Bucs’ special teams up and down against Falcons
Sunday’s game proved to be a mixed bag for Tampa Bay special teams after last week’s debacle, when the Bucs had both a field goal attempt and a punt deflected in a 22-17 setback at Cleveland. On the positive side, rookie kicker Patrick Murray converted from 51 yards as the Bucs took a 3-0 advantage, scoring in the opening quarter for the first time in five games.

Late in the third quarter, wide receiver Marcus Thigpen took a 52-yard punt by Matt Bosher and dashed 53 yards to the Atlanta 34-yard line, setting up Josh McCown’s 1-yard scoring flip to rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins.

“Of course, I think I should have scored,’’ said Thigpen, whose only other punt returns this year resulted in four fair catches. “I wanted to come in and give my team a spark. I finally had an opportunity to make something happen — and we got a big play out of it. Still, we lost the game. All we can do is come back to work tomorrow and get better.”

But there were breakdowns, too. McCown’s TD pass to Evans came with only 46 seconds remaining in the half, but Devin Hester promptly took Michael Koenen’s subsequent kickoff 6 yards deep in the end zone and returned it 48 yards, leading to the second of Matt Bryant’s four field goals and a 13-10 halftime lead.

Koenen averaged only 30.3 yards on his three punts, while Bosher’s three punts averaged 48.0 yards, helping the Falcons to an average starting position at their 30-yard line for 10 possessions.