TAMPA, Fla. -- Live injury updates, game notes and updates straight from the Raymond James Stadium press box throughout the game.
- Interim Head Coach Emmitt Thomas, a long time NFL assistant, coached his first NFL game as a head coach today against the Buccaneers.
- Falcons wide receiver Roddy White had one catch for four yards, leaving him just shy of 1,000 yards on the season. His next catch will make him the first 1,000-yard receiver for the Falcons since 1999 (Terance Mathis).
- Today's game was played in extremely windy conditions, with sustained winds of 20 mph and gusts exceeding 40 mph.
- The Buccaneers took a quick 7-0 lead on just the third play from scrimmage, when Falcons quarterback Chris Redman was picked off by Ronde Barber, who took the errant pass 29 yards for a touchdown.
- INJURY UPDATE: Running back Jerious Norwood injured his right ankle with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter after a 29-yard run along the left sideline. He was pushed out of bounds and fell awkwardly. He was attended to by trainers for several minutes before being helped to the bench. He was able to return to the game on the next Falcons' offensive series.
- Bucs kick returner Michael Spurlock broke a dubious long-standing Buccaneers record with 6:09 left in the first quarter when he took a Michael Koenen kickoff 90 yards for the first kickoff return for a touchdown in Tampa Bay franchise history. The kickoff return touchdown came on the 1,865th kickoff return in Bucs franchise history.
- Defensive end Chauncey Davis logged his second sack of the season late in the first quarter, dropping Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia for a 5-yard loss.
- Falcons defensive end John Abraham registered his team-leading eighth sack of the season early in the second quarter. The sack was Abraham's first in four games, with his last sack also coming against the Buccaneers at the Georgia Dome on Nov. 18. Abraham is now five sacks shy of his season-high (13), which he set in 2001 as a member of the New York Jets.
- Kicker Morten Andersen logged his 560th career field goal when he split the uprights on a 33-yard attempt in the first quarter. The field goal was the 47-year-old Andersen's 20th on the season.
- Cornerback DeAngelo Hall nabbed his fifth interception of the season and the 17th of his four-year career when he stepped in front of a Jeff Garcia pass late in the second quarter. Hall is now tied for ninth place on the Falcons' all-time interception list with defensive back Tom Hayes.
- INJURY UPDATE: Cornerback Chris Houston left the game late in the second quarter with soreness in his left knee. He did not return to the game.
- INJURY UPDATE: Abraham left the game early in the third quarter after he took a hit to the knee. Abraham walked off the field under his own power, but he was unable to return to the game. He was replaced in the game by Davis.
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-BUCS GAME:
- GAMEDAY: All the coverage from the Falcons-Bucs game
- GAME RECAP: Falcons fall to Bucs, 37-3
- STATS AND PLAY-BY-PLAY: NFL.com Game Center
- GAME NOTES: Updates and injury news from the Raymond James Stadium press box
- INACTIVES AND STARTERS: Inactives and starters from Week 15
- QUOTABLE: Thoughts on the game from Falcons players and coaches
- VIDEO: Interim Head Coach Emmitt Thomas
- VIDEO: Quarterback Chris Redman
- VIDEO: Falcons-Bucs Highlights
