Game Information
Date: Sunday, January 1, 2012
Kickoff: 4:15 p.m. ET
Site: Georgia Dome (71,228)
2011 Records: Tampa Bay 4-11, Atlanta 9-6 Network Television: FOX
Play-by-Play: Dick Stockton, Analyst: John Lynch, Analyst: Jennifer Hale Bucs Radio: US 103.5, flagship station (103.5 FM, 620 AM) Play-by-Play: Gene Deckerhoff, Analyst: Dave Moore, Sideline: T.J. Rives Last Game: Tampa Bay lost at Carolina, 48-16; Atlanta lost at New Orleans, 45-16
NIKOS TAKE
I read the sides that support Morris, then I read the sides that are against him. I don’t know about you, but I’m confused. I can read both sides of the story over and over again, and switch my mind! They both make sense. Ultimately though, the bottom line is “Life isn’t fair”, and thats what it comes down to. It wasn’t fair Morris, who is a Great guy, and a good coach whose learning, had to deal with this plan of Youth over Experience to SUCH a degree that its actually embarrassing. I read that an anonymous GM made fun of the Bucs for actually boasting in the media guide that we have 20 guys on the roster who were never drafted. Its one thing to hit a diamond in the rough, but to expect it 20 times? Thats Stupid, and that my friends, is what the 2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are- Too many untalented players that we were told/sold/led to believe were great. When Pewter Report is predicting the Bucs will lose 41-13, thats bad.
Does anyone see any chance the Bucs can save grace?
No. Today will be the ultimate disgrace, the Falcons will pull their starters, and their backups will destroy us. That is what will get Morris Fired tomorrow instead of Wednesday or Friday. But overall, Friday at 5 PM is my guess.
All-Time Series
The Buccaneers lead the all-time series 19-17 after a 16-13 win in the first meeting this season. Since the NFC South was created in 2002, the Bucca- neers lead the series 10-9 with the Buccaneers sweeping the series in 2002, 2005 and 2007, on the way to NFC South titles. Tampa Bay is 12-8 all-time at home against the Falcons, including wins in five of the last eight meetings at Raymond James Stadium. The two teams first met in 1977, with Atlanta notching a 17-0 win at Tampa Stadium (11/27/77). The Bucs picked up their first win the next season, a 14-9 victory that evened Tampa Bay’s record at 2-2, marking the first time the club hit the .500 mark. Tampa Bay’s 48- 10 home victory to open the 1987 season represents the most points ever scored by a Buccaneer squad in the regular season, a mark that was later tied. Tampa Bay also posted a six-game winning streak in the series, begin- ning with a victory in 1997. In 2010, the Falcons won both meetings between the two teams, a 27-21 victory (11/7/10) at the Georgia Dome, as well as a 28-24 (12/5/10) win at Raymond James Stadium.
SERIES BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Regular Season Series:……………Tampa Bay leads series, 19-17
Home Record vs. Atlanta Falcons:………………………………………..12-8
Road Record vs. Atlanta Falcons:…………………………………………..7-9
Current Streak:………………………………… Buccaneers, one game (2011)
Buccaneers Longest Streak:……………………….. Six games (1997-2003)
Falcons Longest Streak:………………………………..Five games (2008-10)
Regular Season Point Total:………………… Buccaneers 742– Falcons 635
Most Points, Buccaneers:……………………. 48, Buccaneers 48-10 (1987)
Most Points, Falcons:…………………………………43, Falcons 43-7 (1991)
Most Points, both teams: ……………. 58, twice, last Falcons 30-28 (2003)
Fewest Points, Buccaneers: ………………………….0, Falcons 17-0 (1976)
Fewest Points, Falcons: …………………………. 0, Buccaneers 27-0 (2004)
Fewest Points, both teams: …………..17, twice, last Falcons 14-3 (2006)
AGAINST THE OPPOSITION
Below are highlights of how selected Buccaneers have performed during their careers against the Atlanta Falcons.
