The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off the 2025 NFL season with a hard-fought 23-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on September 7, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, in a thrilling NFC South divisional matchup that showcased Baker Mayfield’s clutch performance and Tampa Bay’s resilient defense. This article provides a comprehensive breakdown of the game, focusing on player stats, game summary, and head-to-head analysis, sourced from verified data provided by ESPN, NFL.com, CBS Sports, FOX Sports, Pro-Football-Reference.com. With an attendance of 71,610 and a game duration of 3 hours and 45 minutes, the Buccaneers’ win marked their first victory of the season, improving their record to 1-0 (1-0 away), while the Falcons fell to 0-1 (0-1 home). Below, we dive into the game, highlighting individual performances, critical moments, and team context.

Game Highlights

Sport: Football
League: NFL (National Football League)
Matchup: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons Match Player Stats
Game Covered:
- Game 1: September 7, 2025
Series Result: Buccaneers won the matchup 1–0

Series Overview: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons, 2025 NFL Season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0, 1-0 away) defeated the Atlanta Falcons (0-1, 0-1 home) 23-20 on September 7, 2025, in a tightly contested game that highlighted both teams’ offensive firepower and defensive grit. Baker Mayfield completed 17 of 32 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, leading a crucial fourth-quarter drive to secure the win. Atlanta’s Michael Penix Jr. threw for 298 yards and one touchdown, but his fumble and the Falcons’ 2-of-3 field goal efficiency (66.7%) proved costly. Tampa Bay outgained Atlanta 268-367 total yards (167 passing, 101 rushing vs. 298 passing, 69 rushing), converting 8-of-15 third downs (53.3%) compared to Atlanta’s 3-of-6 (50.0%). The Buccaneers’ defense, led by Lavonte David’s 9 tackles, limited Atlanta to 69 rushing yards, while Tampa Bay’s lone turnover (a fumble recovered by Atlanta) was offset by their red-zone efficiency.

Game 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23, Atlanta Falcons 20 (September 7, 2025)

Game Summary

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rallied from an early 10-0 deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 23-20 on September 7, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta opened the scoring with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Michael Penix Jr. to Bijan Robinson in the first quarter (7-0), followed by a 41-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo (10-0). Tampa Bay responded in the second quarter with Baker Mayfield’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Bucky Irving and a 48-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin, tying the game at 10-10. In the third quarter, Atlanta regained the lead with Koo’s 23-yard field goal (13-10), but Mayfield’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka gave Tampa Bay a 17-13 edge. The fourth quarter saw Atlanta take a 20-17 lead with Penix’s 4-yard rushing touchdown, confirmed after a review, but Tampa Bay answered with Mayfield’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Egbuka and McLaughlin’s missed extra point, tying it at 20-20. In the final minute, Tampa Bay’s defense forced a three-and-out, and Mayfield led a 65-yard drive, capped by a 35-yard field goal by McLaughlin with 0:05 remaining, securing the 23-20 victory. Tampa Bay’s 8-of-15 third-down conversions (53.3%) and 1-1 fourth-down conversions (100.0%) were pivotal, while Atlanta’s 1-0 fumble recovery and two successful challenges couldn’t overcome their 69 rushing yards.

Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring

First Quarter: ATL 7, TB 0
Second Quarter: TB 10, ATL 3 (Halftime: TB 10, ATL 10)
Third Quarter: TB 7, ATL 3 (TB 17, ATL 13)
Fourth Quarter: ATL 7, TB 6 (Final: TB 23, ATL 20)

Key Player Stats: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Passing:

Baker Mayfield (QB #6): 17/32, 167 YDS, 5.2 AVG, 3 TD, 0 INT, 1-8 SACKS, 89.3 QBR, 99.3 RTG. Mayfield’s clutch fourth-quarter drive included a 14-yard TD pass to Egbuka.
Team: 17/32, 159 YDS, 5.2 AVG, 3 TD, 0 INT, 1-8 SACKS, 99.4 RTG.

Rushing:

Baker Mayfield (QB #6): 5 CAR, 39 YDS, 7.8 AVG, 0 TD, 20 LONG. Mayfield’s scrambling kept drives alive.
Bucky Irving (RB #7): 14 CAR, 37 YDS, 2.6 AVG, 0 TD, 9 LONG.
Rachaad White (RB #1): 2 CAR, 14 YDS, 7.0 AVG, 0 TD, 11 LONG.
Emeka Egbuka (WR #2): 1 CAR, 9 YDS, 9.0 AVG, 0 TD, 9 LONG.
Sean Tucker (RB #44): 1 CAR, 2 YDS, 2.0 AVG, 0 TD, 2 LONG.
Team: 23 CAR, 101 YDS, 4.4 AVG, 0 TD, 20 LONG.

