Atlanta – Michael Turner rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons ran all over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 45-24. Atlanta came into their rematch with the Buccaneers focused on putting last weeks’ debacle in New Orleans behind them. They were also on a mission to avenge their loss to the Buccaneers in Tampa earlier this season.
The Falcons looked like they were geared up for the playoffs after reeling off 42 straight points, not allowing the Buccaneers to hit the scoreboard until right before halftime. Turner and Matt Ryan would not see the field after halftime with the Falcons sitting on such a big lead but Roddy White would stay in the game long enough to reach his 100th catch of the season giving him two straight seasons with over 100 catches.
The Buccaneers would not go away though and attempted to claw their way back in the second half scoring 17 straight. Atlanta would stop the bleeding in the fourth quarter though scoring on a Matt Bryant field goal with just under four minutes left in the game. Then Darrin Walls would pick off Josh Freeman on Tampa’s final drive of the game and the Falcons would run out the clock clinching their 10th win of the season.
With the Falcons running the ball so well, Ryan only attempted nine passes on the day completing six of them for 106 yards and two scores. Atlanta finishes the season with a 10-6 record and has now won double-digit games in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. With the Detroit Lions losing to the Green Bay Packers earlier in the day, the Falcons were able to secure the fifth playoff slot and will now face the New York Giants in the first round of the playoffs.
Roosevelt Hall is an NFL Blogger for In Between The Tackles and also writes for both The Penalty Flag and Outside The Redzone. He can be contacted at RHall_TPFB@Yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @rhall_tpfb.
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