The Atlanta Falcons stopped LeGarrette Blount short on fourth-and-1 from the 2-yard line with less than three minutes left and held on for a 27-21 home victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a matchup of NFC South leaders Sunday.

Michael Turner rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns and Matt Ryan completed 24 of 36 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown for Atlanta. Ryan is 17-1 as a starter at home and has won 13 straight starts at the Georgia Dome.

The Falcons (6-2) extended their lead to 27-14 on Matt Bryant's second field goal of the day, a 41-yard kick with 46 seconds left in the third quarter.

But Micheal Spurlock returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown to cut into the lead, and Josh Freeman drove the Bucs (5-3) within two yards of their fifth comeback win of the season until Blount was stopped short on fourth down.

Blount had 46 yards on 13 carries and Freeman was 11 for 21 for 189 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Mike Williams had four catches for 89 yards and a score and Arrelious Benn caught his first career touchdown pass for the Bucs.

Tony Gonzalez caught eight passes for 72 yards and backup tight end Michael Palmer caught a touchdown pass for the Falcons.