The Falcons left Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the numbers in their favor but not the result. Atlanta controlled possession, ran more plays, and piled up first downs, yet it was Tampa Bay that walked away with the win. Baker Mayfield threw three touchdowns, including a perfect strike to rookie Emeka Egbuka in the final minute, to give the Buccaneers a 27 to 24 victory in Week 1. For Atlanta, it felt like another game that slipped away despite doing most things right. The Falcons held the ball for nearly two-thirds of the contest, converted consistently, and dictated tempo. They leaned on their ground game and moved the chains with efficiency. But football rewards finishers, and Mayfield was the one who finished. The first half was a grind, with Atlanta driving the field methodically and Tampa Bay staying close with explosive throws. The Falcons’ highlight came in the fourth quarter when rookie quarterback Michael Penix led a marathon 91-yard drive lasting nearly nine minutes. He capped it with a fake, a scramble, and a touchdown that gave Atlanta a 24 to 20 lead with just over two minutes left. The home crowd roared, sensing a season opening statement. But Mayfield had other plans. After waiting through the Falcons’ long drive, he stepped back onto the field and calmly worked down the sideline. He found Mike Evans for a key third-down conversion, then turned to Egbuka, the Buccaneers’ first-round pick. With the pocket collapsing, Mayfield lofted a perfectly placed throw that Egbuka hauled in for his second touchdown of the day. It was the type of throw and catch that define games precise, decisive, and unstoppable. From a personal perspective, it looked like Mayfield doing what he has always done: taking control when it mattered most. This time he delivered to a rookie who has already shown he will be a great addition to the Tampa Bay offense. Egbuka’s breakout performance gives the Buccaneers a fresh weapon to pair with a future Hall of Famer in Mike Evans. The combination of proven veteran and explosive rookie gives Mayfield options that make the offense dynamic. That is why this Tampa Bay team looks far and away like the most experienced and dynamic offense in the NFC South. With Evans’ consistency, Egbuka’s potential, and Mayfield’s proven edge as a competitor, the Buccaneers showed they can win tight games and seize control in key moments. Mayfield finished with three touchdown passes and the kind of composure that has defined his career resurgence. “That felt like forever standing on the sideline,” he said of the Falcons’ lengthy drive, “but we knew we’d get one more chance, and we finished it.” His words matched his actions — confident, steady, and decisive. For Atlanta, the sting was obvious. Penix played well, leading long drives and showing poise in his debut. But the Falcons’ inability to close the game after nearly nine minutes of clock control was decisive. A defense that had been solid most of the day faltered in the only moment it could not. The game will be remembered less for the yardage charts and more for the swing at the end. The Falcons looked like the better team on paper. The Buccaneers left with the win that matters in the standings. For Tampa Bay, it is validation. They have a quarterback who knows how to win, a veteran receiver still in his prime, and a rookie already flashing as a difference-maker. For Atlanta, it is frustration and the reminder that dominating possession means little without stopping the last drive. Week 1 will not define either season, but it did provide an early NFC South statement. Tampa Bay has the quarterback, the weapons, and the confidence to be dangerous, and Mayfield proved it again in Atlanta.