With QB Vinnie Testaverde at the helm, Tampa Bay came into town in Week 12 of the 1991 season to face Atlanta in old Fulton County Stadium sporting their familiar Florida orange or "creamsicle" (as coined by ESPN's Chris Berman) uniforms and a fresh off a 30-21 victory over Detroit.
On the other side, the "Back in Black" attack under Jerry Glanville were looking to rebound after suffering a tough 56-17 loss at Washington and holding onto a 5-5 record.
After a scoreless first quarter to start the game, the fireworks heated up for Atlanta's pass happy "Red Gun" offense. When it was over, the Birds put together an historic second quarter scoring binge that would rewrite the team's record books.
Following a K Norm Johnson 31-yard field goal for the first points of the game, CB Deion Sanders picked off a Testaverde pass on the Bucs' initial drive of the quarter which led to an eventual 5-yard touchdown rush by RB Steve Broussard. On their next possession, Testaverde was dropped for a 10-yard sack and then tackled again in the end zone for a safety on the next play by S Brian Jordan.
After a Bucs free kick provided the Falcons with excellent field position, QB Chris Miller wasted no time. Miller reared back and heaved a 39-yard scoring strike to a streaking WR Andre Rison to increase the lead to 19-0.
But the scoring was far from over as Miller connected with Rison for another touchdown from 12 yards away. On Tampa Bay's next drive, Sanders stole another pass and strutted 31-yards down to the Bucs 15-yard line with just 34 seconds remaining in the first half.
On third down, Miller found "Bad Moon" Rison yet again for a 15-yard score to close out the quarter and ring up a new team record for most points scored in a quarter with 33. "Showtime" also tied the club mark for touchdowns in a single-game with his three and set a new record in that game (at the time) for scoring in his fourth consecutive contest.
The Falcons added another field goal and DT Oliver Barnett rounded out the scoring in the second half with a 75-yard fumble return for a touchdown. The final score ended up 43-7.
For the Birds, this victory would serve as a springboard down the stretch as the Falcons reeled off five straight wins to earn a playoff berth with a 10-6 record. The Bucs would limp to a 3-13 mark.