CB Ronde Barber: Recorded the 25th sack of his career at Atlanta (11/29/09), becoming just the second player in NFL history to record at least 25 sacks and 30 interceptions, while also recording nine tackles, two TFLs and one quarterback pressure… Scored his second touchdown of the year vs. Atlanta (12/16/07), returning an interception 29 yards for a score… Picked up a QB Byron Leftwich fumble and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown at Atlanta (11/18/07)… Finished game against the Falcons with eight tackles, one fumble recovery, one TFL and one pass defensed… Led the secondary with seven tackles and added one pass defensed vs. Atlanta (12/10/06)… Totaled nine tackles and one pass defensed at Atlanta (9/17/06)… Had a season-high and team-leading 13 tackles and one pass defensed vs. Atlanta (12/24/05)… Recorded his 41st career interception (9/25/11).
QB Josh Freeman: Threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, as he completed 20-of-29 at Atlanta (11/29/09).
RB LeGarrette Blount: Ran for 103 yards and one touchdown on 20 attempts (12/5/10).
WR Micheal Spurlock: Returned four kickoffs for a total of 209 yards, the longest of which he took back for 89 yards and a touchdown, and became the first Buccaneer in franchise history to return two kickoffs for 60 yards or more in a single game (11/7/10).
WHAT TO LOOK FOR…
– CB Ronde Barber
• With 224 games played, Barber needs to play in one more to pass Derrick Brooks (224 games from 1995-08) for the most games played in team history.
– K Connor Barth
• Barth has made 14 consecutive field goals and needs two more to tie Martin Gramatica (16 field goals from 10/9/00-12/3/00) and Michael Husted (16 field goals from 11/19/95-9/22/96) for most consecutive field goals made in team history.
– RB LeGarrette Blount
• Blount has 10 career rushing touchdowns and needs one more to surpass Michael Pittman (10 touchdowns from 2002-07) for the 11th-most rush- ing touchdowns in team history.
• Blount has 1,776 rushing yards and needs 70 more to surpass Jerry Eckwood (1,845 yards from 1979- 81,) for the 10th-most rushing yards in team history. • With three 100-yard rushing games, Blount needs one more to tie for the sixth-most 100-yard rushing games in a single season in team history.
– QB Josh Freeman
• Freeman has 3,318 yards passing this season and needs 237 more to pass Steve DeBerg (3,554 in 1984) for the third-most passing yards in a single season in team history.
– P Michael Koenen
• Koenen has 22 punts inside the 20 and needs one more to tie Reggie Roby (23 in 1995) and Ray Criswell (23 from 1987-88) for the ninth-most punts inside the 20 in team history.
– WR Mike Williams
• Williams has 14 career receiving touchdowns and needs one more to surpass Morris Owens (14 touch- downs from 1976-79) and Keenan McCardell (14 touchdowns from 2002-03) to tie for the ninth-most receiving touchdowns in team history.
– TE Kellen Winslow
• Winslow has 12 career touchdowns with the Buc- caneers and needs two more to tie WR Morris Owens (14 touchdowns from 1976-79) and Keenan McCa- rdell (14 touchdowns from 2002-03) for the 10th- most receiving touchdowns in team history.
• With 707 yards receiving this season, Winslow needs 24 more yards to surpass his own mark of 730 yards in 2010 for the fourth-most receiving yards among tight ends in a single season.
• With 2,321 receiving yards as a Buccaneer, Winslow needs 102 more yards to surpass Ron Hall (2,422 yards from 1987-93) for the second-most reciving yards by a tight end in team history.
