The Falcons opened the game in a jumbo formation with offensive tackle Gabe Carimi as an extra tight end.
The message to the Bucs was clear that the Falcons were determined to run the ball.
Running back Steven Jackson ripped off a 9-yard gain followed by an 8-yard gain. The tone was set and Jackson went on to rush for a season-high 81 yards on 16 carries and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.
He had a long run of 27 yards.
“I though the offensive line did a really good job out there,” Jackson said on Sunday “The three young offensive linemen that we have in the starting lineup along with the two veterans, I think they’ve got a really good feel for each other. They created some movement for me and we were able to get me some lanes so that I could get downhill.”
Overall, the Falcons rushed for 110 yards on 28 carries.
After the Falcons went down 17-16, Jackson and backup running back Devonta Freeman had key rushes in the team’s response drive that allowed them to take the lead for good.
“That felt good because a couple of weeks ago, we weren’t able to keep our leverage and get the win,” Jackson said. “For us to be able to close out game and get the win on the road, that was big for us.”
The Falcons were averaging 95.6 yards per game, which ranked 25th in the league.
The Falcons started the same offensive line for the second straight game for just the third time this season.
There wasn’t a lineup change between the Tampa Bay and Minnesota games and the Chicago and Baltimore games. In all other games, there have been changes because of injuries.
All together, the Falcons have started six different combinations.
In addition to going big with Carimi, the starters were left tackle Jake Matthews, left guard Justin Blalock, center James Stone, right guard Jon Asamoah and right tackle Ryan Schraeder.
“I thought our offensive line did a great job today,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “Having some continuity was really good for those guys.”
Ryan has been a big supporter of Stone, an undrafted rookie and the third center to start this season.
“He’s doing a tremendous job of getting those guys on the same page,” Ryan said. “Ryan Schraeder has come in at right tackle and (has played well).”
Penalty power: The Falcons continue to commit infractions.
Second-year cornerback Robert Alford committed his ninth penalty of the season in the first quarter. He was called for defensive holding and the call helped Tampa Bay keep its opening drive alive. Of his nine penalties, four have been declined.
On the Falcons second offensive possession, rookie left tackle Jake Matthews committed his ninth and 10th penalties of the season. He was called for holding and a false start.
The Bucs bailed out the Falcons when cornerback Crezdon Butler committed a pass interference on third down-and-15. The Falcons were able to continue the drive that ended with a 37-yard field goal by Matt Bryant.
Of Matthew’s nine penalties, two have been declined.
Dropped passes: The Falcons' receivers continued to drop passes.
Julio Jones dropped a screen pass on the Falcons’ second possession, but on the next play Ryan and Jones hooked up for a 39-yard gain on a slant pattern.
Later in the drive on third down-and-goal from the 19, Ryan found Devin Hester opened in the end zone, but he dropped the pass.
Tight end targeted: Bucs have been trying to get rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins involved in their offense. He didn't play in the first meeting.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder was taken in the second-round of the 2014 draft out of Washington. He entered the game with 13 catches for 163 yards and one touchdown.
He was targeted nine times and caught five passes for 30 yards and a touchdown.
Sack exchange: Defensive linemen Osi Umenyiora (1.5), Kroy Biermann (1.5) and Jonathan Babineaux (one) had sacks for the defense.
“We had critical plays on the defensive side,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “Those sacks in the first quarter, you don’t remember them. You remember them in the last two or three minutes of a football game much more. That’s when you really want to make the play when you’re rushing the passer.”
Umenyiora and Biermann also had three quarterback hits each.
“We’ve been improving our rush and getting to the quarterback more and more,” defensive end Malliciah Goodman said. “We have not executed on the sacks, but today it showed. We were just being relentless.”
The defensive linemen also created a turnover.
Goodman force Bucs running back Charles Sims to fumble in the third quarter and defensive end Stansly Maponga recovered the ball.
Lowery's big pick: Falcons free safety Dwight Lowery knew he'd caught the interception with 1:49 to play.
“He came over and said that he caught it,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We couldn’t see it from the view that we had, but he came over and said that he caught it. I thought with the new system in place that the league did a very good job of doing what they are supposed to do and they were able to overturn the play on the field.”
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