If Atlanta wants to win next week, they will have to get more pressure on the quarterback.
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The Buccaneers, who improved from two to six wins last season, opened their season with a crucial road win in the division by beating the Falcons 31-24 on Sunday. The Tampa Bay Bucs drafted Heisman victor Jameis Winston and he showed promise in his rookie season.
Humphries isn’t anxious. Neither is receiver Mike Evans, whom Winston missed in the end zone on the next play.
Winston was 23 of 33 for 281 yards, using just about every weapon at his disposal.
Devonta Freeman had a strong 2015 breakout year, but the Falcons will need more still from him this season. Coach Dirk Koetter says he hasn’t seen another quarterback who can move on from mistakes as quickly. Martin ranked second in the National Football League with 1,402 rushing yards last season.
On the other side of the ball, center Alex Mack, along with guards Andy Levitre and Chris Chester, will be tested by Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who tallied 8.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons. The Falcons’ final possession ended at their 28. He missed five of his first six pass attempts, including an very bad interception that set up the Falcons’ first touchdown. This ultimately cost the Falcons, as nearly every one of those penalties led to Tampa Bay drives being extended and ending with points. “I just play. He does the thinking, tells me what’s going to happen and told me how to go get it”.
He has magically made us forget the Bucs have not made the playoffs in eight years nor won a playoff game in 14.
Ryan is not going to publicly call for more no-huddle, but the Falcons have to acknowledge that it works for them. He had a 59-yard catch and a 5-yard scoring catch in the first quarter. Jameis overthrew a wheel route on second-and-16, then he overthrow Mike on the pump on third-and- 16, then we kicked a field goal.
Thank you Raheem Morris for the laughs: You really should try for one of those late-night TV shows.
He was taught to operate it as a rookie by former offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and quarterback coach Bill Musgrave back in 2008. Orlando Ledbetter reports from the Georgia Dome.
Koetter says now that he answers only to himself, and it emboldens him to add a little Russian roulette to his game plan. “He’s a lot better moving in the pocket than people might think”.
Smith was the winningest coach in Falcons history, almost leading Atlanta to the Super Bowl during the 2012 season.
Bucs reserve DE Jacquies Smith injured a knee early in the game and didn’t return. He was hurt covering a punt in the first quarter.
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It was something Winston utilized the entire game against the Browns but couldn’t rely on until the end of the first half against the Falcons because of the noise and field position.
