Winston throws 4 TD passes, Bucs beat Falcons 31-24

Jackson broke outside on the route, while Winston’s throw went to the inside. Then came a short throw to Sims, who did the rest. More so, there were two series in the contest that showed this is a different Buccaneers’ team; situations that showed a mental toughness that was at times lacking in the past and helped the team claw out an impressive victory.

After a back-and-forth first half, the Buccaneers head into halftime leading the Falcons, 17-13.

Last time vs. Bucs: Tampa Bay swept the Falcons past year in two close games, winning 23-20 in overtime and then 23-19 after being swept in 2014. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with a retractable roof, opens next door next season. Atlanta re-took the lead when Bryant added another field goal in the second, but a Charles Sims touchdown reception put the Buccaneers on top at the break.

Koetter was offensive co-ordinator of the Falcons from 2012-14, and his defensive co-ordinator is former Atlanta head coach Mike Smith.

Peters said he was “100 percent behind” Kaepernick, who chose to sit and take a knee during the anthem in preseason games to call attention to what he termed the oppression of blacks and other minorities. “But that’s the nature of the National Football League”.

Smith, the winningest coach in franchise history, sat out a season after being unceremoniously fired in 2014. I expect to see Lavonte used more like he was his first two seasons – all over the field, but doing his fair share of blitzing. The third-year player caught five passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a two-point conversion. UNDISCIPLINED FALCONS Some big penalties cost the home team in the third quarter.

On Tampa Bay’s ensuing possession, cornerback Robert Alford was also flagged for a personal foul after the Falcons had forced an incomplete pass on third down.

Winston was 2 of 7 passing through Desmond Trufant’s interception deep in his own territory that set up Ryan’s 5-yard TD pass to Sanu late in the first quarter.

On Sunday, the Buccaneers’ offense started slow but was able to get going.

Nov 1, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker Kwon Alexander (58) celebrates after an interception against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at the Georgia Dome. With a little over five minutes left in the third, Winston found Mike Evans for his fourth score of the day, and it was a thing of beauty. RB Devonta Freeman was held to 20 yards on 11 carries as Atlanta rushed for just 52 yards.

Buccaneers: Tampa Bay travels to the desert to face the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.