Falcons vs. Buccaneers: a quick look at the series history

The Falcons are wrapping up their 2020 season tomorrow with a road game against Tom Brady and a giant, pass blocking tub of avocado ice cream. With any luck, nothing embarrassing will happen, nobody will be seriously injured, and the Falcons won’t see their draft position plummet. But remember, these are the Falcons, so anything is possible.

Let’s take a quick look at the series history before kickoff tomorrow.

The Falcons currently hold a 28-26 lead in this series, having won 6 of the last 8 matchups. Before the Buccaneers beat the Falcons in late November 2019 and again last month, they hadn’t beat them since September of 2016.

These teams first played on November 27, 1977, a thrilling 17-0 Falcons victory. Haskel Stanback took it to the house twice in that game, both 1-yard rushes. Interestingly, that game came in the middle of Stanback’s best year as a professional: He’d rack up 1,134 all-purpose yards that season, including 6 touchdowns. Here’s to you, Haskel!

These teams last played nearly 2 weeks ago in a Week 15 game that the Falcons led by 17 points at halftime. Brady and company rallied back in the second half, but the Falcons still led by 3 with just over 6 minutes to play. But then the predictable thing happened: Brady connected with Antonio Brown on a 46-yard touchdown pass, putting the Buccaneers ahead 30-27. After the extra point, the Falcons needed to score a touchdown to win and they just couldn’t make it happen. The ensuing drive went incomplete pass, sack, incomplete pass, incomplete pass, and the Falcons turned the ball over on downs. From there, the Buccaneers were able to run out the clock and cement their come from behind victory. In short, the Falcons got Tom Brady’d. Again.

Your thoughts about the series history, Falcoholics?