Asked who presented the game ball, Koetter said “Take a guess”.
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It was the only such gesture visible throughout the early games Sunday, as the anthems took on more significance because of the 15th anniversary of September 11 attacks.
Then there’s a defense that missed several tackles at key moments, including at the end of the first half when the Bucs’ Charles Sims escaped a handful of would-be tacklers on a 23-yard scoring reception.
Koetter was splashed with a bucket of Gatorade and given the game ball by Winston.
“It was very important that we made him feel the moment was special, not only for him but for us”, the quarterback said.
Winston, entering his second season, finished 23-for-33 with 281 yards and four touchdowns. He was wide-open during one play-action pass from Matt Ryan, which led to a 59-yard gain.
Despite trailing, the Falcons got out of the no-huddle on their next two possessions, which yielded a field goal and a turnover over on downs.
He converted on third-and-10 with an 11-yard pass to Jackson.
-Falcons All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones left the game in the middle of the rally with an ankle injury, but he returned. Jameis overthrew a wheel route. then he overthrew Mike (Evans) on the pump. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with a retractable roof, opens next door next season.
The third-year veteran from Missouri, who backs up William Gholston, was hurt on a punt. He also caught a two-point conversion. Offensive guard Chris Chester was called for unnecessary roughness, knocking the Falcons out of field-goal range.
The Bucs just revealed that they will stick with the all-red uniforms they wore against the St. Louis Rams, though. When we get the ball into that red zone, we have to come away with touchdowns. “You’ve got to do better than that offensively just to keep your drives going, continue to give yourself more chances”.
They lost five of their last six that year, and haven’t been above.500 until now.
Tampa Bay’s last winning season was 2010. Bucs reserve DE Jacquies Smith injured a knee early in the game and didn’t return.
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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. It was set up by a big 26-yard gain by Humphries on a screen pass, with three Falcons defenders diving at him and missing. Falcons coach Dan Quinn will meet with the media at 2:30 p.m.to discuss the aftermath of the 31-24 loss to Tampa Bay.
