It's been a challenging season for Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023.  However, with just four weeks left to play, the Buccaneers find themselves on top of the mountain in the NFC South after a thrilling 29-25 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon at Mercedez-Benz Stadium.  

Baker Mayfield completed 14/29 passes for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Rachaad White broke the century mark on the ground, going for 102 yards on 25 carries and adding 33 receiving yards on 2 catches with a touchdown.  Chris Godwin led all Buccaneer receivers with 5 catches for 53 yards. 

For Atlanta, Drake London had a monster day, catching 10 of 11 targets for 172 yards. Desmond Ridder was also largely effective for most of the day, completing 26 of 40 passes for 347 yards and a touchdown with an interception while adding a rushing score. 

An ugly but effective start

The Buccaneers' defense had problems stopping the Falcons' star receiver London for much of the game, but they otherwise did a commendable job in the first half against Atlanta's offense, which helped mask a Buccaneer offense that totaled only 85 yards before the half.  Two big Ridder mistakes led to points for Tampa Bay. 

First, Carlton Davis III diagnosed and broke on hitch route intended for London, diving in front of the pass and picking it off at the Atlanta 8.  Two plays later, the Buccaneers were in the end zone on a Baker Mayfield 1-yard run for 10-3 lead. 

Later in the first half, Antoine Winfield, Jr. came on a blitz with Atlanta backed up and stripped Ridder of the ball in the end zone.  Atlanta's Keith Smith picked it up and tried to run but was tackled in the end zone by Pat O'Connor for a safety.  A missed Younghoe Koe 52-yard field goal, his second miss of the half, sent the Buccaneers to the locker room with a 12-10 lead. 

Digging deep against adversity

The Buccaneers took a 19-10 lead after a White 31-yard touchdown catch and appeared to be getting the ball back after a Zyon McCollum pass break up on third down with 13:23 left.  

However, a very questionable pass interference call gave the ball back to Atlanta, whose offense came to life.  The Falcons would finish the drive on a Bijan Robinson 3-yard touchdown run on a play where Tampa Bay only had 9 players on the field.  Atlanta would force a three and out and proceed to march 75 yards in only 5 plays for a 25-22 lead with 3:23 left.  

However, Mayfield, who was off target for much of the game, saved his best for when the Buccaneers needed it most.  On third-and-10 from Atlanta's 47, he hit Godwin in stride, who went down the sideline for a 32-yard gain with a minute to play.  Then, on second-and-6 from the Atlanta 11, Mayfield lobbed a perfect ball into the end zone to Cade Otton, who reached up and took it in just over Atlanta safety Richie Grant for the game's final points with 31 seconds left.  

The Falcons would manage to give Buccaneer fans one final scare, driving 44 yards to the Tampa Bay 31-yard line in just 27 seconds.  Ridder's final throw to London was complete at the Tampa Bay 5, but a host of Buccaneer defenders brought him down 3 yards short of the end zone to end the game. 

Sitting pretty through 14 weeks

With the win, Tampa Bay improved to 6-7, which matches the Falcons and Saints.  However, the Buccaneers currently have the tiebreaker over both teams by virtue of its head-to-head win over the Saints and better record than the Falcons against common opponents. 

After what's been a grinder of a season, especially after dropping 6 of 7 games after a promising 3-1 start, Tampa Bay has everything in front of them with just four weeks to go in the season.  The journey for a third straight division title continues next Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at frigid Lambeau Field. 

Buccaneers legend continues record-setting run

This guy just doesn’t stop.