The Atlanta Falcons got off to a slow start in the first half of their Week 5 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and things wouldn’t get much better until late in the fourth quarter. The Bucs led 21-0 before the Falcons went on a 15-0 run to make it 21-15 game with four minutes left.
Atlanta’s defense, after struggling all game, stepped up with what appeared to be a third-down stop, but Grady Jarrett was called for a questionable roughing the passing penalty. Tampa Bay held on for a 21-15 win, dropping the Falcons to 2-3 on the season.
Here are five takeaways from Sunday’s NFC South showdown.
1
Brady moves to 11-0 all-time vs. the Falcons
Tom Brady entered the game with a 10-0 career record against the Falcons, and for much of the game, it appeared that his 11th win would be his easiest yet. Brady threw for 256 yards in the first half alone, eventually leading Tampa Bay to a 21-0 lead in the fourth. The Falcons nearly came back, but Brady instead will remain perfect against Atlanta for the time being. He would finish with 351 passing yards, one touchdown and a passer rating of 92.7.
2
Offense starts slow, finishes strong
Mariota had just 84 passing yards through the first three quarters of the game, but he seemed to find his rhythm in the fourth. The Falcons scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a touchdown pass and two-point conversion by Mariota. Unfortunately, the offense never got the ball back and it’s another frustrating loss for Atlanta. The Falcons QB needs to play better early in games if he hopes to hold off rookie Desmond Ridder for much longer. Mariota finished 14-of-25 for 147 passing yards and one touchdown Sunday.
3
Defense struggled against pass, referees
Brady had over 250 yards in the first half, which put the Falcons in a tough position. What could have been a four-point halftime deficit turned into a 13-point deficit after the defense let Brady go right down the field late in the second quarter. After a 15-0 run by Atlanta, the defense appeared to stop Tampa Bay when Grady Jarrett sacked Brady on third down, but he was called for an EXTREMELY questionable roughing-the-passer penalty to extend the drive. That would be all the Bucs would need to hold on for a six-point win.
4
Running game struggles without Patterson
The Falcons came into the game as one of the NFL’s top rushing offenses, but without Cordarrelle Patterson Sunday, the team struggled to get the ground game going. This was also largely due to a stout Bucs front-seven that was coming off an embarrassing loss to the Chiefs in Week 4. Tyler Allgeier finished with 13 carries for 45 yards, Caleb Huntley added eight carries for 34 yards, and Mariota led the team with 61 yards.
This unit seemed to come alive in the fourth, and it would have been interesting to see what the offense could have done had Atlanta gotten the ball back.
5
What's next for Atlanta?
The Falcons host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. These teams played late in the 2021 season, with the 49ers winning by 18 points in Week 15. Despite losing starting quarterback Trey Lance for the year, Jimmy Garoppolo is back leading a talented 49ers roster. Expect a physical matchup in Week 6.
