Freeman keeps Atlanta close in NFC South
TAMPA, Fla. — Devonta Freeman pounded away all night until he finally found a way into the open field, helping the Falcons remain in the thick of the tight NFC South race.
With sidekick Tevin Coleman out with a concussion and quarterback Matt Ryan not sharp, Freeman ran for 126 yards and a touchdown to key a 24-21 win over Tampa Bay on Monday night.
The fourth-year pro scored on a 32-yard run midway through the fourth quarter, darting through a hole on the right side before cutting back to elude the only defender with a shot at tackling him and restore a 10-point lead for the Falcons (9-5), who won for the fifth time in six games.
“We had a sense this would be a big night for him. We talked about that before the game,” Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn said. “We thought he would have his opportunities.”
Freeman also caught five passes for a team-high 68 yards and had a first-half fumble recovered in the end zone by teammate Levine Toilolo for a touchdown. Ryan threw an early TD pass to Justin Hardy and finished 17-for-31 passing for 212 yards with no interceptions.
The victory kept Atlanta one game back of New Orleans and Carolina in the division standings with two to play. The Falcons are currently the second NFC wild card.
Atlanta plays at New Orleans on Sunday, then closes at home against the Panthers.
“We’re right where we need to be at this point of the season ... and 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,” Ryan said. “That’s really all our focus needs to be about.”
Jameis Winston threw for 299 yards and three TDs for the Bucs (4-10), including a 16yarder to Adam Humphries that trimmed Atlanta’s lead to three points with 3:51 left.
Winston, who also threw TD passes of 30 yards to O.J. Howard and 42 yards to Mike Evans, got the ball back with a minute left and nearly sent the game into overtime.
The third-year pro, a college teammate of Freeman’s at Florida State, completed three straight passes to move the ball from his 29 to the Atlanta 36. Patrick Murray tried a 54-yard field goal to tie it, but the kick sailed wide right.
The Bucs have lost nine of 11 following a 2-1 start, taking a step back after finishing 9-7 a year ago in their first season under head coach Dirk Koetter.