The Buccaneers Blow A Game The Falcons Tried To Give Them Many Times Over

Kevin Sabitus. Getty Images.

The Buccaneers entered Thursday night in sole possession of 1st place in the NFC South at 3-1 and went into Atlanta to face the suddenly hot 2-2 Falcons. Despite the Falcons getting up 7-0 early, they tried to give this game away to the Bucs in almost every way possible.

It started early when tied 7-7 Falcons Kicker Younghoe Koo missed a 46-yard Field Goal attempt. The Bucs were called for offsides so Koo got to re-kick from five yards closer. Then he missed that too.

Then to end the 1st half, the Falcons had the chance to try a Field Goal from 57 yards but opted to punt instead. There were 19 seconds left in the half and despite Koo nailing a 58 yard Field Goal last week, Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris elected to not have his guy go out there. So instead of trying to cut the Bus 24-17 lead to four, the Falcons punted and went into the half down by seven.

The 2nd half was much more of a defensive, divisional slugfest with each team only scoring three points in the 3rd Quarter. And with the Falcons driving in the 3rd Quarter, Darnell Mooney dropped a pass on 3rd & 6 that would've been an easy 1st Down and maybe more…

On the very next play, Younhoe Koo had the potential game-tying Field Goal attempt BLOCKED! 

The Falcons tried to drive it late and went for it on 4th & 15 in their own territory. Kirk Cousins tried to squeeze it into a tight window and Buccaneers legendary Linebacker Lavonte David made the interception.

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At this point, the Falcons chances of winning the game were below 5%.

Yet they made a critical stop and had penalties knock the Bucs out of Field Goal range. The Bucs punted and the Falcons drove it down and needed every last second to get into Field Goal range.

They then immediately got a delay of game to make it a 53-yard Field Goal. But Koo redeemed himself by kicking the game tying Field Goal as time expired. They won the coin flip in overtime and scored a TD on that drive to win the game. The Bucs and Falcons both move to 3-2 after this outcome. This stinks.