Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) controls the offense during their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014, in Tampa, Fla.TAMPA, Fla. – Standing in a winning locker room for the first time in nearly two months, Matt Ryan stopped short of saying the Atlanta Falcons are back on track after ending a five-game losing streak.
There’s still a lot of winning to do to get back into the NFC South race, but beating the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the second time was a start Sunday.
The 27-17 victory was the first for the Falcons (3-6) since they embarrassed their NFC South rivals 56-14 on Sept. 18, a game in which the Bucs (1-8) lost quarterback Josh McCown to a thumb injury.
And as strange as it might sound, it kept the team’s hopes of creeping back into the division race alive.
“It’s been too long since we won a game. It’s always better when you come out on the right end, so we’ll enjoy it,” Ryan said after throwing for 219 yards and one touchdown without an interception. “But we also know with the way the division is shaking out, we’re right in the mix.”