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The good, bad and ugly: Buccaneers vs. Falcons, Week 8
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- The good, bad and ugly: Buccaneers vs. Falcons, Week 8
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers shut out the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, combining a franchise-record rushing performance with four interceptions to earn their first home victory of the season.
Tampa Bay controlled the game despite finishing without a completed pass, but missed scoring opportunities; weather and ball-security issues kept the offense from opening up.
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The good: Irving and Gainwell overwhelm Atlanta
The Buccaneers rushed for a franchise-record 324 yards on 56 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt, against a Falcons defense ranked fourth against the run.
Bucky Irving recorded a career-high 170 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per attempt. Kenneth Gainwell added a career-best 140 yards on 25 carries, averaging 5.6 yards. Together, they accounted for 310 rushing yards.
Tampa Bay's only touchdown came on a six-play, 90-yard third-quarter drive. Irving broke loose for 46 yards, Gainwell followed with 28, and Irving scored from four yards out to extend the lead to 16-0.
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The rushing production carried over from Week 7, when Tampa Bay gained 258 yards against Carolina. The Buccaneers have rushed for 582 yards over their last two games.
The good: Four interceptions and a defensive shutout
Linebacker Alex Anzalone intercepted Michael Penix Jr. twice in the first quarter, while cornerbacks Jacob Parrish and Zyon McCollum each added an interception.
Penix finished 8-of-24 for 125 yards, four interceptions and a 12.0 passer rating. Atlanta converted none of its 12 third-down attempts and managed eight first downs.
The Buccaneers did not record a sack, but their defensive front still affected the passing game with a little help from the weather. David Walker and Rueben Bain Jr. generated pressure, while A'Shawn Robinson tipped a third-down pass late in the fourth quarter.
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Tampa Bay also held Bijan Robinson to 76 rushing yards on 19 carries. Atlanta finished with 224 total yards, including a 76-yard completion to Jahan Dotson in the fourth quarter. The Buccaneers forced a turnover on downs after that completion, preserving the shutout.
The bad: Turnovers failed to produce touchdowns
Tampa Bay intercepted Penix four times but scored only 16 points, including nine on Chase McLaughlin field goals.
After Anzalone's first interception, Baker Mayfield recovered a mishandled snap and lateraled to Irving, who advanced toward the goal line before Jessie Bates III forced a fumble through the end zone. The touchback eliminated a scoring opportunity, though Tampa Bay was inches away from a touchdown.
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Anzalone's second interception gave Tampa Bay possession at Atlanta's 19-yard line, but the offense gained only three yards before settling for McLaughlin's 34-yard field goal.
The Buccaneers finished 1-for-3 in the red zone and converted four of 13 third-down attempts. McLaughlin made all three field-goal attempts from 46, 34, and 42 yards.
The ugly: Zero completions and four fumbles
Mayfield finished 0-for-3 for 0 yards, with one sack for a 2-yard loss. Tampa Bay finished with minus-two net passing yards and 322 total offensive yards, despite rushing for 324.
Heavy rain affected ball handling throughout the game. Mayfield was charged with three fumbles, recovering all three, while Irving's goal-line fumble cost Tampa Bay a touchdown.
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Mayfield threw three passes to Ted Hurst III, Chris Godwin, and Kenneth Gainwell. Hurst had a chance on a back-shoulder throw in the end zone but couldn't catch it despite a great throw from Mayfield.
Tampa Bay controlled possession for 35:16 and improved to 3-5 overall and 2-0 in NFC South play. The Buccaneers have now won consecutive games behind their rushing attack and defense, though they still need to improve passing and ball security.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: The good, bad and ugly: Buccaneers vs. Falcons, Week 8
