TAMPA — For one half the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look like playoff pretenders, the next they resemble Super Bowl contenders.
Bruce Arians is as baffled as anyone by his team’s puzzling slow starts, inconsistency the coach says has and will continue to haunt them against stronger competition.
The Bucs (9-5) assured themselves of their first winning season since 2010, rallying from a 17-point second-half deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons and move closer to Tampa Bay’s first playoff berth in 13 years.
Tom Brady came to the rescue, throwing for 320 yards after halftime to lead yet another double-digit comeback against the Falcons, who’ve never beaten the six-time Super Bowl champion.