Atlanta Falcons Get Much Needed Win Against Tampa Bay

The Atlanta Falcons got a much needed win for its confidence and for its fans, nearly 71,000 of them, who packed the Mercedes Benz Stadium for the first of two match ups between the NFC South division team Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Falcons lifted their record 1-4 to to 2-4 with a 34-29 victory while the Bucs are at 2-3. Jameis Winston started at QB for the first time this season for the Bucs .

Falcons QB Matt Ryan on the win: “Feels good. Obviously, we put in the hard work during the week and prepared ourselves in order to get a win. It feels good. It was hard fought, obviously, division games are always going to be like that. I’m proud of the way that the guys battled and competed for four quarters.”

The Falcons have struggled over the last few weeks and are happy to get a win after three straight losses to the New Orleans Saints in OT, Cincinnati Bengals by one point and last weeks crushing loss 41-17 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. They opened the season in Philadelphia losing to the Superbowl Champion Eagles followed by a win at home vs. division competitor the Carolina Panthers.

Highlights included critical interceptions by CB Brian Poole and S Demontae Kazee. QB Matt Ryan passed connected on 31 of 41 passes for 354 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Without two of its starting 2017 Pro Bowl Safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen and LB Deion Jones out for the season and on Injured Reserve list Sunday, G Andy Levitre, RB Devonta Freeman out with a foot injury and DT Grady Jarrett out with an ankle injury

Next up is the Falcons' only Monday Night Football game this season. The New York Giants and QB Eli Manning who has been struggling this season, come to town. Game time is 8:15 p.m. on October 22 at the Mercedes Benz Stadium. After that game the Falcons get a bye week.

The Bucs in their post game news conference praised the Falcons Special Teams, particularly Kicker Matt Bryant who kicked a 57 yard Field Goal with 1:10 minute left in the game.

"That was an unbelievable call by Coach (Dan) Quinn or whoever made it. Matt Bryant is money, so you make that kick, but where we were going to get that ball needing a field goal, I told Coach Quinn after the game that was a hell of a call, Bucs Coach said Dirk Koetter." That goes from needing a field goal with us in really good field position to us needing a touchdown from the 20-yard line."

“You know, when you have a kicker that you trust, you can do that. ... The way this guy has been kicking. That guy’s been in the game for a long time. ...so that guy, he’s a good kicker. That’s why special teams is a big part of this game as well. Not just offense and defense. Special teams, again, can win you games,” Winston said.

Remaining home games this season: Giants, Monday, October 22; Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, November 18; Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, December 9 and Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, December 15. Away games: Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 11; New Orleans Saints, Thanksgiving night, Thursday, November 22; Greenbay Packers, Sunday, December 9, Carolina Panthers, Sunday, December 23 and season finale on Sunday, December 30 in Tampa Bay.

Photos courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons.

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