Ninety minutes before kickoff, the Bucs shared their inactive report, showing a lot of key players sitting out of this one. As always, Buccaneers.com's Scott Smith fills us in.
Tampa Bay would take the opening kickoff and come out firing, their first string of plays highlighted by a huge Vincent Jackson grab.
The catch was confirmed and the Bucs started with a fresh set of downs at the 43-yard line.
A holding penalty dropped the Bucs to third-and-25, but a McCown run put them back in field goal range for the first points of the day.
Atlanta answered with their own successful drive, led by Steven Jackson (26 yards rushing) and Roddy White (3 rec. 41 yards). The Bucs would force an incompletion on third down, but there was a flag on the play, changing the field goal attempt into seven points.
Tampa Bay would be forced to punt on the next drive, but the defense would set up a three-and-out of their own, but again, a flag on the field hurt the Bucs.
With the drive still going, Julio Jones dropped a pass and the Falcons faced third down again. Here's how the drive panned out.
The teams would trade punts, giving the Bucs the ball back with time winding down. We turn it over to Twitter to call the Bucs possession.
There you go McCown. He finds Mike Evans down the left sideline for 16. #Bucs now at the 27. — Rick Brown (@LedgeronBucs) November 9, 2014
Only 53 seconds remained in the half, but a nice return by the Falcons would give them a chance to add more before the teams hit the locker rooms.
Atlanta ends the 2nd quarter with a 43-yd Matt Bryant FG. At halftime, #Falcons 13 #Bucs 10. http://t.co/kxau6vU853 — 98.7 The Fan (@987TheFan) November 9, 2014
The Falcons had possession first in the second half, ultimately adding to their lead.
Down six now, the Bucs took over, continuing to move effectively against the Falcons defense.
That luck would run out on the first turnover the game.
The defense would stand, allowing no points off the turnover and putting the punt return unit back on the field.
Again, the offense would steadily move up field with a 17-yard reception by Mike Evans. Next, Bobby Rainey gained eight up the middle, Mike James picked up a first down, taking it to the one-yard line as we reached the fourth quarter.
Two plays later, the Buccaneers were on top, 17-16.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins did the Captain Morgan. pic.twitter.com/dsQfTT8Zew — Cork Gaines (@CorkGaines) November 9, 2014
On the ensuing drive, the Buccaneers would nearly create their first turnover of the day on two separate occasions.
That third-down penalty would give the Falcons a first at the 11-yard line. Two plays later, Atlanta regained their lead.
#Falcons Matt Ryan to Roddy White for 5yd TD pass, Harry Douglas for 2pt conversion. ATL leads #Bucs 24-17. #ATLvsTB http://t.co/kxau6vU853 — 98.7 The Fan (@987TheFan) November 9, 2014
The offense couldn't get moving and they would be forced to punt it back to the Falcons who took over with great field position at midfield.
Down 10, the Bucs offense stepped out again with 4:10 left in the game.
Third-and-20.
He does finally get the flag. This should be overturned. Completion to Evans should be given. #Bucs — Rick Brown (@LedgeronBucs) November 9, 2014
The big overturn gave the Bucs a first at their own 44-yard line and the team would continue moving forward.
With that catch, Evans becomes the first rookie in team history to have consecutive 100-yard games. He has 102. #Bucs — Rick Brown (@LedgeronBucs) November 9, 2014
An incredible catch by Mike Evans moved the Bucs to the four-yard line, but was called out of bounds on the field. For the second time of the drive, the ref would go under the hood.
Again the play was overturned and the Bucs would start from the four-yard line.
Atlanta would punt after three plays. With no timeouts left, the Bucs offense started over at theor 31-yard line with 1:30 left. 12-yard pass to Louis Murphy. 13-yard pass to Charles Sims. Seven-yard sack.