-
Mark Raimondi
to close
Mark Raimondi
espn staff writer
- Mark Raimondi’s first year covering the Falcons was 2024, but it was not his first year at ESPN. He joined the company in 2019 and was a top combat sports reporter. He also covered professional wrestling and wrote the book “Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro Wrestling’s New World Order Changed America”, which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2025. Raimondi also worked for the New York Post and Newsday starting in 2009, covering high school and college sports, as well as the NFL, NFL, MLB and NHL.
-
jena line
to close
jena line
espn staff writer
- Jenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. He began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but has covered the team since 2009. Jenna is a former cheerleader at the University of South Florida and considers the program’s consistency to be among the top best in the country.
Tampa, Florida– atlanta falcons Coach Raheem Morris challenged his team to fight on Monday. It has been a significant letdown in recent weeks, with the Falcons facing a short week against an NFC South rival.
They showed that fight in prime time on Thursday night. The Falcons came back from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to beat tampa bay buccaneers 29-28 at Raymond James Stadium. falcon kicker zane gonzalez Kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to win it.
quarterback cancer cousin Was 30 of 44 for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns. running back bijan robinson Had 19 carries for 93 yards and another 82 receiving yards on eight catches. tight end Kyle Pitts Sr.Had 11 catches for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns,
This defeat was a big blow for the struggling Buccaneers carolina panthers For the NFC South crown. Tampa is a half-game behind Carolina with three weeks remaining.
Tampa Bay has won once in its last six games, while Atlanta has won just the second game in its last nine games.
Here are the most important things to know from Thursday night for both teams:
Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
QB Performance: cancer cousin He had two of his best games of the 2024 season against the Bucs. That success continued Thursday night against Tampa Bay. Cousins passed for over 150 yards with two touchdowns in the first half for the third consecutive time against the Falcons’ division rival.
Statistics to know: This was Pitts’ first 100-yard receiving game since his rookie season in 2021. Pitts lost in the first half, the kind of performance the Falcons desperately needed. drake london (Knee). This was the first time a Falcons player had 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a half. calvin ridley In 2018.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The Falcons are not going to make the playoffs and will not have a winning season. What the coaching staff wanted most from the team over the past few weeks was clean running. Thursday night was anything but. Atlanta had 10 penalties in the first half, the team’s most penalties in a half since 1984. Nevertheless, Atlanta overcame 19 allowed penalties, the most in franchise history and the most by any team this season. –Marc Raimondi
Next game: But Arizona Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, Dec. 21)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
The Bucs were so distraught by the events of the late game, that receiver mike evans — returning after a broken collarbone in Week 7 — walked into the tunnel before the winning kick, followed by several others, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The home fans expressed their disapproval by booing loudly which continued for a few minutes after the game. After starting the season 5-1, the Bucs drop to 7-7, and should the Panthers beat New Orleans Saints According to ESPN Research, the Bucs’ chances of winning the NFC South dropped to 35% on Sunday. If Carolina loses, the Bucs will have a 76% chance of winning the division.
turn: 8:28 to go in regulation, D Alford Mayfield’s pass intended for Evans was intercepted at the Falcons’ 33-yard line – the Falcons trailing 28–20. inside linebacker Lavonte David forced a darnell mooney There was a fumble at the Bucs’ 9-yard line, and although it appeared to be buried by a Buccaneer defender, officials ruled it was Atlanta’s ball – setting up a 7-yard touchdown run for Pitts. antony winfield jrGained the lead on a blitz and forced an incompletion on Kirk Cousins’ 2-point conversion attempt, preserving the Bucs’ lead at 28–26,
Biggest hole in the game plan: The Bucs’ secondary, which lacked a starting safety. tykie smith and backup cornerback benjamin morrison Before starting cornerback zion mccallum Left the game due to a hip injury, there was no solution for Pitts, who went untouched in the end zone twice. Christian Izianwho stepped in for Smith, surrendering Pitts’ first touchdown and a 36-yard vertical pass play on a crossing route to set up Pitts’ second score. –Jenna Line
Next game: But carolina panthers (1 p.m. ET, Dec. 21)
