Familiarity often breeeds contempt, or so the saying goes. But for the two division rivals meeting for the third time this season, there was respect shown on both sides. The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are quickly becoming familiar foes in a budding rivalry. Meeting in the Wildcard round of the playoffs for the decider game after splitting the regular season 1-1 against eachother.
In the final week of the regular season, the Buccaneers lost to the Saints and also lost the driver seat in the division giving the Falcons the division crown and forcing the next matchup to take place in Atlanta rather than Tampa. Earlier in the season during the two teams first bout, the Falcons won in convincing fashion with a 44-13 beatdown where Matt Ryan threw for five touchdown passes (three of which went to Julio Jones). Jameis Winston threw four interceptions that day and the Buccaneers vowed revenge and a more solid performance on the next go around.
Turn to Week 15 in Tampa Bay where the fans got a thrilling show. The game became a 4th quarter nail-biter which ended 35-33 in favor of Tampa Bay after Matt Bryant missed the winning field goal with no time remaining. The Buccs at that time, seized control of the division and also evened the socre against the Falcons. But destiny was not done with these franchises and they would meet again in the first weekend of the 2017 playoffs.
For those who watched this playoff game, it was a brutal affair. Big hits and fumbles in a low-scoring affair can build the tension and shatter the nerves of fans of both franchises. The game began with a 85 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Taylor Gabriel to but the Falcons up early 7-0. A gut punch to the Buccs and an infusion of energy for the Falcons. It would seem that this may be another high scoring affair the way the game started, but it wasn't in the cards. Both teams struggled to move the ball on offsense as both defenses played aggressive and stout.
The first half ended with the score 7-3 in favor of the Falcons as the Buccs forced TWO goal-to-go turnovers. First Hargreaves made a brilliant interception in the corner of the endzone to breakup a fade-route to Julio Jones. Then later in the 2nd quarter, Justin Evans ran over Devontae Freeman at the 2 yard line tearing the running back's shoulder and giving the Buccs the ball back.
Tampa would strike first coming out of halftime with a back of the end-zone strike to Mike Evans. This lifted the Buccs to a 10-7 lead and with the defense playing as well as they were, it may have been enough. In the regular season, Tampa Bay surrendered 320+ yards to Julio Jones, however, in this playoff game he was kept in check. He had only one catch in the game coming in the fourth quarter for 14 yards. But in the 4th quarter, when the Falcons needed him the most he showed up. Matt Ryan identified the single coverage on Julio's go route and the matchup favored the receiver. Ryan tossed it up and Julio came down with it in the end-zone for a 52 yard strike to give the Falcons the lead back late in the 4th quarter.
It was now up to Jameis Winston and the trailing Buccaneers to score a touchdown with about 4 minutes left on the clock. The Buccs convert a first down on this drive and look to be working the ball down the field. However on 2nd and 14, Winston goes deep to Evans but is picked off by Kazee and Falcons get ball back with 2 and a half minutes left. Time to chew clock and close the game out. 1:05 left in the fourth, it's 3rd and 6 and the Buccs have one timeout left. Ryan drops back in shotgun and hits Austin Hooper over the middle for 20 yards. TJ Ward nails him and forces a FUMBLE!!! But Gabriel is in the right place at the right time, and is able to fall on the ball to maintain possession and end the game.
Thrilling to the end and a defensive battle is a nice breath of fresh air in a league where most thought defense was an after-thought. Great game Buccs and see you next year!
Here is the link to the video of the game if anyone is interested: https://go.twitch.tv/videos/188200092