Final: Falcons One Win Away From History

Both Tony Gonzalez and Matt Ryan stated on Wednesday that one goal to end this season would be to finish with a winning record, giving the franchise its first back-to-back winning seasons since the team began playing in 1966.

The Falcons now stand one win a way and next week’s opponent is the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers, albeit a team that the Falcons needed a last-minute touchdown pass to defeat in their earlier meeting.

The Bucaneers (3-12 after an upset win over the Saints) have played relatively well since Josh Freeman became their starting quarterback and head coach Raheem Morris took over the defensive coordinator’s duties. However, the Falcons appear to be on a roll. They’ve won two straight to move to 8-7.

A made field goal here or there and we could be talking about a playoff team. But that’s spilled milk, as they say.

By final margin, Sunday’s 31-3 win over Buffalo was the Falcons’ second most impressive of the season after Oct. 11’s 45-10 mauling of San Francisco on the road. Buffalo has a pitiful offense but credit the Falcons’ defense for making it look that way. They recorded two interceptions, a fumble that they turned into a defensive score and sacks. Basically, the window in which Buffalo had a meaningful chance to win the game was very limited from the game’s opening minutes.

As has been the case all season, the Falcons encountered more injuries and that could affect their chances next week against Tampa Bay. They might have to sign a punter or a place kicker on an emergency basis if Michael Koenen (head) and/or Matt Bryant (hamstring) are unable to perform. Those are key duties, as the Falcons have painfully learned.

In addition, two offensive starters — tight end Tony Gonzalez (calf) and left tackle Sam Baker (hamstring) — left the game and did not return. The offense began the day without staters Michael Turner at running back and right guard Harvey Dahl. Playing without four offensive starters, as happend in the Falcons’ worst loss of the season 34-7 against Philadelphia, is not easily done.

But one gets the sense that these Birds have righted the ship, even if it has come too late to play in the postseason.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Roddy White had a monster performance on Sunday with 139 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches. Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood combined for more than 100 yards rushing. And Ryan, to use one of Head Coach Mike Smith’s favorite words, was very efficient in throwing for three touchdowns and no interceptions to produce a 103.3 rating, his third highest of the season.

The Falcons are 2-5 on the road and the Bucs are tied with NFC South division champion at 17-17 in the final minute of regulation.

If nothing else, it’ll definitely be worth watching.

MORE FALCONS-BILLS COVERAGE:

• GAMEDAY LIVE: Complete Falcons-Bills coverage from AF.com
• GAME RECAP: John Manasso takes a look at some of the key moments
• GAME CENTER: Stats and more from NFL.com
• FIRST TAKE: Daver Archer chats with some of the key contributors
• MULTIMEDIA: Highlights and more player interviews from Falcons-Bills
• J. MIKE’S MISSIVES: Additional thoughts from the AF.com Managing Editor
• THE BEAT BLOG: Quarter-by-quarter updates from AF.com’s John Manasso
• GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Falcons-Bills game
• TRANSCRIPTS: Postgame thoughts from Falcons players | Bills
• INACTIVES: Game inactives and starters from Sunday afternoon
• PHOTOS: Images from the Falcons 31-3 win over the Buffalo Bills
• FORUMS: Talk about the game with other fans on FalconsLIFE