Week 5 of the NFL season kicks off with a huge clash in the NFC South between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons. The 3-1 Buccaneers can take a big leap in the division race with a win over the 2-2 Falcons and a mini-bye week before visiting the 2-2 Saints in Week 6. The Falcons beat the Saints last week, and could get an early leg up in the division with wins over both Tampa Bay and New Orleans as the season passes the quarter mark.
Baker Mayfield is enjoying a resurgence in Tampa Bay this season, heading into Week 5 second in the NFL in touchdown passes and sixth in passing yards. Wide receiver Mike Evans, who’d been a limited participant in practice Monday and Tuesday with calf and knee injuries, was not listed on Wednesday’s injury report and is expected to be a go for Thursday Night Football. For Atlanta, offensive lineman Kaleb McGary (knee) and running back Bijan Robinson (hamstring) were full participants in practice Wednesday after limited participation earlier in the week.
Live39 updates
Aaand the call is upheld. Falcons ball, 2nd-and-20, 7:35 left in the half, Drake London back.
A lot happening on that play. Hard to see this going the Bucs’ way but you never know
Drake London just sprinted out of the Atlanta locker room.
The Falcons might be facing a shootout without their top receiving weapon.
No announcement on London yet but I don’t see him on the sideline and KhaDarel Hodge is strapping his helmet up. London was being evaluated for a concussion.
Mike Evans, again. It’s the 99th touchdown catch of his career and his 100th touchdown overall .It’s also his NFL-best fifth of the season.
Tampa Bay starts in its territory after big kickoff return. Atlanta’s offense is waking up, but Falcons defense and special teams not playing to their regular level.
Drake London is in the blue medical tent and they took his helmet after personal foul hit to the head. Usual sign that he’s been evaluated for a concussion.
Chase McLaughlin makes his fourth 50-yard field goal out of four this season, a year after going 7-of-8 from the same range. It’s his 26th straight regular season make, a Bucs record.
This defense may be the league’s best on limiting explosives of 20+ yards, but these pickups of 15ish every few plays by the Bucs are keeping them on the field.
Rough end to the drive for the Falcons there. After the Vea sack, Younghoe Koo misses a 46-yard FG, gets a second try thanks to an offside penalty, then misses a 41-yarder.
A 3rd-and-5 at the edge of the red zone for the Falcons ends with a Vita Vea sack.
Having Bijan Robinson pick up Vita Vea could not have been the plan there.
TOUCHDOWN: Mike Evans ties it with wide-open catch
Mike Evans has 10 consecutive 1000-yard seasons. So you probably want to cover him in the end zone. Looks like the Falcons defense just lost him. Tie game.
After 15-yard-plus passes to Cade Otton and Chris Godwin, the Bucs are down to the Falcons’ 1.
