Game Date: October 27, 2024 | Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | Attendance: 62,787
Quick Game Summary
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 14 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 26 |
Top Performers
Kirk Cousins threw touchdown passes of 36, 49, 30, and 6 yards as Atlanta defeated Tampa Bay 31-26, completing a season sweep that gave the Falcons control of the NFC South division race.
Week 8 Final Score: Atlanta 31, Tampa Bay 26
The Falcons improved to 5-3 while the Buccaneers fell to 4-4. With the head-to-head tiebreaker now secured, Atlanta holds a commanding position in the division standings.
Tampa Bay actually outgained Atlanta 432-394 and controlled the ball for 32:34 compared to Atlanta’s 27:26. Yet the Buccaneers lost by five points. The key differential: turnovers (3-0) and explosive plays.
Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring Summary
| Time | Quarter | Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:52 | 1st | ATL | Kyle Pitts 36-yard TD pass from Kirk Cousins | ATL 7-0 |
| 4:22 | 1st | TB | Cade Otton 5-yard TD pass from Baker Mayfield | 7-7 |
| 10:28 | 2nd | TB | Rachaad White 18-yard TD pass from Baker Mayfield | TB 14-7 |
| 7:19 | 2nd | ATL | Kyle Pitts 49-yard TD pass from Kirk Cousins | 14-14 |
| 2:09 | 2nd | ATL | Darnell Mooney 30-yard TD pass from Kirk Cousins | ATL 21-14 |
| 1:04 | 2nd | TB | Chase McLaughlin 52-yard FG | ATL 21-17 |
| 0:01 | 2nd | ATL | Younghoe Koo 39-yard FG | ATL 24-17 |
| 0:14 | 3rd | ATL | Bijan Robinson 6-yard TD pass from Kirk Cousins | ATL 31-17 |
| 12:04 | 4th | TB | Safety (Cousins fumble in end zone) | ATL 31-19 |
| 6:52 | 4th | TB | Cade Otton 4-yard TD pass from Baker Mayfield | ATL 31-26 |
Individual Player Statistical Breakdown
Quarterbacks: Contrasting Performances
Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 29 passes (79.3%) for 276 yards without an interception. His 145.9 passer rating came from four touchdown passes to three different receivers. Three of those scoring strikes covered at least 30 yards, marking the first time in Cousins’ 13-year career he achieved that feat in a single game.
Kirk Cousins Performance
| Completions | Attempts | Yards | TDs | INTs | Rating | Sacks-Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 29 | 276 | 4 | 0 | 145.9 | 2-11 |
Cousins’ eight touchdown passes against Tampa Bay in October 2024 set an NFL record for most TD passes versus one opponent in a calendar month.
Baker Mayfield faced a different challenge. Without injured receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, he attempted 50 passes, completing 37 for 330 yards. His three touchdowns came with two costly interceptions.
Baker Mayfield Performance
| Completions | Attempts | Yards | TDs | INTs | Rating | Rush-Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 50 | 330 | 3 | 2 | 94.6 | 3-11 |
At 9:11 in the third quarter, Mayfield’s flea-flicker attempt was intercepted by Jessie Bates III at the Atlanta 8-yard line. His second interception came at 12:54 of the fourth quarter when A.J. Terrell Jr. picked him off at the Atlanta 6.
Pass Catchers: Distribution and Production
Atlanta Falcons Receiving Statistics
| Player | Catches | Yards | Average | TDs | Targets | Longest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Pitts | 4 | 91 | 22.8 | 2 | 5 | 49 |
| Darnell Mooney | 4 | 86 | 21.5 | 1 | 6 | 30 |
| Bijan Robinson | 7 | 43 | 6.1 | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| Drake London | 4 | 34 | 8.5 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Ray-Ray McCloud | 3 | 9 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Charlie Woerner | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
Kyle Pitts recorded his first career game with multiple touchdown receptions. His scores came from 36 yards at 12:52 of the first quarter and 49 yards at 7:19 of the second quarter.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Receiving Statistics
| Player | Catches | Yards | Average | TDs | Targets | Longest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cade Otton | 9 | 81 | 9.0 | 2 | 10 | 29 |
| Rakim Jarrett | 3 | 58 | 19.3 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| Bucky Irving | 7 | 40 | 5.7 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Rachaad White | 5 | 38 | 7.6 | 1 | 6 | 18 |
| Jalen McMillan | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Trey Palmer | 2 | 29 | 14.5 | 0 | 2 | 25 |
| Ryan Miller | 3 | 19 | 6.3 | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| Sterling Shepard | 3 | 18 | 6.0 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| Sean Tucker | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
Rakim Jarrett received a 90.8 Pro Football Focus grade, highest among offensive players, despite playing only 27% of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps.