LAST GAME RECAP
Carolina 48, Tampa Bay 16 (Dec. 24, 2011) CHARLOTTE – Playing the division-rival Carolina Panthers on Christmas Eve, the Tampa Bay Bucca- neers lost, 48-16, falling victim to a productive Pan- thers offense that took advantage of four Buccaneers turnovers. Carolina RB DeAngelo Williams put the Panthers on the board with an eight-yard scoring run on the game’s opening possession. Tampa Bay then fumbled the ball on its first play from scrimmage, and Carolina recovered at the Buccaneers’ eight- yard line. The Buccaneers’ defense held the Panthers to a field goal, but K Olindo Mare cleared his 21- yard attempt, putting Carolina up 10-0 early in the first quarter. The Buccaneers then narrowed the lead to 10-7, after QB Josh Freeman led the team on a 15-play, 9:20 drive – the longest for Tampa Bay of the season – which was capped off with a four-yard touchdown pass to WR Arrelious Benn. On the ensu- ing drive, Panthers QB Cam Newton put together a 91-yard play, throwing a deep pass to WR Brandon LaFell that LaFell took down the field for a touchdown, making the score 17-7. When the Buccaneers retook possession of the ball, they drove to the Carolina 24, where Freeman’s pass on to WR Sammie Strough- ter on third-and-seven came up just short of a first down. K Connor Barth then made a 42-yard field goal for the 17-10 score, but the Panthers extended their lead to 20-10 right before halftime with another Mare field goal. Tampa Bay opened the second half, but Freeman was intercepted early in the drive by S Jonathan Nelson, who returned the ball 20 yards to the Tampa Bay 32. Carolina then used the turnover to put up another seven points on a 22-yard touchdown run by Williams. The teams then traded punts before the Buccaneers made another costly turnover, this time as TE Kellen Winslow lost control of the ball and the Panthers took possession and scored on an 11- yard touchdown pass from Newton to RB Jonathan Stewart. The Buccaneers were unable to convert on fourth-and-one on their next drive, giving the ball back to Carolina. Newton then scrambled 49 yards for another Carolina touchdown, putting the score at 41-10. Buccaneers WR Sammie Stroughter then fumbled on the following kickoff return, which was recovered by Panthers CB Josh Thomas and returned to the Tampa Bay 8. Carolina TE Jeremy Shockey made the score 48-10 with an eight-yard touchdown reception from Newton, and while Freeman led the Buccaneers on an 80-yard drive for a touchdown on the following Tampa Bay possession, the team failed on a two-point conversion attempt, putting the score at 48-16, where the game would conclude.
LAST MEETING
Tampa Bay 16, Atlanta 13 (Sept. 25, 2011) TAMPA – In its first divisional game of the season, Tampa Bay put in a strong performance against the Atlanta Falcons, coming out with a 16-13 win while limiting the visiting team to a mere 30 rushing yards and never trailing throughout the entire game. The Falcons won the toss and elected to receive, but, on their opening drive, QB Matt Ryan was sacked by LB Dekoda Watson at the Atlanta 17, forcing a fumble that was recovered by CB Ronde Barber. However, the Buccaneers followed up with a turnover of their own, as QB Josh Freeman was intercepted in the end zone by S Thomas DeCoud. Tampa Bay did put up the first points of the game when K Connor Barth made a 49-yard field goal attempt near the end of the first quarter. The Falcons responded with a 32- yard field goal of their own on the ensuing posses- sion, but the Buccaneers immediately came back to retake the lead. Freeman marched the offense on an 80-yard drive where he went 7-of-7 for 72 yards passing, and added a one-yard rushing touchdown – the first of his career. The Tampa Bay defense caused more disruption during the next Atlanta possession, as DT Gerald McCoy and rookie DE Adrian Clay- born sacked Ryan for an 11-yard loss. Clayborn also forced a fumble on the play, which was recovered by DE Michael Bennett. The Buccaneers proceeded to convert that Falcons error into an additional three