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BY IRA KAUFMAN
What a way to kick off your 50th season.
When I used the word “bizarre” to describe the final moments of Sunday’s jittery 23-20 victory in Atlanta, Todd Bowles didn’t disagree.
There was a whirlpool of emotions as officials kept ruling in favor of the home team when the Falcons drove 91 yards for the go-ahead score, taking nearly nine minutes off the clock.
Still, Baker Mayfield had enough time to deliver the game-winning march, capped by a 25-yard TD strike to stud rookie Emeka Egbuka with only 59 seconds remaining. Tampa Bay’s celebration became muted when normally reliable kicker Chase McLaughlin, who had missed a 44-yard FG try earlier, went wide left on the extra point.
Now the Falcons needed only a FG to send the game to overtime, but Younghoe Koe misfired from 44 yards out to seal a wild victory that included an offensive line shakeup by the visitors.
It was sweet revenge against a team that swept Tampa Bay last season and had won four of the last five matchups against an NFC South rival.
“Division game, big-time win,” said Mike Evans. “We were looking forward to this one.” (more…)