The Atlanta Falcons secured their second win of the season with a 31-23 victory over their NFC South rivals the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The home side were out on defense first but that did not stop them from scoring first as Mike Glennon was sacked by William Moore and fumbled the ball. Thomas Decoud then picked it up and ran it in for a 27-yard touchdown.
It got better for the Falcons soon after they extended their lead, this time through the offensive side of the ball. Matt Ryan drove his depleted offense down the field but still managed to find away to the end zone as he hit running back Jacquizz Rodgers on a swing pass for a 19-yard score.
However, the Buccaneers and their rookie quarterback Glennon fought back with a deep strike to receiver Vincent Jackson as he faked the handoff to Doug Martin and fired down the right-hand sideline for his receiver who beat Asante Samuel in coverage to go in for a 59-yard score.
The Falcons re-established their dominance as the moved downfield with ease again but this time they were stopped and were forced to settle for three points from the boot of Matt Bryant.
Ryan soon got his side in the end zone again when he hit Harry Douglas, stepping up for the injured Roddy White and Julio Jones, for a 37-yard strike down the middle of the field.
Just before the break, the Buccaneers cut the deficit to 14 points as Rian Lindell knocked a 36-yard field goal through the posts.
The Buccaneers pulled within seven shortly after the break when Glennon moved his offense to the goalline and fired a fade to Jackson yet again, who made the grab for his second score of the game.
Ryan again responded in the fourth quarter with a methodical drive on his own and he found Rodgers again on a screen pass for an eight-yard score to give his side just their second win of the season.
The Buccaneers tried to get back in the game late on but could only muster two field goals as they slipped to an eight point defeat and remained without a win this season.
Simon Sinclair