Running Game Production
Complete Rushing Statistics
| Player | Team | Attempts | Yards | Average | Long | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | ATL | 13 | 63 | 4.8 | 13 | 0 |
| Tyler Allgeier | ATL | 12 | 33 | 2.8 | 9 | 0 |
| Ray-Ray McCloud | ATL | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 17 | 0 |
| Kirk Cousins | ATL | 3 | 16 | 5.3 | 13 | 0 |
| Bucky Irving | TB | 9 | 44 | 4.9 | 15 | 0 |
| Rachaad White | TB | 6 | 29 | 4.8 | 8 | 0 |
| Jalen McMillan | TB | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 17 | 0 |
| Baker Mayfield | TB | 3 | 11 | 3.7 | 10 | 0 |
| Sean Tucker | TB | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 3 | 0 |
| Tavierre Thomas | TB | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | -2 | 0 |
Atlanta totaled 129 rushing yards on 29 attempts (4.4 average). Tampa Bay managed 102 yards on 22 carries (4.6 average).
Defensive Statistics: Game-Changing Plays
At 14:24 of the first quarter, on Tampa Bay’s second offensive play, Jessie Bates III forced a fumble from Rachaad White. Bates recovered at the Tampa Bay 43. Four plays later, Cousins hit Pitts for the game’s first touchdown.
Defensive Leaders
| Player | Team | Tackles | Solo | Assists | Sacks | TFL | FF | FR | INT | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaden Elliss | ATL | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| K.J. Britt | TB | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian Izien | TB | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lavonte David | TB | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Terrell Jr. | ATL | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Nate Landman | ATL | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Antoine Winfield Jr. | TB | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Hughes | ATL | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zyon McCollum | TB | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jessie Bates III | ATL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| C.J. Brewer | TB | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
C.J. Brewer recorded the game’s only sacks, dropping Cousins twice for 11 yards in losses.
Turnovers: The Deciding Factor
| Time | Quarter | Play | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14:24 | 1st | Rachaad White fumble, forced by Jessie Bates III | ATL ball at TB 43 |
| 9:11 | 3rd | Baker Mayfield INT by Jessie Bates III | ATL ball at ATL 8 |
| 12:54 | 4th | Baker Mayfield INT by A.J. Terrell Jr. | ATL ball at ATL 6 |
All three turnovers stopped Tampa Bay drives. The fumble led directly to Atlanta’s first touchdown.
Critical Game Sequences
First Quarter Momentum Shift
Tampa Bay’s opening drive stalled, leading to a touchback. On their second possession at 14:24, Rachaad White fumbled on just the second play. Atlanta capitalized immediately, with Cousins finding Kyle Pitts for a 36-yard touchdown four plays later.
Third Quarter Turning Point
With Tampa Bay trailing 24-17 at 3:05, they faced fourth-and-3 from their own 38. The Buccaneers attempted a fake punt with Tavierre Thomas taking the direct snap. He lost two yards, giving Atlanta possession at the Tampa Bay 36. Six plays later, Bijan Robinson caught a 6-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 31-17.
Fourth Quarter Drama
A fumbled snap by Cousins in the end zone resulted in a safety at 12:04, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 31-19. Tampa Bay then drove 73 yards in 12 plays for a touchdown, making it 31-26 with 6:52 remaining. Younghoe Koo missed a 46-yard field goal with 1:01 left, giving Tampa Bay one final chance. Mayfield moved the team to the Atlanta 33, but his final pass fell incomplete as time expired.
