The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons renewed their NFC South rivalry on Thursday Night Football, as both teams looked to bounce back from disappointing results in Week 2.
Here's the lowdown from the first two quarters in Atlanta.
Falcons Start Quick: The Falcons set the initial tone on the game's first drive, as QB Matt Ryan went 4-of-4 for 58 yards to lead Atlanta on a quick six-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. After Ryan's two-yard scoring connection with WR Harry Douglas gave the Falcons an early 7-0 lead, the Atlanta defense forced QB Josh McCown and the Bucs into a quick three-and-out to firmly seize momentum in the game's first 5 minutes.
Disaster Strikes For Tampa Bay: The Buccaneers' night went from bad to much, much worse as the game's 1st quarter wound to a close. The Falcons forced three Tampa Bay turnovers over a five-and-a-half minute stretch - takeaways which resulted in three touchdowns for Atlanta (including a backbreaking Josh McCown pick six that made it 21-0).
The Bucs were down 28-0 just a minute into the second quarter (with zero first downs to Atlanta's 13) as the Falcons had outclassed them in every phase of the game.
Devin Hester Goes Prime Time: The beyond-electric Hester took his game to Atlanta in the offseason, and he also took a bit of history with him in the process. Hester passed former Atlanta Falcons great Deion Sanders for first all-time with his 20th career return TD (this one on a punt) in the second quarter, as he put together his own "Prime Time" salute to cap off his record-breaking 62-yard scamper to the house.
Sanders was in attendance and seemed to approve of Hester's tribute, despite the fact that it cost the Falcons 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Falcons were up 35-0 at this point, as the rout was on in the Dirty South.
Injuries Abound: With the game seemingly decided already, the focus turned to both team's health as the half came to a close. Tampa Bay QB Josh McCown left the game with a right thumb injury that he suffered when he banged his hand off a defender's helmet during his throwing motion. Mike Glennon replaced him as his return was listed as questionable.
For Atlanta, WR Harry Douglas was forced to gingerly limp to the locker room after an apparent leg injury. His return status was still up in the air as the teams left the field.
Top Performers:
Atlanta: WR Devin Hester (1 catch, 20 yards, 1 receiving TD, 1 punt return TD) & WR Julio Jones (8 catches, 121 yards, 1 TD)
Tampa Bay: WR Mike Evans (3 catches, 43 yards)
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