Chris Redman woke up this morning expecting to watch Matt Ryan lead the Falcons to a 6-5 mark over an easy Tampa Bay team. Instead, Redman led the rally himself with a fantastic 2:00 drive that overcame an inspired, and productive Tampa Bay defense that turned the play calling over to Head Coach Raheem Morris. Going back to the famous Tampa Two, the Bucs pressured the Falcons all game long, including initial pressure that knocked Matt Ryan from the game in the first quarter. All told, the Bucs dropped the quarterback 6 times, equaling their best mark of the year set vs the Packers in Tampa.
Josh Freeman had a solid game going 19 of 28 for 238 yards and 2 TDs without a turnover. But Redman was equally as efficient going 23 of 41 for 243 yards and also 2 scores. But the Bucs effort was mostly on the defensive side, holding the Falcons to under 300 total yards, and a season best 75 total net rushing yards.
In the end, Connor Barth missed the goalposts by a foot or two on a FG attempt that would have given the Bucs 20 points that Atlanta could have only tied the game with. Instead, the Falcons scored on 4th down, sending the Bucs to 1-10, their worst record since the 1976 0-14 season.
Next week, the Bucs host the N Y Jets, who may be without Rookie sensation Mark Sanchez who was injured today.