Baker Mayfield completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Cade Otton with 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter Sunday, guiding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 29-25 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons (6-7) took a 25-22 lead on a six-yard touchdown run by Desmond Ridder with 3:23 left in the final quarter.
Mayfield then orchestrated a 75-yard drive in 12 plays, including a 32-yard pass to Chris Godwin.
“ [Sur le jeu décisif]we knew they were going to care about Chris and Mike [Evans], Mayfield said. So it was a one on one battle for Cade. »
“The pass was perfect,” added Otton. It’s a victory that is so satisfying. We continued to believe and we fought. »
The Buccaneers improved their record to 6-7.
There is therefore a triple tie at the top in the southern section of the National, with the New Orleans Saints.
Atlanta had one last chance from the opposing 31 line. Drake London, however, was stopped three yards from the end zone, after catching a pass at midfield.
“We had a lot of chances in all three aspects of the game,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. It’s a frustrating setback. »
Mayfield had 144 air yards, with two touchdown passes.
He also generated a 31-yard pass and run game for a touchdown in the third quarter, benefiting Rachaad White.
Mayfield also reached the pay zone via a one-yard run at the start of the second quarter.
Godwin caught five passes, for 53 yards.
Younghoe Koo of the Falcons missed from 50 and 52 yards in the first half.
Atlanta has had all sorts of issues on the offensive line.
Center Drew Dalman (ankle) and right tackle Kaleb McGary (knee) did not play due to injuries.
Left tackle Jake Matthews left with a knee injury in the first half.
Matthews has made 156 consecutive starts, a team record, but that streak could be in jeopardy.
Right guard Chris Lindstrom also suffered an ankle problem, but was able to return to the game.
He and left guard, Quebecer Matthew Bergeron, were the only regulars on a line where Ryan Neuzil made his second career start and two other players, Storm Norton and Tyler Vrabel, got their first starts.
Vrabel had just been recalled from the practice squad.
The Falcons will play three of their final four games on the road, starting with a visit to Charlotte next Sunday. Atlanta beat the Panthers 24-10 in September.
Paul Newberry, Associated Press
3 touchdown passes for Flacco
PHOTO SCOTT GALVIN, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
Joe Flacco (15) and Tyler Lacy (93)
Joe Flacco passed for 311 yards for three touchdowns in his debut with the Cleveland Browns, who held off a late surge by Trevor Lawrence and his Jacksonville Jaguars to win 31-27 on Sunday.
Flacco, 38, agreed to a contract with the Browns (8-5) three weeks ago. He gave the kind of performance he gave annually as a visitor with the Baltimore Ravens. The quarterback completed 26 of 45 passes to improve to 10-2 as a starter in Cleveland.
Lawrence took part in the match despite injuring his right ankle on Monday. He was the victim of three interceptions – a season high for him – before bringing the Jaguars (8-5) back into the game in the fourth quarter.
His third touchdown pass – completed by Evan Engram with 1:33 remaining – put the Florida club within four points of their opponents. Myles Garrett, however, made a sack at the expense of Lawrence during the two-point conversion attempt.
The Browns then got the ball back on a short punt to seal the outcome of the game.
Flacco threw two touchdown passes in the first half to tight end David Njoku and connected with wide receiver David Bell 41 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Browns have had to use four quarterbacks due to injuries and are now putting their playoff hopes in Flacco’s hands.
The Jaguars suffered a second defeat in six days despite the presence of Lawrence. The pivot did not have a great game, finishing with 28 successful passes out of 50 attempts and 257 yards. He had to make do without one of his best receivers since Christian Kirk’s name was placed on the injured list earlier this week.
It was the Jaguars’ first road loss in seven games this season. They are trying to keep the Indianapolis Colts (7-6) and the Houston Texans (7-6) behind them in the South section of the American. Both clubs lost on Sunday.
Martin Emerson threw two interceptions against Lawrence, who missed a pass on a fourth down with 3:30 left in the game.
Tom Withers, Associated Press