ATLANTA — The final play summed up the entire day for the Atlanta Falcons. Really, the entire season.
With one last chance to pull out a victory that had been snatched away in the final minute, Desmond Ridder saw Drake London breaking loose over the middle and delivered a pass right on the numbers.
Only one problem. London was engulfed by defenders, who smothered him 3 yards shy of the end zone as time ran out to preserve the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 29-25 victory Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“We should’ve come out of there with the win,” Ridder said, “but obviously we didn’t.”
The Falcons came in with a .500 record that was good enough for sole possession of first place in the NFC South. With a chance to take firmer control of the division race, Atlanta let it slip away.