A .500 record feels a lot different for the Buccaneers than the Falcons right now.
With a 23-19 win over the Falcons, the Buccaneers continued to make progress under rookie quarterback Jameis Winston, who is showing weekly signs of being a good investment for the future.
Winston found Mike Evans for the go-ahead touchdown pass with 1:47 left, but that wasn’t the most impressive play he made down the stretch.
The No. 1 overall pick converted a third-and-19 with a 20-yard run to set up that pass, bobbling the ball and picking it up and continuing to ramble.
Winston finished the day 18-of-27 for 227 yards with a touchdown and an interception (which wasn’t really his fault).
That was all the Bucs needed on a day they were willing to grind away at the Falcons on the ground, rushing for 166 yards (including late knees).
Doug Martin ran 25 times for 95 yards, despite being in the doghouse in the fourth quarter after a fumble which gave Atlanta life.
For the Falcons, a 6-6 record is a bitter pill, considering they started 5-0. With five straight losses and six in their last seven, there are major questions to answer there, as they look a lot like the team that got former coach Mike Smith fired.