Field Level Media
Oct 22, 2023
Younghoe Koo nailed a 51-yard field goal as time expired as the Atlanta Falcons downed the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-13 on Sunday.
Despite losing three fumbles, Desmond Ridder threw for 250 yards on 19-of-25 passing and ran for 38. His 39-yard pass to Kyle Pitts helped set up Koo's game-winning kick.
Ridder's 12-yard run midway through the fourth quarter appeared to put the Falcons up 19-10, but replay showed that Ridder lost the ball crossing the goal line after Antoine Winfield Jr. punched it loose.
With Bijan Robinson slowed due to an illness, Tyler Allgeier led the Falcons (4-3) in carries (21) and yards (59) and added 53 yards receiving. Cordarrelle Patterson added 10 rushes for 56 yards. Drake London had six receptions for 54 yards.
Baker Mayfield passed for 275 yards and a touchdown and added 32 rushing yards for the Buccaneers (3-3). His 31-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter helped set up Chase McLaughlin's game-tying 36-yard field goal with 49 seconds to play.
Mike Evans had six receptions for 82 yards and a score for the Bucs. Chris Godwin added six catches for 66 yards. Rachaad White had 34 yards rushing and 65 yards receiving.
Ridder put Atlanta up 7-0 with 6:48 left in the first quarter when he ran 2 yards to pay dirt.
Tampa Bay tied the game at 7 on its ensuing possession when Mayfield hooked up with Evans for a 40-yard touchdown pass.
A 24-yard field goal by Koo early in the second quarter and a 24-yard field by McLaughlin with 5:14 left in the second had the game knotted at 10.
The Falcons threatened to score at the Tampa Bay 11-yard line with 25 seconds left before halftime, but Ridder was hit by Shaquil Barrett and fumbled.
A forced fumble by Nate Landman on Deven Thompkins led to a recovery by the Falcons' LaCale London at the Tampa Bay 27-yard line early in the third quarter. But after a controversial call on a reception by Drake London -- in which he appeared to fumble after a diving attempt at the goal line -- set Atlanta up with first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, Ridder fumbled the snap, giving the ball back to the Bucs at their own 3.
Atlanta forced a Tampa Bay punt three plays later, which set up a 41-yard field goal by Koo to put the Falcons up 13-10 with 2:08 left in the third.
--Field Level Media