The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Atlanta Falcons in the season opener as Younghoe Koo missed a 44-yard field goal as time ran out. He made the first and Tampa Bay called a timeout, forcing another to ice, which paid dividends. The Buccaneers finished the game with 260 total yards and converted seven of 14 third-down attempts. Baker Mayfield completed 17 of 32 attempts for 167 yards and three touchdowns.
The Buccaneers deferred following the coin toss and the Falcons scored on their opening offensive possession. Michael Penix Jr. checked it down to Bijan Robinson in the flat and he churned upfield and maneuvered through the Bucs' defense for a 50-yard touchdown, providing the Falcons with an early 7-0 lead.
The Bucs followed suit with two drives ending in a quick three-and-out. Their third drive, consisting of a fourth-down conversion on a tight window dart to Mike Evans, culminated in a Chase McLaughlin 48-yard field goal. After Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby dropped Bijan Robinson on a critical fourth down to force a turnover on downs, the Bucs reached the end zone. Evans helped move the chains on a 12-yard gain off a corner route and Baker Mayfield hit Emeka Egbuka off a play-action fake to Bucky Irving for a 30-yard score, giving the visiting team a 10-7 advantage. Prior to the half, Zyon McCollum nearly intercepted Penix's third-down pass but instead, it went incomplete, forcing a Younghoe Koo 41-yard field goal.
Out of the half, gains of 19 yards by Shepard and 14 by Evans helped set up the ensuing field goal opportunity after Rachaad White was brought down on third down short of the sticks. McLaughlin's 44-yard attempt was wide left, keeping the score tied at 10.
Kam Johnson fielded a Falcons' punt inside the 20 and he returned it all the way to the Atlanta 32-yard line for a 53-yard gain. The Bucs capitalized off the positive field position with a Bucky Irving touchdown. Mayfield connected with the running back in the flat and Irving leapt for the pylon to give Tampa Bay a 17-10 lead midway through the third frame.
With just over the two-minute mark, Penix scrambled up the middle, capping off a 91-yard, 18-play drive, with a four-yard touchdown to give Atlanta a 20-17 lead. The Bucs answered with a score of their own. Mayfield connected with Egbuka on a 25-yard touchdown with 59 seconds on the clock. McLaughlin missed the point after attempt, keeping it a 23-20 ballgame. As time expired, Koo missed a 44-yard field goal to give Tampa Bay a 23-20 win on the road.
TOP PERFORMERS 🏈
Buccaneers:
- Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 16/31 for 167 yards - 3 TDs
- Rushing: QB Baker Mayfield: 4 attempts for 40 yards
- Receiving: WR Emeka Egbuka: 4 receptions for 67 yards - 2 TD
- Defense: OLB Haason Reddick: 3 total tackles - 1.0 sack
Falcons:
- Passing: QB Michael Penix Jr.: 27/42 for 298 yards - 1 TD
- Rushing: QB Michael Penix Jr.: 6 attempts for 21 yards - TD
- Receiving: RB Bijan Robinson: 7 receptions for 100 yards - 1 TD
- Defense: S Billy Bowman: 6 total tackles - 0.5 sack
