TAMPA, Fla. — The Atlanta Falcons (5-3) defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium to complete the sweep of their first NFC South opponent. And once again, the game came down to the wire.
It was a full-team victory for Atlanta, which got another big day from its offense and some critical turnovers by the defense. Let's go through some of the key players and moments from the game.
Final score: 31-26
Why this game is important:
- With their victory, the Falcons take a one-game lead in the NFC South standings as Week 9 approaches. The win also gives Atlanta a series sweep of the Buccaneers, meaning they hold a tiebreak advantage that could become important late in the year.
Key takeaway: Falcons got turnovers but didn't turn them into points.
- More: Falcons safety Jessie Bates III forced and recovered a fumble from Buccaneers running back Rachaad White in the first quarter, and the Falcons' offense scored a touchdown on the answering drive. That was one of Atlanta's three turnovers, though. The others were not converted into points. Bates had a third-quarter interception, but the following offensive drive ended with a punt. Then, cornerback A.J. Terrell had a fourth-quarter interception that led to a Falcons' fumble and safety for the Buccaneers. So, three turnovers netted to just five points.
Standout performance: Jessie Bates III
- A forced fumble on the first drive of the game and a big-time interception in the third quarter, Bates was an impact player for the Falcons from start to finish. A key leader on the defense, he made sure the team wasn't going to come out flat.
Number to know: 145.9
- That was Kirk Cousins' passer rating from Sunday's win and his highest of the season. He didn't throw for more than 500 yards in this one against Tampa Bay, but he was incredibly efficient and effective. He finished the game with the following stat line: 23 of 29 for 276 yards with four touchdowns.
Player milestones:
- Bates has forced three fumbles against the Buccaneers this season, which is the most by any NFL defender. Sunday's first-quarter fumble was the first he has recovered.
- Tight end Kyle Pitts had his first two-touchdown game Sunday, scoring twice in the first half. He now has nine touchdowns in his career, and his three this season matches his career high, which he set in 2023.
- Wide receiver Darnell Mooney tied his single-season high in receiving touchdowns with four, which matches his totals from the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He scored on a 30-yard reception in the second quarter Sunday.
Injury update: Defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro (ankle; out) and right guard Chris Lindstrom (knee; questionable) were separately helped off the field by trainers in the third quarter.
A quick tweet: The Falcons editorial staff of Tori McElhaney, Will McFadden, Terrin Waack and Amna Subhan share their reactions to Sunday's outcome in 280 characters or less.
- McElhaney: I don't know what Tampa Bay did to Kirk Cousins but the man has been unstoppable vs. this defense in 2024. His final stat line vs. the Bucs: Eight touchdowns, 785 passing yards, 65-of-87 through the air (74.7%).
- McFadden: Baker woke up feeling
dangerousgenerous - Waack: Back to one-score games!
- Subhan: Jessie Bates III is a certified ball hawk
Settling the storylines:
- **Falcons down two defensive starters**: The two names that stood out on the Falcons' inactives list were safety Justin Simmons (hamstring) and inside linebacker Troy Andersen (knee). Sunday marked Simmons' first absence this season, while it was Andersen's fourth. Richie Grant filled in for Simmons at safety opposite of Bates. Nate Landman and Kaden Elliss were the Falcons' starting inside linebackers.
- **Buccaneers' 3-headed monster in run game**: The Buccaneers were without wide receivers Mike Evans (hamstring; inactive) and Chris Godwin (ankle; injured reserve) for the first time since 2021. Instead, wide receivers Trey Palmer, Jalen McMillan and Ryan Miller started for the Buccaneers. So, that turned the Falcons' focus onto the Buccaneers' trio of running backs. Tampa Bay did lean on their top two backs — White and Bucky Irving — Sunday. Irving totaled 84 yards on 16 touches, and White finished the game with 67 total yards on 11 touches. Sean Tucker was not a major factor and had just 15 yards.
- **Player of the Game prediction? Kirk Cousins**: The last time Cousins took on the Buccaneers in a Falcons uniform, the 36-year-old veteran threw for a career-high 509 yards and four touchdowns. This time, he threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns. It was the first time in his career that he has thrown three passing touchdowns of at least 30 yards in a single game, hitting his targets from 36, 49 and 30 yards.
Looking forward: The Falcons return home to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to host the Dallas Cowboys for their Week 9 game at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
