Tampa Bay Buccaneers Lose Fifth Straight
Nov 9, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Julio Jones(11) stiff arms Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety
Major Wright(31) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
A quarterback change produced the same result.
After benching Mike Glennon in favour of Josh McCown, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still couldn’t pull out a win, falling 27-17 to the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium.
The Bucs (1-8) took a fourth quarter lead with 14:18 left as McCown threw a one-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, giving Tampa Bay a 17-16 lead.
However, the Falcons (3-6) responded immediately as Matt Ryan hit Roddy White for a five-yard touchdown and then connected with Harry Douglas for the two-point conversion.
Former Buc Matt Bryant added a 33-yard field goal with 4:10 left to extend the lead to 10.
The Bucs were driving to make it a one score game but McCown was picked off in the endzone on a deflected pass. McCown would also be intercepted again with 21 seconds left to end the game.
McCown threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, the first of which was caught by Mike Evans with 46 seconds left in the first half to tie the game at 10-10 before Bryant kicked Atlanta ahead with a field goal as time expired in the half.
McCown also led the team in rushing yards with 39 while rookie Charles Sims carried the football eight times for 23 yards but had a fumble in the third quarter.
Evans finished with 125 receiving yards while Vincent Jackson had 75.
The Bucs’ defense failed to generate a takeaway and gave up 322 yards. Tampa Bay put up 373 yards of offense.
Lavonte David had a game-high 14 tackles while Mason Foster had nine. Clinton McDonald had the Bucs’ only sack.
The Bucs had taken a 3-0 lead thanks to a 51-yard Patrick Murray field goal in the first quarter but Steven Jackson’s one-yard touchdown run and a Bryant field goal gave the Falcons a 10-3 lead. Bryant also kicked a third quarter field goal that gave Atlanta a 16-10 lead.
Tampa Bay committed 10 penalties for 79 yards, five of which came in the first quarter.
The Bucs are now 0-5 at home. They will be on the road next Sunday when they take on the Washington Redskins.