Week 16 begins with an NFC South showdown between the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6). Although the Falcons have been eliminated from playoff contention, they can still play spoiler for a Bucs team fighting for the division title with the Carolina Panthers (7-6).
It’s been a tough season for Atlanta, with Michael Penix Jr. suffering a season-ending injury and having to go back to veteran Kirk Cousins, whom they benched in favor of Penix. The Falcons are 1-3 with Cousins starting this season and aim to cause some chaos within the division down the stretch. Atlanta has lost seven of its last nine games and was crushed by Seattle last week, 37-9. Cousins threw two interceptions and completed 50% of his passes in the loss, while Bijan Robinson rushed for 86 yards.
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Tampa Bay hit a rough patch after opening the season 6-2. Many praised quarterback Baker Mayfield as an MVP candidate despite numerous injuries on offense. However, since the bye week, the Bucs are 1-4 and now find themselves fighting with the Panthers for the division, while Mayfield works through a shoulder injury. Tampa needs a win this week to build momentum heading into Week 16 against Carolina.
Falcons-Buccaneers start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Raymond James Stadium | Tampa Bay, Florida
TV channel: Amazon Prime Video, NFL+
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons kick off Week 15 on “Thursday Night Football.”
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And the drive stalls out from there. Chase McLaughlin is good from 49 yards out to give the Bucs the lead.
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Baker Mayfield is dealing. 12 yards to Mike Evans, 12 yards to Emeka Egbuka, 19 yards to Jalen McMillan on three straight plays. Tampa Bay is nearing the red zone.
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And now a ninth penalty for the Falcons, who are punting on 4th-and-4.
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Bijan Robinson is up to 60 yards on nine carries, while the Falcons are up to eight penalties for 50 yards.
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The Bucs drive stalls out at their 40 and they’re punting. Baker Mayfield is 4-for-10 for 65 yards so far.
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A third penalty for Falcons CB A.J. Terrell wipes out a sack. Just a brutal start for him.
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The Buccaneers get a stop and force a 31-yard field goal for the Falcons. Zane Gonzalez makes it, but the Bucs are offsides and gives the Falcons a first down. Then Kyle Pitts scores an 8-yard TD.
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We are up to six Falcons penalties in 16 minutes of play.
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The first quarter ends with the Falcons at midfield after a 26-yard connection from Kirk Cousins to Kyle Pitts.
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Behind fullback Vita Vea, Sean Tucker punches it in to finish off a rough drive for the Falcons.
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Baker Mayfield finds Jalen McMillan for a 20-yard TD, but it’s overturned on replay as the first quarter ends. Still, it’s Buccaneers ball at the 1-yard line.
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On 3rd-and-15 after a James Pearce Jr. sack, Baker Mayfield connects with Emeka Egbuka for 23 yards. Falcons CB A.J. Terrell got called for another penalty, this time illegal contact, which the Bucs declined.
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Welcome back Mike Evans. The future Hall of Fame wideout, returning from a broke collarbone that’s kept him out since Oct. 20, gets his first catch for 12 yards and receives a big ovation from the Tampa crowd.
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