Let’s face it. This game was way over at halftime when the score was 35-0. Matt Ryan lived up to his nickname of Matty Ice after he started the game with a pyrotechnic to the eye and finished with Maddenisque stat line of 21-34 for 286 yards (221 in the first half) and 3 touchdowns with a final score of 14-65.
As good as the Falcons offense was, their defense was on the same page with the Buccaneers held to 121 yards passing with 1 touchdown and only 60 yards rushing and the special teams highlight was Devin Hester’s record breaking kick return for a touchdown with “Neon” Deon Sanders in attendance.