Receiving:

Emeka Egbuka (WR #2): 4 REC, 67 YDS, 16.8 AVG, 2 TD, 30 LONG, 6 TGTS. Egbuka’s two TDs, including a 30-yarder, were game-changers.
Mike Evans (WR #13): 5 REC, 51 YDS, 10.2 AVG, 0 TD, 14 LONG, 8 TGTS.
Sterling Shepard (WR #17): 3 REC, 39 YDS, 13.0 AVG, 0 TD, 19 LONG, 6 TGTS.
Bucky Irving (RB #7): 4 REC, 8 YDS, 2.0 AVG, 1 TD, 9 LONG, 4 TGTS.
Rachaad White (RB #1): 1 REC, 2 YDS, 2.0 AVG, 0 TD, 2 LONG, 1 TGT.
Cade Otton (TE #88): 0 REC, 0 YDS, 0.0 AVG, 0 TD, 0 LONG, 3 TGTS.
Team: 17 REC, 167 YDS, 9.8 AVG, 3 TD, 30 LONG, 30 TGTS.

Fumbles:

No Fumbles Lost: Tampa Bay avoided fumbles.
Team: 0 FUM, 0 LOST, 0 REC.

Defense:

Tykee Smith (S #23): 11 TOT, 7 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 0 TFL, 1 PD, 0 QB HTS. Smith led tackles.
Zyon McCollum (CB #27): 10 TOT, 7 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 1 TFL, 0 PD.
SirVocea Dennis (LB #8): 10 TOT, 7 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 2 TFL, 1 PD.
Lavonte David (LB #54): 9 TOT, 3 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 1 TFL, 0 PD.
Jamel Dean (CB #35): 6 TOT, 6 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 0 TFL, 3 PD.
Team: 77 TOT, 43 SOLO, 1 SACK, 7 TFL, 6 PD, 4 QB HTS, 0 TD.

Interceptions:

No Interceptions: Tampa Bay’s defense failed to force a turnover.

Kick Returns:

Sean Tucker (RB #44): 3 NO, 81 YDS, 27.0 AVG, 35 LONG, 0 TD.
Team: 3 NO, 81 YDS, 27.0 AVG, 35 LONG, 0 TD.

Punt Returns:

Kameron Johnson (WR #19): 1 NO, 54 YDS, 54.0 AVG, 54 LONG, 0 TD. Johnson’s return set up a scoring drive.
Team: 1 NO, 54 YDS, 54.0 AVG, 54 LONG, 0 TD.

Kicking:

Chase McLaughlin (#4): 1/2 FG, 50.0%, 48 LONG, 2/3 XP, 5 PTS. McLaughlin’s 48-yard FG tied the game.
Team: 1/2 FG, 50.0%, 48 LONG, 2/3 XP, 5 PTS.

Punting:

Riley Dixon (#9): 4 NO, 205 YDS, 51.3 AVG, 0 TB, 2 In 20, 62 LONG. Dixon pinned Atlanta deep twice.
Team: 4 NO, 205 YDS, 51.3 AVG, 0 TB, 2 In 20, 62 LONG.

Inactives: WR Chris Godwin (ankle), C Graham Barton (hamstring).

Team Stats: 24 1st Downs, 8-15 3rd Down (53.3%), 1-1 4th Down (100.0%), 268 Total Yards, 167 Passing, 17/32 Comp/Att, 5.2 Yards per pass, 0 INT, 101 Rushing, 23 Att, 4.4 Yards per rush, 8-75 Penalties, 0 Turnovers, 33:12 Possession. Tampa Bay’s offense averaged 5.2 yards per play.

Key Player Stats: Atlanta Falcons

Passing:

Michael Penix Jr. (QB #9): 27/42, 298 YDS, 7.1 AVG, 1 TD, 0 INT, 1-9 SACKS, 84.7 QBR, 93.2 RTG. Penix’s 50-yard TD pass to Robinson was a highlight.
Team: 27/42, 289 YDS, 7.1 AVG, 1 TD, 0 INT, 1-9 SACKS, 93.2 RTG.

Rushing:

Tyler Allgeier (RB #25): 10 CAR, 24 YDS, 2.4 AVG, 0 TD, 5 LONG.
Bijan Robinson (RB #7): 12 CAR, 24 YDS, 2.0 AVG, 0 TD, 6 LONG.
Michael Penix Jr. (QB #9): 6 CAR, 21 YDS, 3.5 AVG, 1 TD, 12 LONG. Penix’s 4-yard TD run was overturned on review.
Team: 28 CAR, 69 YDS, 2.5 AVG, 1 TD, 12 LONG.

Receiving:

Bijan Robinson (RB #7): 6 REC, 100 YDS, 16.7 AVG, 1 TD, 50 LONG, 7 TGTS. Robinson’s 50-yard TD catch opened scoring.
Kyle Pitts Sr. (TE #8): 7 REC, 59 YDS, 8.4 AVG, 0 TD, 14 LONG, 8 TGTS.
Drake London (WR #5): 8 REC, 55 YDS, 6.9 AVG, 0 TD, 12 LONG, 15 TGTS.
Ray-Ray McCloud III (WR #34): 3 REC, 51 YDS, 17.0 AVG, 0 TD, 24 LONG, 5 TGTS.
Casey Washington (WR #82): 3 REC, 33 YDS, 11.0 AVG, 0 TD, 19 LONG, 6 TGTS.
KhaDarel Hodge (WR #4): 0 REC, 0 YDS, 0.0 AVG, 0 TD, 0 LONG, 1 TGT.
Team: 27 REC, 298 YDS, 11.0 AVG, 1 TD, 50 LONG, 42 TGTS.

