Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images. Pictured: Matt Ryan
The Atlanta Falcons collapsed late in a game against Tom Brady.
It wasn’t a Super Bowl at stake, and odds are Atlanta wasn’t going to win the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. But a cover was well within reach until Matt Ryan started throwing it to the other team.
Back-to-back possessions ended with a pick-six in the fourth quarter, turning a 35-25 deficit into 48-25 in the span of 5:10 of game time.
Atlanta, a 13-point underdog at most books, entered the fourth quarter trailing 28-25 and found way to lose by 23.
It was a big day for Brady, who threw for five touchdown on 24-of-36 passing for 276 yards. After one possession in the third quarter, Tampa Bay held a 28-10 lead. But Atlanta responded with touchdown drives to Calvin Ridley and Cordarrelle Patterson to cut the lead to three.
A 12-yard touchdown from Brady to Chris Godwin extended the lead to 10 before Ryan’s miscues ended any hopes of a win or backdoor cover.
The total flew over 51.5.
At PointsBet, 69% of bets were on the Buccaneers but 52% of the total handle was on Atlanta in what appeared to be a bit of a Pros vs. Joes market.
Following the win, Tampa Bay heads into a Week 3 road test against the Los Angeles Rams before Brady makes his first return to New England in Week 4 on Sunday Night Football against the Patriots.
Atlanta hits the road again to face the New York Giants in Week 3.