points with a 26-yard Barth field goal. With less than two minutes left before halftime, the Falcons had one final possession, but Ryan was intercepted by Bar- ber for Atlanta’s third turnover. The interception was the first of the season for Barber, but the 41st of his career, adding to his distinction as the only player in league history to have 40 or more interceptions and 25 or more sacks in a career. Tampa Bay contin- ued its high level of play in the second half, opening with a long drive for Barth’s third field goal of the evening and extending the lead to 16-3. LB Mason Foster ended the next Atlanta drive, recording a sack on third-and-five to force a punt, but Freeman threw a second interception attempting to find WR Arreli- ous Benn on a deep pass to start the fourth quarter. Three series later, the Falcons cut the Buccaneers’ lead to 16-10 after Ryan hit WR Julio Jones on a 49-yard pass play, followed by a TE Tony Gonzalez touchdown reception. The Buccaneers were held to a punt on their next drive, and the Falcons, with the ball again, made their way to the Buccaneers’ 5-yard line and looked to be in position to score. Bucca- neers DT Brian Price then made a key sack for a loss of 10 yards, pushing the Falcons back and forcing them to settle for a field goal three plays later. The Buccaneers offense retook the field, but found them- selves in a fourth-and-one situation at the Atlanta 44 with 1:49 on the clock. Freeman then executed a snap count which drew Falcons DT Corey Peters off- sides and gave Tampa Bay a first down to extend the drive. With the victory sealed, Freeman took a knee to allow time to expire.
SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
RB Haskel Stanback ran for two TDs, leading the Falcons to 17-0 win at Tampa Stadium (11/27/77)… QB Doug Williams hit TE Jim Obradovich on a 15-yard TD toss, lifting Tampa Bay to a 14-9 win (9/24/78)… Williams connected with WR Kevin House on a 71-yard scoring strike, rallying the Bucs to a 24-23 win (12/6/81)… The win vaulted them into first place in the NFC Central race… RB James Wilder ran for 125 yards and one score, leading Tampa Bay to 23-6 win in John McKay’s second-to-last game as Bucs head coach (12/9/84)… QB Steve DeBerg set a club record with five TD passes, igniting a season-opening 48-10 win (9/13/87)… Falcons racked up 33 points in the second quarter en route to a 43-7 win (11/17/91), the Bucs’ last game at Fulton County Stadium… Tampa Bay jumped out to 31-3 lead and holds on for 31-24 win in its initial appearance at Georgia Dome (10/31/93)… Mike Alstott’s career-long 47-yard touchdown run sparked a 199-yard rushing effort as Tampa Bay put a 31-10 drubbing on Atlanta in the Georgia Dome (11/9/97), with DT Brad Culpepper adding three sacks… Tampa Bay scored the last 19 points in a 19-10 victory in Raymond James Stadium (11/21/99), including 10 points in the final 58 seconds… Martin Gramatica’s 53-yard field goal with 58 seconds left gave the Bucs a 12-10 lead, and CB Donnie Abraham cemented the victory moments later with a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown… Tampa Bay’s defense forced four turnovers and WR Keyshawn Johnson caught two touchdown passes from QB Shaun King (11/5/00) as the Bucs won in the Georgia Dome for the second consecutive time… The third of three consecutive sacks in the second quarter knocked Atlanta QB Chris Chandler out of the game… Tampa Bay’s defense did not allow a touchdown for the third straight road contest and posted an interception return for a score for a club- record fourth straight game en route to a 20-6 win (10/6/02) at the Georgia Dome… The Buccaneers were led by LB Derrick Brooks, who became the first linebacker in NFL history with three interception returns for touchdowns in a single season… QB Brad Johnson threw four touchdown passes and Tampa Bay’s defense limited Atlanta QB Michael Vick to 134 total yards (125 passing and 9 rushing) as the Bucs rolled to a 34-10 victory at home (12/8/02)… Tampa Bay won the first meeting in 2003, a 31-10 