TAMPA – Falcons quarterback used to be the master of the fourth-quarter comeback.
But on Sunday against the Buccaneers, Ryan threw a fourth-quarter interception on first down before the potential game-winning drive could get moving.
On a pass intended for wide receiver Julio Jones, Tampa linebacker Lavonte David dropped into coverage in front of Jones and intercepted Ryan’s pass to seal a 23-19 victory at Raymond James Stadium.
“It’s obviously a disappointing loss,” Ryan said. “We had opportunities, I thought, throughout the game to score more points, we had more opportunities in the red zone. We didn’t come away with enough touchdowns and then at the end of the game, obviously you don’t want to turn it over on the first play of the drive so that was disappointing as well.”
Before the interception, Ryan was doing a good job of managing the game. He staked the Falcons to 12-9 halftime lead and after the Bucs made a move, he wrestled the lead back with a fourth-quarter touchdown drive.
After the defense gave up a 23-yard run to Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston on a third down-and-19 and allowed a touchdown. Ryan got the ball with 1:32 left and one timeout.
But the interception killed the drive.
“It’s disappointing, that’s for sure,” said Ryan, who completed 30 of 45 passes for 269 yards and one touchdown.
The Falcons tried to put a smiley face on the loss, even though in was a double-blow to their playoff hopes. After starting 5-0, the Falcons are now chasing Seattle and Tampa Bay for the sixth playoff berth, while Carolina clinched their third consectuive NFC title and playoff berth.
“We have four games left and we are still in the mix,” Ryan said. “We got to find a way to get it done and that starts this week.”
The Falcons have now dropped five straight and don’t appear capable of stopping their slide.
