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- QB Jameis Winston continues to rack up individual accolades**
Quarterback Jameis Winston had one of the best performances of his career on Monday night. He was poised, polished and finished 27 of 35 for 299 yards and three touchdowns. His 77.1 completion percentage was the highest of his career and his 130.5 passer rating was the second-best mark in his three years as an NFL quarterback. It was his eighth career game with three or more touchdowns, which is tied for most in franchise history. He also now has the fifth-most touchdown passes in franchise history in just his third year with the team. Coincidentally enough, Winston also just passed Atlanta's Matt Ryan for eighth-most touchdowns by an NFL player in his first three seasons with 67. To know just how good of a performance Winston had against the Falcons, head on over to Scott Smith's article here.
2. Though overwhelmingly injury-ridden, the Bucs put up a fight for all 60 minutes.
"I think it might have been the best team game we played. Talk about the next man up, I mean, good lord, we had so many injuries." Quarterback Jameis Winston was one of several coaches and players who commented on the fight the team showed on Monday night, battling through a plethora of injuries. At one point, there were as many as nine guys on the sidelines, of the 46 players the Bucs had activated for primetime. Injuries have plagued the Buccaneers all season and the absence of a bye week has not helped matters. Still, the team has been preaching that 'next man up' mentality all season. Week 15 was no exception. For instance, when tight end Cam Brate was sidelined for most of the second quarter after taking a brutal hit and tight end O.J. Howard left the game with an ankle injury shortly after his touchdown catch, tight end/fullback combo Alan Cross came up with a huge 23-yard grab on third-and-4 that helped propel the Bucs to their first trip into the red zone of the night. Wide receiver Adam Humphries was able to step up not only in receiving yards, racking up 43 and his first touchdown of the season, he was also a key contributor on special teams. Hard Knocks-favorite Riley Bullough also made his NFL debut due to injuries to the linebacker corps.
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A behind-the-scenes look at the Buccaneers' Week 15 matchup with the Falcons.

Bucs vs Falcons

Bucs vs Falcons

Bucs Fans

QB Jameis Winston

QB Jameis Winston

Rays Pitcher Chris Archer

Bucs Fans

WR DeSean Jackson

WR Adam Humphries and CB Robert McClain

Bucs Fans

Bucs Fans

QB Jameis Winston and C Evan Smith

TE Cameron Brate, S T.J. Ward and WR Mike Evans

CB Javien Elliott, TE Alan Cross and TE O.J. Howard

Bucs vs Falcons

OT Leonard Wester and OT Caleb Benenoch

OT Leonard Wester

HC Dirk Koetter

Bucs vs Falcons

Kwon Alexander's Cleats

WR DeSean Jackson and CB Robert McClain

TE O.J. Howard

CB Josh Robinson

OT Donovan Smith

DT Sealver Siliga

DT Clinton McDonald

LB Adarius Glanton, QB Jameis Winston and OT Donovan Smith

QB Jameis Winston

LB Riley Bullough, DE Will Clarke, S T.J. Ward, LB Kwon Alexander and QB Jameis Winston

QB Jameis Winston

DT Clinton McDonald

RB Jacquizz Rodgers

LB Riley Bullough

Paratroopers

Paratroopers

DT Sealver Siliga

RB Charles Sims

QB Jameis Winston

Prayer Circle

HC Dirk Koetter

TE Antony Auclair and TE Cameron Brate

Bucs vs Falcons

Bucs vs Falcons

Bucs vs Falcons

Bucs vs Falcons

Bucs vs Falcons

C Joe Hawley and G/T Kevin Pamphile

S Keith Tandy

RB Peyton Barber, WR DeSean Jackson, QB Jameis Winston and DE Patrick O'Connor

RB Peyton Barber

S Justin Evans

Bucs vs Falcons

CB Robert McClain

DE Robert Ayers

LB Kwon Alexander

DE Robert Ayers

DT Clinton McDonald

Bucs vs Falcons

LB Kwon Alexander, CB Brent Grimes, CB Josh Robinson, QB Jameis Winston and WR Mike Evans