Kicking and Return Game Statistics
Field Goal and Extra Point Summary
| Kicker | Team | FG Made | FG Att | Long | XP Made | XP Att | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Younghoe Koo | ATL | 1 | 2 | 39 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Chase McLaughlin | TB | 1 | 1 | 52 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Return Game Production
| Returner | Team | KR | KR Yards | KR Avg | PR | PR Yards | PR Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray-Ray McCloudATL | 2 | 61 | 30.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Trey PalmerTB | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 31 | 15.5 | |
| Sean TuckerTB | 1 | 20 | 20.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Avery WilliamsATL | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 14 | 14.0 |
Punting Statistics
| Punter | Team | Punts | Yards | Average | Inside 20 | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Pinion | ATL | 3 | 128 | 42.7 | 1 | 46 |
| Trenton Gill | TB | 1 | 42 | 42.0 | 0 | 42 |
Complete Team Statistics
Offensive Comparison
| Category | Atlanta | Tampa Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Total Plays | 60 | 72 |
| Total Yards | 394 | 432 |
| Passing Yards | 265 | 330 |
| Rushing Yards | 129 | 102 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.6 | 6.0 |
Efficiency Metrics
| Category | Atlanta | Tampa Bay |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 20 | 24 |
| Third Down Conversions | 6/12 (50.0%) | 9/14 (64.3%) |
| Fourth Down Conversions | 2/2 (100%) | 1/2 (50.0%) |
| Red Zone Scores | 1/1 (100%) | 3/3 (100%) |
| Time of Possession | 27:26 | 32:34 |
| Penalties-Yards | 4-43 | 6-45 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kirk Cousins threw four touchdown passes: two to Kyle Pitts (36 and 49 yards), one to Darnell Mooney (30 yards), and one to Bijan Robinson (6 yards).
Kyle Pitts led all receivers with 91 yards on four catches, including two touchdowns.
Tampa Bay committed three turnovers: one fumble by Rachaad White and two interceptions thrown by Baker Mayfield.
The longest play was Kirk Cousins’ 49-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Pitts at 7:19 of the second quarter.
C.J. Brewer of Tampa Bay recorded both sacks in the game, dropping Kirk Cousins twice for 11 yards in losses.
No, Tavierre Thomas lost two yards on the fake punt attempt in the third quarter, giving Atlanta excellent field position.
Game Officials
Referee Crew: Shawn Hochuli (Referee), Tim Podraza, Jim Quirk, Jimmy Russell, Terry Killens Jr., Patrick Holt, Jason Ledet
Historical Context and Division Impact
Kirk Cousins’ performance adds to his historic October against Tampa Bay. His eight touchdown passes in two games against the Buccaneers established a new NFL record for most touchdown passes against one opponent in a calendar month.
The victory gives Atlanta crucial momentum in the NFC South race. With the season sweep complete, the Falcons hold the tiebreaker advantage over Tampa Bay.
According to the official game summary, this marked Atlanta’s first sweep of Tampa Bay since 2016. The Falcons have now won three of their last four meetings at Raymond James Stadium.
Tampa Bay’s offensive struggles without their top receivers were evident. The team managed just 6.0 yards per play despite running 72 offensive snaps.
Summary: Key Takeaways from Player Performances
The Atlanta Falcons vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers match player stats from Week 8 demonstrate several crucial factors:
- Kirk Cousins’ four touchdown passes, three covering 30-plus yards, provided the explosive plays Atlanta needed
- Tampa Bay’s three turnovers, all created by the Atlanta defense, directly impacted scoring opportunities
- Jessie Bates III’s two takeaways (forced fumble and interception) changed field position at critical moments
- Without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay’s passing attack lacked the explosive element despite Mayfield’s 330 yards
- The failed fake punt in the third quarter gave Atlanta a short field that led to their final touchdown
Atlanta’s 31-26 victory, combined with their earlier win over Tampa Bay, puts them in control of their playoff destiny with nine games remaining in the 2024 season.
