TAMPA, Fla. — For the first time in a long time, the Dirty Birds are cleaning up in division play.
With a new guy on the sideline and a new guy behind center, the Atlanta Falcons have a spotless record against NFC South foes as they approach midseason — along with a winning mark overall as the franchise seeks to end a six-year skid of losing campaigns and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Kirk Cousins threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, where the first-place Falcons held off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win 31-26 and take control of the NFC South race.
“It’s always great to get away with a division win,” said Raheem Morris, who’s in his first season as Atlanta’s head coach and led the Bucs from 2009-11. “We talk about outrunning the South, and the guys have absolutely bought into what we want to do.”
Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts scored on receptions of 36 and 49 yards, and Cousins also tossed touchdown passes of 30 yards to wide receiver Darnell Mooney and 6 yards to running back Bijan Robinson to give the Falcons (5-3) a sweep of the season series with Tampa Bay (4-4), the three-time reigning division champion.