Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons 
LOSS - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13 Atlanta Falcons 34
The Falcons quickly jumped into a 24-0 lead, Trent threw his first NFL interception and followed it up with two more in quick succession as both teams played fast and loose with the football. For the Buccaneers it was a three quarterback roulette game each saw time but the result was long decided before third-stringer Casey Weldon got his turn behind center.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers defense was no match for the high-flying Falcons receivers and reborn quarterback Jeff George, who threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Playing defense without a true linebacker and seven defensive backs, the Buccaneers also had trouble slowing 265-pound running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, who rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
GAMEDAY BRIEF
OFFICALS
- REFEREE: Larry Nemmers
- UMPIRE: Al Conway
- LINE JUDGE: Larry Upson
- SIDE JUDGE: Van Golmont
- HEAD LINESMAN: Paul Weidner
- BACK JUDGE: Jim Daopoulos
- FIELD JUDGE: Don Orr
- REPLAY OFFICAL: Not Documented
SCORING
- FALCONS: 9:59-1Q Heyward 1 run (Johnson kick)
- FALCONS: 1:13-1Q Rison 36 pass from George (Johnson kick)
- FALCONS: 11:59-2Q Johnson FG27
- FALCONS: 1:02-2Q Heyward 5 run (Johnson kick)
- BUCCANEERS: 0:00-2Q Husted FG35
- FALCONS: :59-3Q Johnson FG29
- BUCCANEERS: 14:11-4Q Harris 11 pass from Erickson (Husted kick)
- FALCONS: 6:28-4Q Mathis 32 pass from George (Johnson kick)
- BUCCANEERS: 0:00-4Q Husted FG38
STARTERS OFFENSE
- QB: #7 C. Erickson
- LT: #74 P. Gruber
- LG: #76 S. Dill
- C: #61 T. Mayberry
- RG: #62 I. Beckles
- RT: #78 T. Irwin
- TE: #81 J. Harris
- WR: #85 C. Hawkins
- WR: #84 C. Wilson
- FB: #33 A. McDowell
- RB: #46 V. Workman
STARTERS DEFENSE
- LE: #72 C. Ahanotu
- LT: #73 B. Culpepper
- RT: #71 S. Dotson
- RE: #75 E. Curry
- LB: #27 B. Bussey
- DB: #21 M. McGruder
- DB: #45 T. Stargell
- LCB: #35 M. Mayhew
- RCB: #39 C. Dimry
- SS: #25 T. Covington
- FS: #22 T. Everett
SUBSTITUTIONS
- 4 Stryzinski, 5 Husted, 11 Weldon, 12 Dilfer, , 23 Carter, 26 Green, 28 Buckley, 30 Turner, 31 Royster, 32 Rhett, , 47 Lynch, 53 E Brady, 55 Marts, 57 J Brady, 67 Sullivan, , 77 Wheeler, 79 Love, 83 Moore, 86 Armstrong, 87 Thomas, 88 Copeland, 91 K Wilson, 92 Price, 93 DuBose
DID NOT PLAY
- none
INACTIVE
- 43 Harris, 56 Nickerson, 60 Pyne, 70 McRae, 82 Green, 89 Bishop, 95 Powe
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
- BUCCANEERS: Erickson 3-20, Rhett 6-14, Workman 7-(-2).
- FALCONS: Heyward 18-87, George 2-1, Alexander 1-0, Pegram 2-(-3).
PASSING
- BUCCANEERS: Erickson 30-18-172-0-1, Dilfer 11-6-81-3-0, Weldon 6-6-58-0-0.
- FALCONS: George 35-23-269-2-2, Hebert 1-1-6-0-0.
RECIEVING
- BUCCANEERS: J.Harris 6-58, Rhett 5-40, Thomas 4-59, McDowell 4-27, Royster 3-16, Hawkins 2-40, Wilson 2-34, Copeland 2-22, Armstrong 2-15.
- FALCONS: Rison 7-77, Sanders 6-72, Mathis 6-71, Heyward 3-37, Emanuel 2-18.
INTERCEPTIONS
- BUCCANEERS: Everett 1-26, Dimry 1-0.
- FALCONS: Clark 2-95, Ross 1-0.
KICK RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Turner 7-151.
- FALCONS: Verdin 1-21.
PUNT RETURNS
- BUCCANEERS: Turner 2-8.
- FALCONS: Verdin 3-7.
SACKS
- BUCCANEERS: Wilson 1-4, Bussey 0.5-0, Curry 0.5-0.
- FALCONS: Smith 1-8, Matthews 1-5, Doleman 1-4, Goldberg 1-4, Geathers 1-2.
