby applied pressure on a twist, forcing the ball out of Cousins’ hands. Lavonte David sat in centerfield, read the quarterback’s eyes and broke, undercutting the pass for an interception at the Atlanta 35-yard line. He brought it back seven yards to the 28, shifting the momentum. The Bucs couldn’t cash in the points and the Falcons took over. A 17-yard gain from Mooney over the middle of the field put Atlanta across midfield. A few plays later, Cousins ​​spiked the ball with one second left. A delay in play penalty forced the Falcons into a 52-yard field goal attempt and Koo drilled it, sending the game into overtime.

The Falcons got the ball first on offense and London traveled 18 yards to the 45-yard line on an option route. Hodge scored from 45 yards out, giving the Falcons a 36-30 win.