The Falcons face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Thursday Night Football matchup in the Georgia Dome. Check out these pictures of the game.
WR Devin Hester runs through tackles to score a touchdown off a punt.
S Kemal Ishmael goes in for a tackle.
K Matt Bryant kicks a field goal.
DE Kroy Biermann looks through the line.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers runs the ball.
LB Paul Worrilow cuts in on the line.
QB Matt Ryan warms up prior to the start of the game.
RB Devonta Freeman gets a hand off from QB T.J. Yates.
WR Eric Weems makes a catch.
Former Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez visits with former teammates prior to the start of the game.
LB Paul Worrilow fights through the line for a tackle.
The Falcons celebrate with S Kemal Ishmael after his pick six
WR Devin Hester high-steps into the endzone and passes Falcons alumni Deion Sanders to become the all-time leader in returns for touchdowns.
RB Steven Jackson
CB Robert Alford runs onto the field.
DE Kroy Biermann makes a tackle.
WR Devin Hester celebrates a rushing touchdown during the first half of play.
S William Moore enters the field.
S Kemal Ishmael runs back an interception for a touchdown
WR Devin Hester runs the ball
WR Julio Jones
DE Jonathan Massaquoi runs onto the field.
WR Devin Hester runs past several Buccaneer defenders on his way to the endzone.
CB Robert Alford makes his entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
WR Devin Hester moves the ball as Buccaneers CB Crezdon Butler runs in
WR Julio Jones
Falcons players make their entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
Former Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez visits with former teammates prior to the start of the game.
QB Matt Ryan chats with Buccaneers QBs Mike Glennon and Josh McCown prior to the start of the game.
CB Desmond Trufant makes his entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
Falcons Owner & Chairman Arthur Blank poses for a photo with Home Depot co-founder Bernard "Bernie" Marcus prior to the start of the game.
Falcons Owner & Chairman Arthur Blank and former President of the United States Jimmy Carter visit with fans prior to the start of the game.
DE Jonathan Massaquoi makes his entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
P Matt Bosher
Falcons players make their entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
Falcons players make their entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
The Falcons celebrate Hispanic Heritage during their game against the Buccaneers
Falcons head coach Mike Smith talks with Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith
The Falcons celebrate Hispanic Heritage during their game against the Buccaneers
WR Roddy White
LB Paul Worrilow dives to tackle Buccaneers QB Josh McCown with the help of CB Robert McClain.
DE Stansly Maponga lines up on defense prior to the snap.
LB Paul Worrilow eyes his target during the first half of play.
CB Robert McClain
C Peter Konz
QB Matt Ryan prepares to take a snap during the first half of play.
RB Steven Jackson leaps over several players during the first half of play.
WR Devin Hester
The Atlanta Falcons defense combines for a tackle.
CB Desmond Trufant stares down Buccaneers WR Russell Shepard
WR Devin Hester and CB Robert Alford
T Jake Matthews goes against Buccaneers DL Scott Solomon
RB Steven Jackson
K Matt Bryant
Head coach Mike Smith high fives K Matt Bryant
WR Julio Jones
QB Matt Ryan hands the ball off to RB Antone Smith
DE Jonathan Massaquoi celebrates getting the first sack of the season
AFC Hope
T Jake Matthews
K Matt Bryant
LB Paul Worrilow closes in on Buccaneers RB Bobby Rainey
LB Prince Shembo wraps up Buccaneers QB Mike Glennon
LB Prince Shembo gets his arms around Buccaneers RB Bobby Rainey
S Kemal Ishmael
DT Corey Peters
QB Matt Ryan drops back to throw a pass during the second half of play.
DE Stansly Maponga is all smiles after recovering a fumble in the second half of play.
LB Paul Worrilow
WR Eric Weems makes a catch during the second half of play.
RB Antone Smith runs into the endzone for a touchdown.
QB T.J. Yates and RB Antone Smith celebrate Smith's touchdown run during the second half of play.
Head Coach Mike Smith
Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter
TE Levine Toilolo
S Dezmen Southward
1. Devin Hester's Night: With his longtime mentor and friend, Hall of Famer and former Falcons CB Deion Sanders in attendance, Falcons WR Devin Hester made history with a second-quarter punt return score (62 yards), the 20th non-offensive TD of his career, a new NFL record, breaking the first-place tie he held with Sanders. The return was Hester's second score of the night, following a 20-yard end-around TD run, early in the second quarter. Believe it or not, Hester's best play may have come defensively; following a fumble by Falcons TE Levine Toilolo, Bucs S Mark Barron took the ball the other way, before he was hit by Hester, who forced the fumble and recovered it, giving his offense a fresh set of downs, eventually leading to a Falcons score.
2. Another Ryan Record: The questions were asked all week about how Falcons QB Matt Ryan and the offense would respond in Week 3; they passed the test with flying colors. In three quarters of play, Ryan was 21 of 24 for 286 yards and 3 TDs, with a passer rating of 155.9; he set a franchise single-game record, completing 87.5 percent of his passes.
3. Falcons Get Defensive: The Falcons defense responded in dramatic fashion in the Week 3 win and scored points, while doing so. During the second offensive drive by Tampa Bay, Falcons S Kemal Ishmael read the eyes of Bucs QB Josh McCown, stepping in front of his pass, returning it 23 yards for the score. The defense used the pick-six as momentum as the very next drive, LB Paul Worrilow stripped Bucs RB Bobby Rainey of the ball, recovered by S Dwight Lowery. For the game, the Falcons defense forced five Tampa Bay turnovers and logged three QB sacks, one each by Falcons DT Corey Peters, DE Jonathan Massaquoi and DE Stansly Maponga.
4. Two More for Julio: Falcons WR Julio Jones will be on all the highlight shows Thursday night, following a two-TD performance in the Week 3 win. Jones' first score was an 8-yard TD from Ryan in the first quarter and his second, a jaw-dropping, over-the-shoulder 40-yard score in the third quarter. Jones finished the contest with 9 receptions for 161 yards and 2 TDs.
5. Jackson-Led Rushing Attack: The Falcons ground game got moving Thursday night, headlined by RB Steven Jackson, who led the team with 14 carries for 54 yards and a 2-yard TD run. Fellow Falcons RB Antone Smith logged four carries for 50 yards, including a 38-yard TD run, down the left sideline in the third quarter, leading to the eventual 56-14 win.
