Elam field goal gives Falcons 13-10 win in OT

As Jason Elam’s 34-yard game-winning field goal eased its way through the uprights, Falcons owner Arthur Blank shot both arms into the air.

Elam’s kick capped a hard fought 13-10 overtime victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday to guarantee the Falcons a non-losing season and keep their NFC playoff hopes vibrant.

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Pouya Dianat/pdianat@ajc.com

Jason Elam’s 34-yard game-winning field goal pushed the Falcons to a 9-5 record and back into playoff contention.

What was the most surprising turn of the Falcons-Bucs game?
Decision to play for overtime
Falcons' 3 turnovers
The blocked punt
That the Falcons found a way to win
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• How They Scored • Team Stats
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• Falcons beat Bucs in OT
• Photos: Falcons go 6-1 at home
• Moore: Fiery coach leads charge
• Abraham has three sacks
• Turner sets TD record
• Defense stops the run
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A jubilant Blank made his way down the team’s sideline and first greeted the man of the hour, running back Michael Turner, with a slap on the shoulder pads.

Blank then gave Roddy White a fist-bump before making his way to the locker room.

“This is a big win for us,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We’ve gone through this entire season and have not had back-to-back losses.”

The Cowboys, 9-5, are back in control of the wild-card lead with Sunday night’s win over the New York Giants. The Bucs hold the final wild card spot as they hold tiebreakers over the Falcons based on conference record.

The Falcons needed all of the 152 yards rushing that Turner amassed on 32 carries. Also, defensive end John Abraham came up with three timely sacks, but none was bigger than his sack of Brian Griese in overtime on third down.

“He was just outstanding,” Smith said. “I think without a doubt John Abraham is having a Pro Bowl year. When we needed him to come up and make a play, he was able to do that. He’s done that all season for us too.”

Once the Falcons got the ball back, Turner and the offensive line took over.

Quarterback Matt Ryan, who didn’t have one of his better outings, nearly gave the ball back to the Buccaneers, when he fumbled on a scramble. Left guard Justin Blalock dove into the pile and came away with the ball to keep the drive and their playoff hopes alive.

“I saw the ball out and I wasn’t even sure if it was a fumble or not,” Blalock said. “One of their guys had a hand on it. He wasn’t able to cradle it. So I got in there and worked by magic.”

Two plays later, Turner busted loose for 17 yards down to Tampa Bay’s 18-yard line and well within Elam’s range.

The Falcons ran two more plays before sending Elam out to win the game.

“We have to keep winning,” Turner said. “The key to our success is somebody stepping up big every week. It’s something special in this locker room right now.”

The Bucs had given up 299 yards rushing last week against Carolina.

“We just had to be patient,” said Turner, who rushed for a season-low 42 yards in the first meeting with Tampa Bay. “We wanted to stay with it. We knew it was going to open up for us.”

The Falcons got the ball at their 29-yard line in overtime.

“It seems like in overtime, we just locked in and got on our guys,” right tackle Tyson Clabo said. “We got a good push.”

Turner set the tone for the drive with a 9-yard run, carrying about three Buccaneers the last four yards. He picked up three yards on the next play to convert the first down.

Ryan made a first-down throw to White to pick up 14 yards to enter in Tampa Bay territory.

“Our offensive line just kept plugging away,” Ryan said. “That’s what they’ve done all year. They kept doing their job and played physical all game and at the end of the game the holes seem to get a little bit bigger.”

Behind a 26-yard field goal and a 1-yard touchdown run by Turner, the Falcons held at 10-7 lead at halftime.

The Falcons defense came through in regulation after Micheal Koenen had a punt block by Brian Clark.

Tampa Bay had the ball at Atlanta’s 22. The Bucs reached the 9-yard line before Abraham, on his hands and knees, fought his way to Griese and dropped him a loss of 11 yards. A holding penalty on Tampa Bay’s Arron Sears pushed them back 10 more yards.

After a run by Warrick Dunn, Matt Bryant, who’d missed a 52-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter, came on and made a 38-yarder with 48 seconds left.

The Falcons lost the coin toss, but the defense was got the ball back for the offense.

“When things get tough, we expect to make the plays that will lead us to victory,” said cornerback Domonique Foxworth, who had a third-quarter interception.