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Falcons give up big lead twice in loss to Bucs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) works in the posket against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) works in the posket against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) works in the posket against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

By PAUL NEWBERRY / The Associated Press 5 min read

ATLANTA – Tom Brady took a knee, then headed toward the Atlanta Falcons’ sideline to exchange a few words with Matt Ryan. It all looked so familiar.

Yep, Brady did it again to Ryan and the Falcons.

Rallying Tampa Bay from a pair of 17-point deficits, Brady brought to mind his Super Bowl LI miracle by leading the Buccaneers on five straight scoring drives in the second half Sunday for a 31-27 victory in the Falcons’ home finale.

The stakes weren’t nearly as high at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the deficit wasn’t quite as daunting as that night in Houston in February 2017, but Brady’s latest blow to Atlanta took the Bucs (9-5) to the brink of their first playoff berth since 2007.

The Falcons (4-10) raced to a 17-0 advantage by halftime, then restored their margin to 24-7 after Brady finally guided the Bucs to a touchdown on the first possession of the second half. Turns out the 43-year-old quarterback in his first year with Tampa Bay was only getting warmed up.