Bucs' Week 1 defeat hinges on Falcons' mistakes

The Atlanta Falcons began their 2024 season with a disappointing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a final score of 23-20.

Drake London, the Falcons' star receiver, struggled in the game, catching eight passes for 55 yards and no touchdowns. The inconsistent performance, coupled with a reported shoulder injury, has raised questions about whether he should have pulled himself earlier. London left the game with a shoulder sprain and is currently day-to-day.

The Falcons' offense struggled to be consistent, with their inability to run consistently stalling drives and leaving the offense one-dimensional. The ground game managed a lacklustre 69 rushing yards on 2.5 yards per carry. However, Bijan Robinson, the Falcons' running back, finished with six catches for 100 yards and a score, proving to be a bright spot.

Michael Penix Jr, the second-year quarterback for the Falcons, orchestrated a long drive in the fourth quarter that gave the Falcons a late lead. But Baker Mayfield spoiled the Falcons' comeback attempt with a 25-yard strike to Emeka Egbuka, putting the Buccaneers back in front.

The Falcons' defense held Tampa Bay's quarterback, Baker Mayfield, in check for most of the afternoon. One of the missed connections between Penix and London was a slightly missed throw, and the other was a near-catch that slipped away from London.

Younghoe Koo, the Falcons' veteran kicker, had been solid earlier in the game, converting from 41 and 36 yards. But he missed a crucial 44-yard attempt in the final moments of the game, sealing the loss. Raheem Morris named Koo as his starting kicker ahead of the season, despite the team signing Lenny Krieg in the offseason to provide competition.

Raheem Morris stated that the team needs to bring a competitive edge and will consider bringing in new kickers to compete. Morris himself, as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, managed the kicker position and conducted workouts to evaluate kickers but was not reported to have hired a separate kicker coach in that year.

The game's first score was a Bijan Robinson reception for the Falcons. Despite the loss, there were glimmers of hope for the Falcons, with Robinson's strong performance and Penix's late-game heroics. The team will look to build on these positives as they prepare for their next game.