win at Atlanta (9/21/03)… FB Mike Alstott had two touchdown runs and DT Warren Sapp caught a TD pass from QB Brad Johnson… Tampa Bay’s defense totaled five sacks and forced five turnovers vs. Atlanta (12/5/04) in a 27-0 home win… RB Cadillac Williams carried the offensive load amassing 129 yards, including 116 on the ground to lead Tampa Bay past Atlanta 30-27 (11/20/05)… Tampa blocked overtime field goal and Matt Bryant made game-winning 41- yard attempt with 41 seconds left in overtime to give the Bucs a 27-24 victory (12/24/05)… The Tampa Bay defense forced four turnovers, including a 41- yard fumble return for a touchdown by Ronde Barber in its 31-7 victory at Atlanta (11/18/07)… Micheal Spurlock returns the Buccaneers first-ever kickoff for a touchdown in the 37-3, NFC South clinching victory (12/16/07)… RB Earnest Graham recorded a career long 68-yard touchdown run helping the Bucs to a 24-9 win vs. Atlanta (9/14/08)… The Bucs defense held the Falcons without a pass completion until 6:27 left in the second quarter and QB Matt Ryan to only 3-of-15 passing for 29 yards in the first half… QB Josh Freeman completed 20-of-29 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns and TE Kellen Winslow caught seven passes for 81 yards, but the Falcons held on for a 20-17 victory at the Georgia Dome (11/29/09)… The Buccaneers special teams led the way, as WR Micheal Spurlock returned four kickoffs for 209 yards, including an 89 yard touchdown, but the Falcons were able to hang on and prevent Bucs QB Josh Freeman from putting together another fourth- quarter comeback on the season when RB LeGarrette Blount was stopped short of the goal line on 4th-and- one, allowing the Falcons to win 27-21 at the Georgia Dome (11/7/10)… Although the Buccaneers held a 10-point fourth quarter lead, the Bucs were stopped just short as QB Josh Freeman’s interception late in the fourth quarter stopped a potential game-winning drive (12/5/10)… K Connor Barth connected on three field goals and QB Josh Freeman recorded his first career rushing touchdown as the Bucs pulled out a 16-13 win (9/25/11).
MEET THE BUCS COACH-
In what may be Raheem Morris’ last game as Bucs coach, I felt it right to post his information here. Morris has some blame in this, but no way will anyone ever convince me that more than 1/3 of the blame is on him.
Raheem Morris — named the eighth head coach in team history on January 17, 2009 — is in his third season leading the Buccaneers in 2011.
Morris is currently in his second stint with Tampa Bay, having first joined the team’s defensive coaching staff in 2002. He served on staff from
2002-05, then spent the 2006 season as Kansas State’s defensive coordinator before returning to the Buccaneers to serve as the defensive backs coach from 2007-08. Morris has quickly risen through the coaching ranks during his time with Tampa Bay, serving as defensive quality control coach in 2002, defensive assistant in 2003 and assistant defensive backs coach from 2004-2005 before taking over as defensive backs coach in 2007. During his first stretch with the club, he worked closely with former Buccaneers defensive backs coach and current Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin in the development of one of the NFL’s top secondaries.
Morris, the youngest head coach in the League in 2010, also directed the season’s youngest team, with Tampa Bay’s final 53-man roster featuring 29 players in their rookie, first or second years in the NFL. In fact, the Morris-led “Young Bucs” became the first team since the merger in 1970 to start 10+ rookies and finish the season with a winning record, as the team turned in an exciting 10-6 performance, narrowly missing a playoff berth. The seven-game swing from a 3-13 season in 2009 marked the best single-season turnaround in team history and the best turnaround in the NFL for 2010. Six of the Buccaneers’ wins were on the road, including a 21-0 shutout at San Francisco in Week 11 and a 23-13 victory over NFC South rival New Orleans in Week 17 to close the season.
