Falcons stay close in NFC South, beat Buccaneers 24 21

There’s only one team the Atlanta Falcons need to be concerned about the rest of the way. (Photo: Atlanta Falcons/Facebook)

TAMPA, Fla. — There’s only one team the Atlanta Falcons need to be concerned about the rest of the way.

Their own.

The defending NFC champions trail division rivals New Orleans and Carolina by one game with two weeks remaining in the regular season. But if the Falcons (9-5) beat the Saints (10-4) and Panthers (10-4), they win the NFC South again . One victory in the final two games guarantees Atlanta a playoff berth.

“We’re right where we need to be at this point of the season,” quarterback Matt Ryan said after Monday night’s 24-21 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . “We’ve got to find a way to get back to work this week, try to improve and make sure we play the best we’re capable of playing this Sunday.”

“That’s really all our focus needs to be about,” he added. “If we’re worried about anything else then you’re not as locked in as you need to be.”

Devonta Freeman had 194 yards from scrimmage — rushing for 126 on 22 carries and catching five passes for a team-high 68 yards — to pace Atlanta’s fifth victory in six games, which eliminated Green Bay from playoff contention.

Ryan threw for 212 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

“Can’t think too far into the future. Always focus on what we’ve got next,” Falcons safety Keanu Neal said. “Look too far ahead, you lose sight of the present.”

Freeman’s 32-yard TD run gave Atlanta a 10-point lead that the defence nearly let slip away over the final eight minutes.

The 5-foot-6, 206-pound running back kept pounding away at the Bucs defence until finally finding his way into the open field, darting through a gaping hole on the right side before cutting back to elude the only defender with a shot at tackling him on his way to the end zone.

“We had a sense this would be a big night for him. We talked about that before the game,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “We thought he would have his opportunities. If he could get to the next level and to a linebacker or safety or corner, make sure he had a plan how he wanted to finish.”

With Freeman’s sidekick, Tevin Coleman, out with a concussion, third-string running back Terron Ward shared the rushing load with the two-time 1,000-yard rusher.

“I saw him hit the sideline. And, Free one-on-one with anyone in the open field, I’m taking Free,” Ward said.

Some things to know about Falcons-Buccaneers:

JAMEIS SHINES

Jameis Winston had his sharpest performance of the season for the Bucs (4-10), who have lost nine of 11 following a 2-1 start.

The third-year pro completed 27 of 35 passes for 299 yards and three TDs with no turnovers. He had TD passes of 30 yards to O.J. Howard, 42 yards to Mike Evans and 16 yards to Adam Humphries, the latter pulling Tampa Bay to 24-21 with four minutes remaining.

The Bucs got the ball back with a minute left. Winston completed three passes, moving them into position to allow Patrick Murray to try a 54-yard field goal that sailed wide right on the final play.

“I think this is Jameis Winston at his best,” coach Dirk Koetter said. “We’ve seen him at his best for parts of several games, but this was probably his best and most complete game.”

CONTAINING JULIO

Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones had a monster game against the Bucs three weeks ago with 12 receptions for 253 yards and two TDs in a 34-20 win at Atlanta. Tampa Bay knew it needed to do a better job against him to have any chance this time.

Ryan targeted the star receiver eight times Monday night, but Jones only had three catches for 54 yards.

The Falcons offset the drop in production, finishing with 201 yards rushing.

RING OF Honour

Former Bucs coach Jon Gruden, who has spent the past nine seasons as ESPN’s game analyst on Monday Night Football, was inducted into the Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium during a halftime ceremony.

Gruden was acquired from the Oakland Raiders for two first-round draft picks, two second-round draft picks and $8 million before leading the 2002 Bucs to the club’s only Super Bowl championship in his first season in Tampa Bay.

Gruden was fired after the 2008 season and moved into the broadcast booth the following year. The Bucs haven’t made the playoffs since 2007 and don’t have a post-season win since their Super Bowl run 15 years ago.