“When you beat somebody like that, you’ve got to know that they’re coming with it”, Winston said. He faked out two defenders – cutting right while they both tumbled the turf, taking each other out – and broke two more tackles on the way to a 23-yard touchdown that put Tampa Bay ahead for good with 14 seconds left in the half.
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Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are 1-point Week 1 favorites over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“What a run by Charles”, said Bucs coach Dirk Koetter, the former Falcons offensive co-ordinator who received a game ball from Winston after winning in his debut. Koetter was Atlanta’s offensive coordinator under Smith. “He helped me a ton in my career”, Ryan said.
Smith said future ceremonies commemorating September 11 anniversaries will be at the public safety memorial underway at Roosevelt Square.
Previous year at this time, I bought, drank and drowned on the Dolphins Kool-Aid.
“I’m just growing as a man every day”, Winston said. “I think it is somewhat of an advantage, but it can be a disadvantage because you know too much”.
Like Smith and Koetter, the Falcons are playing down the significance of opening the season against familiar faces.
Koetter was splashed with a bucket of Gatorade and given the game ball by Winston.
Smith will work from the press box during the game. That means cutting down on 30 giveaways – tied for fifth most in the league.
Atlanta Pass Rush vs Jameis Winston: If you watched these two teams square off last season, one of the most memorable plays featured Jameis Winston fending off multiple Falcons defenders and gaining a first down. Matt Simms completed 16 of 23 passes for 217 yards with two interceptions while Matt Ryan, who will be the starting quarterback, didn’t play.
NO SACKS: The Falcons may be exhausted of hearing they ranked last in the league with 19 sacks last season and have ranked no higher than 28th since 2012.
For the Buccaneers, they’re hoping 2016 is the breakout season for second-year quarterback Jameis Winston. The Falcons’ final possession ended at their 28. Freeman had three TDs and 141 yards in Week 3 a year ago against the Dallas Cowboys, and it proved to be the start of a good season for him as he finished with 1,056 yards and 11 rushing TDs, which was tops in the NFL.
Desmond Trufant is hands down one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. The coach also feels a lot better about his young quarterback, whose first National Football League pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Jackson broke outside on the route, while Winston’s throw went to the inside.
Atlanta’s two losses to Tampa Bay were part of a 1-5 showing against NFC South teams that led to an 8-8 finish.
That’s asking a lot of a team that has finished last or tied for last in their division for five consecutive years. Here’s a look at the Georgia Dome’s biggest upcoming events. The Falcons’ new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, is being built beside the dome.
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New Bucs cornerback Brent Grimes is past his prime and got burned quite a bit a year ago.