While Tampa Bay was beset by injuries throughout the 2010 season, with eight starters—including some of the team’s most productive players—being placed on Injured Reserve, Morris’ “next man up” philosophy was fully embraced by his team. Rookies and backups heeded Morris’ call, filling in and stepping up whenever needed, as evidenced by the offensive line, which fielded eight different starting lineups throughout the season, but still kept QB Josh Freeman on his feet and paved the way for a 1,000- yard rushing season by rookie RB LeGarrette Blount,
while also earning Madden Most Valuable Protector honors in Week 16.
In his inaugural head coaching season in 2009, Morris took over the defensive reins after the first 10 games of the season and dramatically improved the performance on that side of the ball. Prior to its 11th game, the team ranked 27th in overall defense (378.9 ypg), 32nd in rushing defense (168.9 ypg), 14th in pass defense (209.4 ypg) and 31st in scoring defense (29.4 ppg). In the final six weeks of the season under Morris’ direction, the team ranked 15th in overall defense (356.0 ypg), tied for 26th in rush defense (140.3 ypg), 12th in pass defense (204.0 ypg) and most impressively, ninth in scoring defense (17.7 ppg). The Buccaneers finished the year 10th overall in pass defense, marking the sixth time in seven seasons with Morris on the staff that the Buccaneers defense ranked in the Top 10 in pass defense.
Morris led the Buccaneers to two wins in the final three contests of the 2009 campaign, including a 20-17 upset victory over the eventual Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints at the Superdome on December 27. Trailing 17-0 in the second quarter, Tampa Bay scored 20 unanswered points to win in overtime. The 17-point comeback tied for the second-largest comeback in team history, and it also marked the first time in NFL history that a team that was 10 or more games below .500 defeated a team that was 10 or more games above .500.
Morris has helped shape one of the NFL’s best defenses over the past decade. Since 1996, the Buccaneers defense has produced 36 Pro Bowlers, the second- most in the NFL, and finished as the NFL’s top-ranked defense twice (2002 and 2005). The past 14 seasons have also seen the Buccaneers defense rank in the Top 10 on 11 occasions and in the Top 5 eight times.
During his nine seasons in Tampa Bay, the Bucs have finished ranked in the Top 5 in the NFL in total defense five times, including No. 1 rankings in 2002 and 2005. Additionally, the defense finished as the top-ranked pass defense on three occasions (2002, 2004 and 2007) and seventh or better in seven of nine seasons with Morris on the staff. In 2002, his first season as a coach in the NFL, Morris helped guide the Buccaneers top-ranked defense as they captured the franchise’s first world title in Super Bowl XXXVII.
In Morris’ final season as the defensive backs coach in 2008, Tampa Bay’s defense finished the year ranked fourth in the NFL against the pass. At the time, the accomplishment marked the fifth time in six seasons with Morris on the staff that the Buccaneers defensive unit ranked in the Top 5 in pass defense. After Tampa Bay fell to 19th in the NFL in pass defense in 2006, Morris led a resurgence during his return in 2007, guiding the Buccaneers pass defense to the League’s top ranking en route to the NFC South division title. The Buccaneers secondary helped limit opposing quarterbacks to a 76.2 rating in 2007, ranking eighth in the NFL after previously ranking 29th in 2006.
In his lone season with Kansas State in 2006, Morris coordinated a defense that displayed improvement in several statistical categories from the previous season, including total defense, scoring defense and pass defense. He oversaw a Wildcat defense that included seven players who received conference recognition, including two first-team All-Big 12 honorees and one second-team selection.
Morris joined Tampa Bay after spending the 2000 and 2001 seasons as defensive backs coach at Hofstra University. He also spent time in the fall of 2001 with the New York Jets, serving a defensive minority internship.
Morris began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Hofstra in 1998, where he was responsible for coaching the offensive scout team, developing scouting reports and handling video breakdown and computer input and analysis. He then landed at Cornell University as defensive backs coach and special teams assistant for the 1999 season.
Morris played collegiately as a safety at Hofstra from 1994-1997, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. Morris, who hails from Irvington, New Jersey, was presented the Key to the City in his hometown during “Raheem Morris Day” on June 5, 2009.
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