Fumbles:

Michael Penix Jr. (QB #9): 1 FUM, 0 LOST, 0 REC.
Bijan Robinson (RB #7): 0 FUM, 0 LOST, 1 REC. Penix’s fumble was recovered by Robinson.
Team: 1 FUM, 0 LOST, 1 REC.

Defense:

Jessie Bates III (S verlo#3): 7 TOT, 2 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 0 TFL, 0 PD. Bates led tackles.
A.J. Terrell Jr. (CB #24): 6 TOT, 6 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 0 TFL, 2 PD.
Xavier Watts (S #31): 6 TOT, 6 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 0 TFL, 2 PD.
Divine Deablo (LB #0): 6 TOT, 1 SOLO, 0.5 SACKS, 1 TFL, 1 PD, 1 QB HT.
Kaden Elliss (LB #55): 5 TOT, 3 SOLO, 0 SACKS, 0 TFL, 1 PD.
Team: 53 TOT, 28 SOLO, 1 SACK, 2 TFL, 7 PD, 3 QB HTS, 0 TD.

Interceptions:

No Interceptions: Atlanta’s defense failed to force a turnover.

Kick Returns:

Natrone Brooks (CB #35): 3 NO, 68 YDS, 22.7 AVG, 25 LONG, 0 TD.
Jamal Agnew (WR #14): 2 NO, 57 YDS, 28.5 AVG, 29 LONG, 0 TD.
Team: 5 NO, 125 YDS, 25.0 AVG, 29 LONG, 0 TD.

Punt Returns:

Jamal Agnew (WR #14): 2 NO, 29 YDS, 14.5 AVG, 17 LONG, 0 TD.
Team: 2 NO, 29 YDS, 14.5 AVG, 17 LONG, 0 TD.

Kicking:

Younghoe Koo (#6): 2/3 FG, 66.7%, 41 LONG, 2/2 XP, 8 PTS. Koo’s missed FG in the fourth kept the game close.
Team: 2/3 FG, 66.7%, 41 LONG, 2/2 XP, 8 PTS.

Punting:

Bradley Pinion (#13): 3 NO, 140 YDS, 46.7 AVG, 0 TB, 2 In 20, 59 LONG. Pinion pinned Tampa Bay deep twice.
Team: 3 NO, 140 YDS, 46.7 AVG, 0 TB, 2 In 20, 59 LONG.

Inactives: No major inactives reported for Atlanta; full lineup active. ascended

Team Stats Comparison

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 24 1st Downs, 8-15 3rd Down (53.3%), 1-1 4th Down (100.0%), 268 Total Yards, 167 Passing, 17/32 Comp/Att, 5.2 Yards per pass, 0 INT, 101 Rushing, 23 Att, 4.4 Yards per rush, 8-75 Penalties, 0 Turnovers, 33:12 Possession.
Atlanta Falcons: 23 1st Downs, 3-6 3rd Down (50.0%), 0-0 4th Down (0.0%), 367 Total Yards, 298 Passing, 27/42 Comp/Att, 7.1 Yards per pass, 0 INT, 69 Rushing, 28 Att, 2.5 Yards per rush, 3-20 Penalties, 1 Turnover, 26:48 Possession.

Critical Moments

First Quarter (ATL 7, TB 0): Michael Penix Jr.’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Bijan Robinson capped a 6-play, 75-yard drive, giving Atlanta a 7-0 lead.
Second Quarter (TB 10, ATL 3): Baker Mayfield’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Bucky Irving and Chase McLaughlin’s 48-yard field goal tied the game at 10-10, followed by Younghoe Koo’s 41-yard field goal (10-10).
Third Quarter (TB 7, ATL 3): Mayfield’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka gave Tampa Bay a 17-13 lead after Koo’s 23-yard field goal.
Fourth Quarter (TB 6, ATL 7): Penix’s 4-yard touchdown run put Atlanta ahead 20-17, but Mayfield’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Egbuka and McLaughlin’s 35-yard field goal secured the 23-20 win with 0:05 left.

Head-to-Head Analysis

Tampa Bay’s 23-20 victory marked their 7th win in the last 10 meetings with Atlanta, improving their head-to-head record to 32-29 since 1970. The Buccaneers’ 268 total yards (167 passing, 101 rushing) were outgained by Atlanta’s 367 yards (298 passing, 69 rushing), but Tampa Bay’s 8-of-15 third-down conversions (53.3%) and 0 turnovers compared to Atlanta’s 1 turnover (fumble) were decisive. Tampa Bay’s defense, with 7 tackles for loss and 1 sack, limited Atlanta to 69 rushing yards, while their 4.4 yards per carry outpaced Atlanta’s 2.5. Atlanta’s two successful challenges overturned key calls, but their 2-of-3 field goal efficiency (66.7%) and 3-20 penalties hindered their comeback.

Game Standouts