The first quarter saw both the Buccaneers and Falcons trade touchdowns. Atlanta struck first on a 6-yard pass to receiver Justin Hardy at 6:58. The Buccaneers answered on the ensuing drive with a 30-yard pass to rookie tight end O.J. Howard, before he would leave the game shortly after with an ankle injury.
Atlanta pulled away in the second quarter, scoring seven on a fumble recovery in the end zone by Levine Toilolo, originally forced out of running back Devonta Freeman’s hands by Bucs’ defensive end Will Gholston.
A fumble inside the 10-yard line by the Bucs would result in a 57-yard field goal by Falcons’ kicker Matt Bryant with less than two minutes left to play, leaving the score 17-7 at halftime.