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 Tampa Bay defenders, who smothered him 3 yards shy of the end zone as time ran out to preserve the Buccaneers’ 29-25 victory on Sunday.
“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 to lead the NFC South. With a chance to take firmer control of the division race, Atlanta let it slip away.
Ridder threw for a career-best 347 yards, but also had two crucial first-half turnovers that led to nine points for Tampa Bay.
Now, there’s a three-way tie atop the league’s weakest division, with the Falcons, Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints all at 6-7 with four weeks remaining in the regular season.
While a wild card is still in the mix, it’s more likely to be winner-take-all for the playoff spot that goes automatically to the division winner, no matter their record.
