At the midway juncture of Thursday Night Football, Mike Evans’ stellar performance, capped with two touchdowns, propelled the Buccaneers to a 24-17 advantage over the Falcons. Kirk Cousins, the Falcons’ quarterback, threw for an impressive 253 yards in the first half, yet the Buccaneers maintained their edge and will receive the second-half kickoff.
The Buccaneers demonstrated offensive efficiency, scoring on each of their four possessions, excluding a solitary kneel-down to conclude the half. Evans, a beacon of consistency, hauled in two touchdown receptions, extending his career tally to 99 receiving touchdowns and 100 total touchdowns. The dynamic wideout seized scores of 2 and 23 yards, delivered by Baker Mayfield in precision throws.
Sterling Shepard, contributing to the scoring surge, crossed the goal line on a crucial 4-yard reception on third down, adding to the Buccaneers’ total. Although Falcons’ kicker Younghoe Koo converted a formidable 54-yard field goal, his accuracy faltered on a subsequent 41-yard attempt, sending the ball wide left. In their last offensive series of the half, the Falcons ventured as far as Tampa Bay’s 31-yard line, but a sack on Cousins halted momentum. Opting against a long 57-yard field goal on fourth-and-18 from the Buccaneers’ 39-yard line, the Falcons chose to punt.
Cousins efficiently completed 21 of 28 passes, connecting with Drake London for an 18-yard touchdown and threading a 24-yard pass into tight coverage to Darnell Mooney. London, briefly sidelined for a concussion evaluation, made a prompt return and finished the half with six receptions totaling 64 yards. Mooney followed closely, amassing 58 yards on four catches.
However, Atlanta’s ground game sputtered, with Bijan Robinson managing a mere 18 yards on seven carries. In contrast, Mayfield delivered a near-flawless performance, completing 12 of 15 pass attempts for 131 yards and three touchdowns. Evans, emerging as his favored target, secured four receptions for 49 yards, while Cade Otten chipped in with two catches for 37 yards. On the ground, Rachaad White rumbled for 61 yards on five carries, with Bucky Irving contributing 31 yards on four rushes.
The Buccaneers’ balanced attack and Evans’ remarkable milestone set the stage for an intriguing second half, where both teams will look to build upon their first-half exploits.