Wilson Helps Falcons Pass Road Test, 35-7 : NFC: Veteran quarterback throws for five touchdowns in victory over Buccaneers.

Atlanta Coach Jerry Glanville turned to veteran quarterback Wade Wilson on Sunday, and the Falcons responded with their first road victory of the season.

Wilson, making his first start for the Falcons, passed for 324 yards and a personal-best five touchdowns as Atlanta defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 35-7.

“This is my 12th year in the league, and I’m playing like I don’t have anything to lose,” said Wilson, a last-minute replacement for Billy Joe Tolliver, who had a sore throwing shoulder.

“When coach told me I was going to start, I was a little surprised,” he added. “I’m proud to have any records, but I’m real proud Atlanta gave me a chance in July when I was walking the streets.”

Wilson completed 19 of 26 passes for the Falcons (6-8), who were 0-6 on the road before Sunday.

Tolliver played in the fourth quarter after Atlanta went ahead by four touchdowns.

“I admire his toughness and courage, but I felt his shoulder would not allow him to be as accurate as he might be,” Glanville said of Tolliver.

Michael Haynes scored on receptions of eight and 60 yards, and Andre Rison, Mike Pritchard and Deion Sanders also caught touchdown passes from Wilson, who has had four of the best games of his career against Tampa Bay.

The loss was the ninth in 10 games for the Buccaneers (4-10), who have lost 10 or more games in 10 consecutive seasons.

“We got beat by a faster team. It showed in almost every area,” said Buccaneer Coach Sam Wyche. “They put good speed guys all over the field on both sides of the ball and it paid off for them.”

The Falcons never trailed. Wilson broke a 7-7 tie with a 20-yard touchdown pass play to Rison, who had five catches for 59 yards.

Rison has caught more passes in his first four seasons than any other NFL player. Rison, the only receiver with 80 or more receptions in each of the last three seasons, finished the day with 295--three more than Al Toon and Roger Craig had in their first four years.

The Atlanta receiver also went over the 1,000-yard plateau for the second time and became the eighth player to amass 4,000 yards in four seasons. The others are Lance Alworth, Gary Clark, Bob Hayes, Charley Henningan, Steve Largent, Mike Quick and Jerry Rice.

“When you have guys who run as fast as Mike Haynes and Drew Hill and I do, you’ve got to give us some cushion,” Rison added. “They tell me I set some records, but it won’t hit me until I sit down and think about it later.”

Wilson, who had three 300-yard games against the Buccaneers while he was with the Minnesota Vikings, gave Atlanta a 21-7 lead on a 38-yard touchdown pass play to Pritchard. Haynes made the score 28-7 when he caught a pass 30 yards downfield and ran away from Tampa Bay’s Milton Mack to complete a 60-yard scoring play.

Sanders, who leads the NFL in kickoff returns but got only one opportunity to run one back Sunday, got into the act during the fourth quarter with his first NFL touchdown reception.

Wilson found the Falcon cornerback/wide receiver streaking up the left sideline on a 37-yard play that ended the Atlanta’s scoring with 8:55 to play.

Tampa Bay avoided a shutout by driving 80 yards in 10 plays to score on Reggie Cobb’s one-yard run in the second quarter. Vinny Testaverde completed five of five passes for 67 yards during the drive.

Testaverde finished 11 of 14 for 121 yards with one interception.