Buccaneers Build Lead, Hang On

Craig Erickson passed for 318 yards and four touchdowns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers built a 31-3 lead Sunday over the Atlanta Falcons before hanging on for a 31-24 victory by stopping the Falcons on downs at the Tampa Bay nine with 50 seconds remaining.

Erickson’s touchdown passes covered 42 yards to Vince Workman, five yards to Reggie Cobb and 60 and 44 yards to Horace Copeland.

Cobb left the game with 1:08 left in the first half because of a sprained knee. He was carried off on a stretcher, although the injury did not appear to be serious.

Cobb rushed for 75 years in 18 carries before he was injured.

The 44-yard touchdown pass play to Copeland, who got behind Deion Sanders, gave Tampa Bay (2-5) its 31-3 lead with 2:21 remaining in the third. But the Falcons (2-6) started to rally.

Tony Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the Atlanta 47. On the next play, Bobby Hebert passed to Andre Rison for a 53-yard touchdown play.

Atlanta’s defense held, and Smith got another scoring drive going with a 51-yard punt return to the Tampa Bay nine. After one incompletion, Hebert passed to Rison for the touchdown to make it 31-17.

The Falcons cut the lead to the final margin on their next possession when Hebert passed to Mike Pritchard for a five-yard touchdown with 9:37 remaining.

Atlanta’s last drive reached the nine before Hebert failed to complete a fourth-down pass.

Of the Falcons’ rally, Erickson said: “They are a very feisty team.”