Atlanta Falcons vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Match Player Stats On Dec 06, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Dec 6, 2015

TAMPA -- Rookie quarterback Jameis Winston threw a touchdown pass to receiver Mike Evans with 1:39 left to give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a 23-19 comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

The Bucs (6-6) went 80 yards on the touchdown drive, with Winston converting a third-and-19 with a wild 20-yard scramble. Linebacker Lavonte David clinched the win by intercepting quarterback Matt Ryan's pass on the first play after the touchdown, the Bucs' first takeaway in two games.

The win keeps the Bucs alive for the wild card, while the Falcons (6-6) have dropped five in a row and six of seven games after a 5-0 start.

The Bucs led 7-0 late in the first quarter after Winston's keeper for his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, matching a Bucs record for a quarterback.

The Falcons moved the ball but well but had to settle for field goals by kicker Shayne Graham, filling in admirably for the injured Matt Bryant. Graham's second field goal cut the Bucs' lead to 7-6 with 1:01 left in the half.

Winston's pass went off the hands of wide receiver Mike Evans and was intercepted by cornerback Desmond Trufant. Ryan completed five passes in 29 seconds, and Graham's 52-yard kick gave Atlanta a 9-7 halftime lead.

Atlanta got a fourth Graham field goal to open the second half for a 12-7 lead, but the Bucs got a spark -- a 29-yard pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson and 25-yard run by Charles Sims -- to set up running back Doug Martin's 1-yard touchdown for a 13-12 lead. Tampa Bay chose to go for two and failed.

Tampa Bay looked to have a safety for Ryan being flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone, but he was ruled at the 1-yard line. Bobby Rainey's 28-yard punt return set up a short field, but the Bucs stalled at the 5 and settled for Connor Barth's 23-yard field goal and a 16-12 lead.

Martin fumbled on the next drive, and the Falcons converted that with a 55-yard touchdown drive, with Ryan hitting receiver Nick Williams for a 19-16 lead with 10:41 left in the game.

NOTES: Bucs RB Doug Martin finished with 95 rushing yards, with backup Charles Sims getting 56 on seven carries. ... The Bucs held Falcons RB Devonta Freeman to 47 yards on 14 carries, though he had a team-best 10 catches for 56 yards. ... The Bucs swept the season series, one year after trailing the Falcons 56-0 in one game and being swept. ... Bucs CB Jude Adjei-Barimah left the game with an elbow injury and had his right arm in a sling after the game. Former starter Johnthan Banks stepped in at corner after his injury.