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Highlights from the Bucs’ Week 17 victory over the Falcons

Tampa Bay will enter the playoffs as the No. 5 seed.

Atlanta Falcons v Tampa Bay Buccaneers Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) finished the season on a high note with a 44-27 win over the division rival Atlanta Falcons (4-12).

The Bucs have officially clinched the No. 5 seed after the win. Let’s dive into the game’s biggest moments.


Chris Godwin puts the Bucs on the board first

Tampa Bay won the toss, elected to receive the kick, then proceed to score a touchdown seven plays and 68-yards later. Godwin was on the receiving end of a Tom Brady pass that was dropped into a bucket.

Mike Evans sets the record for consecutive 1,000 yard seasons to start a career

The record now belongs to him after this reception. Congratulations, Mike!

Antonio Brown intercepts Brady for the touchdown

It looks like Brady was targeting Scotty Miller on this play, but Brown makes an insane grab and keeps his balance to stay inbounds for the touchdown. This play put the Bucs up, 17-3.

A botched handoff leads to an Antoine Winfield Jr. fumble recovery

Ryan and the running back messed up the handoff and AWjr capitalized on the mistake. The play was originally ruled as a fumble returned for a touchdown, but the review showed a hand touching Winfield while his knee was on the ground. Regardless, the Bucs took over in Falcon territory looking to extend the lead.

Matt Ryan cuts the Bucs’ lead to seven points with a touchdown run

The Falcons converted a 4th and 4 inside the Bucs’ 10-yard line which was the key to this touchdown drive.

Russell Gage Jr. cuts the Bucs’ lead to six points

Ryan finds Gage for the touchdown and cuts Tampa Bay’s lead to 23-17.

Scotty Miller can’t hang on and the result is an interception

The second-year wideout tried his best to hang onto the ball, but he couldn’t complete the process to make the catch. The ball bounced off the turf and into the waiting arms of Ricardo Allen.

Ronald Jones II makes it a two-score game in the fourth quarter

The Falcons had just kicked a field goal to make it a 23-20 game, so the Bucs needed a big response on their next drive. They answered the bell with a nine-play, 75-yard drive to go up, 30-20.

Hayden Hurst keeps the Falcons alive

The Falcons didn’t kick a field goal inside the five-yard line this time and it turned out to be a good idea as Hurst is wide open in the end zone for the easy touchdown.

Chris Godwin comes up with the play of the game....

Dante Fowler Jr. just sacked Brady to bring up a 3rd and 12, so the Bucs were in trouble. For whatever reason, the Falcons rushed three, which gave Brady plenty of time to find Godwin deep for the first down inside the Falcon 10.

.....and then puts the Bucs back up by 10

This came on 3rd and goal, yet another crucial play. Brady is the best for a reason.

Antonio Brown seals the deal

Brown puts the game on ice with this excellent run-and-catch. His explosion is on full display, here. Tampa Bay would go on to win, 44-27.