Atlanta won the toss and elected to defer. The Bucs got the ball first and made quick work of getting the game's first score on a Patrick Murray 36-yard field goal.
Atlanta answered with a field goal of their own on their first possession with kicker Matt Bryant connecting on a 49-yarder.
The first touchdown of the game would come not from Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan, but instead at the hands of Falcons' receiver Mohamed Sanu. Sanu completed a 51-yard pass downfield to Atlanta's Julio Jones for the score, making it 10-3 early in the second quarter.
After going three and out, the Bucs would be forced to punt and give the ball back to the Falcons' offense. Atlanta would score on another Julio Jones touchdown grab on that next possession to extend the Falcons' lead 17-3 with under eight minutes to play in the half.
The Bucs moved the ball well down the field on their ensuing possession and got inside the 10-yard line with the help of a defensive pass interference penalty on Falcons' C.J. Goodwin. Kicker Patrick Murray would make the score 17-6 right inside the two-minute warning.
With 1:36 left to play in the first half, the Falcons got the ball back and drove down the field. Atlanta's Matt Bryant would connect on a 36-yard field goal to put the Falcons up 20-6 at halftime.
The Falcons will receive the ball to start the second half.
