Cousins throws for 276 yards and 4 TDs as Falcons beat Bucs 31-26 to take control of NFC South

Kirk Cousins threw for 276 yards and 4 touchdowns to thief nan Atlanta Falcons return sole possession of first spot of nan NFC South pinch a 31-26 triumph complete nan Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TAMPA, Fla. -- Kirk Cousins threw for 276 yards and 4 touchdowns to thief nan Atlanta Falcons return sole possession of first spot of nan NFC South pinch a 31-26 triumph complete nan Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected Sunday.

Kyle Pitts scored connected receptions of 36 and 49 yards and Cousins besides tossed TD passes of 30 yards to Darnell Mooney and 7 yards to Bijan Robinson to springiness nan Falcons (5-3) a two-game expanse of nan play bid betwixt nan section rivals.

Baker Mayfield threw for 330 yards and 3 TDs, but besides tossed a brace of costly interceptions. The Bucs had a chance to triumph it aft driving to nan Atlanta 33 successful nan closing seconds, nevertheless Mayfield's Hail Mary propulsion from nan 38 was caught by Rakim Jarrett down nan extremity area arsenic clip expired.

The Falcons improved to 4-0 wrong nan NFC South. The Bucs (4-4) besides mislaid 36-30 successful overtime astatine Atlanta connected Oct. 3, erstwhile Cousins threw for a career-high 509 yards pinch 4 TDs.

Mayfield, playing pinch injured receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, tossed a brace of TD passes to Cade Otton, including a 4-yarder that trimmed what was erstwhile a 14-point decifit to 31-26 pinch conscionable nether 7 minutes remaining. The Falcons took nan ball, and pinch thief from an 18-yard scramble by Cousins and a brace of fourth-down conversions held nan shot until Younghoe Koo missed a 46-yield section extremity pinch 1:01 left.

With Godwin retired for nan play and Evans expected to beryllium sidelined astatine slightest 3 games, nan Bucs are hoping a rejuvenated rushing onslaught and a mostly young group of playmakers that includes Otton, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer, Rachaad White and Bucky Irving will thief Mayfield support nan Bucs successful contention for a 4th consecutive section title.

White scored connected an 18-yard reception successful nan first half, but besides mislaid an early fumble that led to a touchdown by Atlanta. Mayfield, who leads nan NFL pinch 21 TD passes, has thrown 7 picks successful nan past 3 games aft only having 2 done Week 5.

Falcons: Played without information Justin Simmons (hamstring) and ILB Troy Andersen (knee), who were inactive. ... DL Ruke Orhorhoro (ankle) near successful nan 3rd 4th and did not return. RG Chris Lindstrom (knee) missed clip successful nan 4th quarter.

Buccaneers: WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring) departed successful nan 2nd quarter, but returned successful nan 2nd half. ... LB Lavonte David (ankle) vanished nan crippled aft leaving concisely successful nan 4th quarter.

Falcons: Host Dallas adjacent Sunday.

Buccaneers: astatine Kansas City adjacent Monday night.

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