LB Kwon Alexander, CB Brent Grimes, CB Josh Robinson, QB Jameis Winston and WR Mike Evans

QB Jameis Winston and HC Dirk Koetter

The Gruden's

DB Ryan Smith, WR Mike Evans and QB Jameis Winston

National Anthem

LB Kwon Alexander

LB Riley Bullough

DE William Gholston

K Patrick Murray, DE Patrick O'Connor and DT Clinton McDonald

National Anthem

LB Riley Bullough and DE Will Clarke

LB Kendell Beckwith, LB Lavonte David and LB Kwon Alexander

Bucs Fans

Bucs Fans

RB Peyton Barber

WR Mike Evans and TE O.J. Howard

Bucs Fans

TE Alan Cross

TE Alan Cross

TE Antony Auclair

Bucs Fans

Former NFL QB Steve Young

Former NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck

Monday Night Football

Former NFL Star Charles Woodson

Bucs Fans

Bucs Fans

Bucs Fans

Bucs Fans

Bucs Fans

Military Members

LB Kwon Alexander and DE William Gholston

Bucs Fans

WR Adam Humphries, WR Mike Evans and TE Cameron Brate

WR Adam Humphries and QB Jameis Winston

Bucs Fans

Bucs Fans

Bucs Fans

Bucs vs Falcons

Bucs Fans

Bucs Fans

Bucs Fans

Bucs Fans

LB Kwon Alexander

QB Jameis Winston and Falcons RB Devonta Freeman

CB Robert McClain and Falcons CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson

TE Alan Cross, Falcons DT Dontari Poe and DT Clinton McDonald

Falcons S Ricardo Allen and WR Freddie Martino
- Mike Evans battled for the ball and saw production.**
Wide receiver Mike Evans led the team with five receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. He would have had more yards – 55 more to be exact – had his 55-yard touchdown reception to start the second half not been called back due to offensive pass interference. With his touchdown on Monday night, Evans now sits tied for second-most receiving touchdowns in team history, passing Kevin House. He leads the team this season with 60 receptions and has 839 receiving yards through 14 games.
4. The Bucs' defense stepped up, limiting quarterback Matt Ryan and stripping the ball.
Sometimes all it takes is a bounce – but it was a bounce that didn't happen for the Buccaneers, despite forcing two fumbles. Defensive end Robert Ayers Jr. stripped the ball from running back Devonta Freeman's hands at the goal line in the second quarter. The ball then took a fortuitous bounce for Atlanta and the Falcons' Levine Toilolo was able to recover in the end zone for Atlanta's second touchdown of the game. The defense was operating without linebacker Lavonte David, who has been tremendous at taking the ball away all season. In his absence though, linebacker Kwon Alexander stepped up his role, recording a season-high 13 tackles for the Bucs. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was also kept out due to a biceps injury and in his place, defensive tackle Clinton McDonald was able to bring quarterback Matt Ryan down for the sack on a big third down play in the fourth quarter that gave the Bucs one more chance to tie the game. The biggest success for the defense came in making Atlanta receiver Julio Jones a non-factor. Jones had just three receptions for 54 yards in the game, a drastic improvement from what he was able to do against the Bucs in Atlanta in Week 12.
5. The Bucs didn't have an answer for RB Devonta Freeman and the Falcons' ground game.
Unfortunately, while the Bucs managed to stifle Matt Ryan and the Falcons' passing attack, the run defense suffered. Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman, who was out with a concussion the last time the teams met in Week 12, was healthy and active this time around. Active to the tune of 194 yards on 24 carries plus a touchdown on Monday night, to be precise. His touchdown didn't come until the fourth quarter: the Bucs were within three and had Atlanta in third-and-2 at the Bucs' 32-yard line when Freeman broke loose for the 32-yard touchdown run, putting Atlanta up 24-14 with 7:58 to play. The Bucs drove down the field and answered with a touchdown of their own, but in the end fell short.