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The Atlanta Falcons managed to get back on a track Sunday with a 34-29 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Who’s up and who’s down in the win?
Up
Matt Bryant
The Falcons have been set at the kicker position since Bryant came to Atlanta as he’s made clutch kick after clutch kick. On Sunday the 43-year-old drilled a 57-yarder that gave the Falcons a 34-29 lead with 1:16 left in the game, but he injured himself in the process. Atlanta really can’t afford to lose him for an extended period of time.
Matt Ryan
If the Falcons defense is able to get stops against the New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals, then Ryan is in the MVP race. He connected on 12 straight passes to start the game — tying a career-high — and finished with 354 yards and three touchdowns on 31 of 41 passing. It’s the third time in four games Ryan has thrown for at least 350 yards and three scores. Remember all those scorching takes on Ryan after the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles?
Austin Hooper
The third-year tight end set a career-high in catches against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5 and followed that performance up by tying that mark against the Bucs. He hauled in nine more receptions for 71 yards and a nine-yard touchdown. Hooper’s found his groove.
Down
Jordan Richards
Richards is really good at two things: getting trucked by ballcarriers and being bad in coverage. Injuries be damned, there’s no logical explanation why the safety is seeing the field as much as he has been.
Vic Beasley
There’s not much to say about the former first-rounder at this point. Beasley inexplicably allowed Jameis Winston to escape on what should’ve been a sure sack. Other than that, the Clemson product was a nonfactor for most of the afternoon.
Dan Quinn
We know you wasted a pick in trading for Richards, but please stop putting him on the field.
Who’s up and who’s down for you?