Week 5 of the NFL season kicks off with a huge clash in the NFC South between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons. The 3-1 Buccaneers can take a big leap in the division race with a win over the 2-2 Falcons and a mini-bye week before visiting the 2-2 Saints in Week 6. The Falcons beat the Saints last week, and could get an early leg up in the division with wins over both Tampa Bay and New Orleans as the season passes the quarter mark.
The teams went into halftime with the Buccaneers up 24-17 in a shootout. Baker Mayfield continued his resurgence by going 12-for-15 for131 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, while Kirk Cousins was 21-of-28 for 253 yards and two touchdowns. Buccaneers wide receive Mike Evans also scored the 99th touchdown catch and 100th touchdown overall of his career.
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Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
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Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta
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Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Live57 updates
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This can’t happen in this situation.
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Oh, that was a brutal drop from Darnell Mooney. Kirk Cousins throws him wide open on 3rd-and-6 and he just whiffs on the catch. And now the Falcons’ 54-yard field goal attempt is blocked.
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Drake London is up to eight catches on nine targets for a season-high 110 yards and a touchdown.
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Kirk Cousins’ third down pass intended for Mooney falls incomplete. Bucs defender got there too early though. That’s DPI. New life for the Falcons.
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) October 4, 2024
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FIELD GOAL: Chase McLaughlin good from 53 to give Bucs the lead
The Bucs are on top again as McLaughlin remains automatic. Now to see how the Falcons respond.
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4th-down risk pays off with a Falcons TD
Falcons were running the ball well, but stalled out at the Tampa Bay 12 after Tyler Allgeier was tackled for a 2-yard loss.
But Atlanta decides to go for it on 4th-and-4 and Kirk Cousins hits Darnell Mooney for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Mooney had the first down, but then turned to shake off Tykee Smith and got to the end zone.
We are tied 27–27.
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Tampa Bay 27, Atlanta 20 after 3 quarters
The Falcons finish off the 3rd quarter strong with a 22-yard catch and run by Ray Ray McCloud, followed by a 29-yard dash by Bijan Robinson.
Atlanta is at the Tampa Bay 46-yard line as the fourth quarter begins.
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FIELD GOAL: Buccaneers respond with their own FG, but Baker Mayfield may be hurt
The Buccaneers have had little trouble moving the ball tonight. They respond to the Falcons FG with a nine-play, 56-yard drive, but finish short of another TD. Baker Mayfield also limped off the field after taking a third-down sack.
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FIELD GOAL: Falcons cut the deficit
Younghoe Koo is good from 48 yards after a 12-play drive for the Falcons. We’ve still got a game.
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Odd play. Baker Mayfield scrambles and runs out-of-bounds short of a first down, but takes a hit as he goes out and picks up the flag. The refs pick the flag up, though, so the Bucs will punt on the first drive of the second half.
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HALFTIME: Bucs 24, Falcons 17
The Falcons punt in Tampa Bay territory after their drive stalls out. Looks like the Bucs will enter the locker room up by a touchdown, and will get the ball back to open the second half.
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Hardly saw Baker Mayfield throwing on the move last week against the Eagles but a ton of it this week as he connects with Sterling Shepard for a 4-yard touchdown. Mayfield said last week that his old Sooners buddy “has a few screws loose” (and he likes it). Shepard totally agreed
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) October 4, 2024
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TOUCHDOWN: Sterling Shepard scores two days after signing
Sterling Shepard has been on the Bucs’ 53-man roster for two days and has his first touchdown with the team. His college teammate Baker Mayfield is now 12-for-15 for 131 yards and three touchdowns.
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Falcons five secondary members are huddled trying to sort out some things during the two-minute warning. Tampa Bay has third-and-goal from the 4 when the break is over.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) October 4, 2024
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That’s our third suspected concussion of the game.
Buccaneers S Tykee Smith is being evaluated for a concussion.
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) October 4, 2024
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Big BIG run for Rachaad White. He’s been off to a rough start this season but breaks off a 56-yarder on a well-blocked inside run.
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FIELD GOAL: Younghoe Koo good from 54 yards
Apparently 50-yard field goals are just a gimme in the NFL now. We’ve got another tie game.
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Aaand the call is upheld. Falcons ball, 2nd-and-20, 7:35 left in the half, Drake London back.
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A lot happening on that play. Hard to see this going the Bucs’ way but you never know
