Tampa Bay ends tough season on high note

Tampa Bay ends tough season on high note: "ATLANTA — Compared to the last five miserable weeks, Tampa Bay rookie running back Doug Martin sensed something different this time.

Martin got all the proof he needed when the Buccaneers, though out of the playoffs for the fifth straight year, needed just 2 minutes to respond to a fourth-quarter touchdown by Atlanta.

"I could see it in everybody's eyes out there," Martin said. "They weren't going to let that happen. Everybody just started to show up."

Martin rushed for 142 yards, Josh Freeman and Mike Williams connected on a short touchdown pass and Tampa Bay snapped a five-game losing streak to end the season with a 22-17 victory Sunday.

Despite falling short of their postseason goals again, the Bucs at least were able to leave the Georgia Dome feeling some self-respect.

That was hardly the case last season, when they suffered a 10th straight loss in a Falcons rout and learned the next day that Raheem Morris had been fired as head coach.

Atlanta, just like this year, was on its way to the playoffs."

'via Blog this'