Falcons beat Buccaneers to stop five-game losing skid

TAMPA, Fla. — The Atlanta Falcons couldn’t quite replicate their 42-point thrashing of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers less than two months ago. But they didn’t need to Sunday.

All Atlanta needed was a win to stop its five-game losing skid and get the team back on track, and that’s what the Falcons got in a 27-17 victory over the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.

“This is a big boys’ business. You’re judged on wins and losses,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We’ve got half a season to play, and I can assure you we’re going to do everything in our power each and every week to go 1-0.”

The Falcons (3-6) lit up the Bucs in a 56-14 win at the Georgia Dome on Sept. 18, one of the most convincing wins in franchise history. Sunday’s win was their first since that Week 3 beatdown, yet it brought Atlanta within one game of the division lead in the wide-open NFC South.

The Bucs, meanwhile, lost their fifth straight game as they fell to 1-8. Tampa Bay still has not won a game at home this season.

On the field, in the locker room and at the podium, it’s clear all this losing is starting to affect the Bucs.

“When you walk off and come up short week-in and week-out, that hurts. That’s what hurts,” said Bucs quarterback Josh McCown, still clearly emotional at his postgame press conference after crying in the locker room. “It just hurts, man.”

Tampa Bay gained a one-point lead 42 seconds into the fourth quarter on McCown’s perfectly executed 1-yard, play-action touchdown pass to rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins.

But the Bucs’ defense, once again granted a fourth-quarter lead, could not make it stand.

On the Falcons’ next drive, quarterback Matt Ryan led Atlanta 65 yards down the field on 10 plays in five minutes. He capped off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roddy White.

White, who wasn’t on the field for the Falcons’ big win less than two months ago, reeled in six passes for 72 yards.

Ryan finished 20-for-31 with 219 yards and a touchdown, running back Steven Jackson rushed for 81 yards and wide receiver Julio Jones had eight catches for 119 yards.

Ryan hooked up with wide receiver Harry Douglas for the two-point conversion. The Falcons then forced the Bucs to punt on the next drive and set up a 33-yard field goal by Matt Bryant, his fourth of the day.

“In the beginning of the season, we weren’t finishing games,” Jones said. “The way we’ve been practicing lately has been all about finishing. Start fast, and finish games strong. I think we proved that today.”

The Bucs drove down the field with less than two minutes remaining, but cornerback Robert Alford tipped a pass intended for wide receiver Vincent Jackson and safety Dwight Lowery made a diving interception.

The play was ruled an incompletion, but a late challenge just before the Bucs’ next snap revealed that Lowery reeled in the ball, effectively ending the game.

Patrick Murray put the Bucs on the board first with a 51-yard field goal, but Jackson punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Falcons a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.

Tampa Bay tied it up heading into halftime as McCown found rookie wide receiver Mike Evans in the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown pass.

In his return to the starting lineup, McCown was 27-for-43 with 301 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also led the team with 39 rushing yards. Evans finished with seven receptions for 125 yards.

But it wasn’t enough. The Bucs’ defense, thought to be a strength heading into the season, has shown cracks at the worst possible times. The offense, aside from Evans, has been sluggish.

The change in quarterbacks didn’t change the end result for the Buccaneers. They were 1-4 with Mike Glennon. They are 0-4 behind McCown.

“We realize what our record is,” Bucs coach Lovie Smith said. “It’s a broken record, really.”

Notes: Bucs QB Josh McCown (thumb) started for the first time since Week 3. Mike Glennon returned to his role as the backup. … Bucs RB Doug Martin (ankle) was one of four starters on the inactive list Sunday, joining LT Anthony Collins, DE Michael Johnson and CB Alterraun Verner. … Falcons WR and kick return specialist Devin Hester left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and did not return.