For the 2025 NFL season, digital team reporter Terrin Waack will provide notable stats, facts and quotes from the most recent Atlanta Falcons game to consume with the support of Miller Lite.
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20, on Sunday in their regular-season opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of 71,610 ticket fans.
STATS TO CHEERS OVER
-- The very first series featured a three-play scoring drive from the Falcons, as running back Bijan Robinson turned a short pass from quarterback Michael Penix Jr. into a 50-yard touchdown.
- The last time the Falcons scored a touchdown on their first drive of a season was in 2012, when quarterback Matt Ryan completed an 8-yard pass to wide receiver Julio Jones. They went on to beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-24.
- The 50-yard touchdown reception was Robinson's second receiving touchdown of at least 50 yards. His tally of two ties the third-year player for most by a Falcons running back all-time. William Andrews, Antone Smith and Harmon Wages also had two apiece.
- Robinson reached a max speed of 19.29 mph on his 50-yard touchdown, according to Next Gen Stats.
- The 50-yard completion set a new career long for Penix.
-- Penix threw for 298 yards. He has thrown for at least 200 yards in each of his four career starts so far, making him just the second Falcons quarterback to do so. Mike Moroski had six straight such games from 1983-84.
-- With 124 yards from scrimmage, Robinson now boasts 19 games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage since joining the NFL in 2023. That's a new league-high total. He passed Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley's count of 18 in the same timeframe.
-- Cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. became the 10th Falcons rookie to record a sack — he was officially credited with a half-sack — in his NFL debut. The last to do so was edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie in 2022. The first was defensive tackle Dan Benish in 1983. Sacks were not tracked as an official stat until 1982.
FACTS TO SIP ON
-- The Falcons forced the Buccaneers to go three-and-out on Tampa Bay's first two offensive drives.
- The last time the Falcons forced a three-and-out on consecutive drives was in their 2024 Week 16 win against the New York Giants.
- The last time the Falcons forced a three-and-out on the first two drives of a game was in their 2022 Week 9 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
- The last time the Falcons forced a three-and-out on the first two drives of a season was in their 2015 Week 1 win against the Eagles.
-- The Falcons drew only three roughing-the-passer penalties all last season. They drew two during their 18-play scoring drive in the fourth quarter alone.
-- For the seventh time in Falcons-Buccaneers history, the two NFC South teams were tied at halftime. The score was 10-10 through two quarters. Atlanta is 5-2 in those games.
-- The Falcons are 1-7 in season openers since 2018. That sole win was in 2023 against the Carolina Panthers. Atlanta's last trip to the playoffs was in 2017. It won the opener against the Chicago Bears that year.
QUOTING RAHEEM MORRIS
On how he makes sure the emotions from this loss do not snowball…
"We were that close today. I don't think anything is causing panic. I think our guys will go find a way to win the game next week."
QUOTING THE FALCONS
Edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie
On the defense forcing back-to-back three-and-outs to start…
"The goal was kind of to represent our style at the beginning of the game. We just have to find a way to close the game, like how to play with the same type of intensity the whole game."
Tight end Kyle Pitts Sr.
On quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s diving attempt at a touchdown…
"I think it was great to see him dive like that. He looked a little taller than he is when he was stretching like that. Great to see him just put his body on the line for his teammates."
QUOTING THE OPPONENT
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles
On the defense limiting Falcons running back Bijan Robinson to 24 yards rushing…
"He's a heck of a back. They've got two of them. They've got two 'hellafied' backs that are going to wreak havoc on this league. For us to stop them from running the ball and making them check it down, that was huge for us."
Quarterback Baker Mayfield
On his impressions of Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr...
"I told him after the game that he's going be a problem in this league for a long time. I think he's a great player. He's decisive, goes through his reads, trusts his guys. He's young, but he's got it."
GAME LEADERS
Top 3 rushers
- Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield | 5 carries for 39 yards
- Buccaneers: Bucky Irving | 14 carries for 37 yards
- Falcons: Bijan Robinson | 12 carries for 24 yards
Top 3 receivers
- Falcons: Bijan Robinson | 6 receptions for 100 yards, 1 touchdown
- Buccaneers: Emeka Egbuka | 4 receptions for 67 yards, 2 touchdowns
- Falcons: Kyle Pitts Sr. | 7 receptions for 59 yards
Top 2 passers
- Falcons: Michael Penix Jr. | 27-of-42 for 298 yards, 1 touchdown (sacked once)
- Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield | 17-of-32 for 167 yards, 3 touchdowns (sacked once)
Top 3 tacklers
- Buccaneers: Tykee Smith | 11 total tackles, 7 solo (1 pass breakup)
- Buccaneers: SirVocea Dennis | 10 total tackles, 7 solo (1 pass breakup)
- Buccaneers: Zyon McCollum | 10 total tackles, 7 solo
LAST CALL
The Falcons (0-1) hit the road for a Week 2 game on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. With an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC, it'll be the Falcons' first prime-time appearance of 2025.
The Vikings will play the Chicago Bears on "Monday Night Football" to close out Week 1.
Get an inside look at the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Week 1, presented by Grady.
