FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith has been a model of composure as questions about his future swirl around the team.

Most were fueled by the team’s collapse in London after taking a 21-0 halftime lead only to lose to the Lions. But the Falcons, with a win over Tampa Bay that stopped their losing streak at five, are just one game off the NFC South lead heading into an away game against the Carolina Panthers.

Smith has remained focused as the Falcons are trying to turn things around.

“It’s not a problem at all,” Smith said when asked about the speculation. “This is a big-boy’s business. You’re judged on wins and losses, and we’ve got half of a season to play. I can assure you we’re doing everything in our power each and every week to (win).”

Smith, the winningest coach in franchise history, guided the Falcons to the playoffs in four of his first five seasons. Overall, he has a 62-42 record.

However, the Falcons appear to be in a downward spiral after reaching the NFC championship game after the 2012 season. The Falcons went 4-12 last season after being considered Super Bowl contenders.

So, after a 2-6 start to this season, when the team thought 2013 was just an anomaly, Smith found himself on the hot seat.

The Falcons are hoping the victory over Tampa Bay will launch them into a turnaround.

“We played good football,” Smith said. “In all three phases we were able to finish, something we have not been able to do.”

The Falcons defense gave up yardage, but was able to keep some of those break-backing explosive plays from getting out.

“Defensively, I really felt we (put) a good game plan in place,” Smith said. “The coaches did a very nice job.”

The Falcons finally showed a pulse with their pass rush.

“We were able to put pressure on the quarterback,” Smith said. “We hit him 11 times, sacked him four times and created some turnovers there in the second half. It was definitely a team win.”

The Falcons rushed for more than 100 yards for the fourth time this season. They are 3-1 when they rush for more than 100 yards.

The Falcons might have to lean on running back Steven Jackson and the revamped offensive line to lead a revival in the second half of the season.

“I thought Steven came out right from the beginning, and I think you saw how we started the game and what we tried to get accomplished,” Smith said. “You’ve got to win the line of scrimmage in the NFL, and I thought that we did that today.”

Defensive ends Kroy Biermann and Osi Umenyiora led the pass rush. Both had 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits.

“We had critical plays on the defensive side,” Smith said. “Those sacks in the first quarter, you don’t remember them. You remember them in the last two or three minutes of a football game. That’s when you really want to make the play when you’re rushing the passer.”

The Falcons are now 6-1 in games following a bye week under Smith. They clearly needed the break after the meltdown in London.

“For the players, I’m glad that we had the week to get them healthy,” Smith said. “For the coaches and people in the building, I think, we wanted to get back and play as quickly as possible. We’ve committed to these guys to doing everything in our power to put them in the best position to play. These guys just need to go out and make their plays.”

NOTES, QUOTES

–The Falcons opened the game in a jumbo formation with offensive tackle Gabe Carimi as an extra tight end.

The message to the Bucs was clear that the Falcons were determined to run the ball.

Running back Steven Jackson ripped off a 9-yard gain followed by an 8-yard gain. The tone was set and Jackson went on to rush for a season-high 81 yards on 16 carries and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.

He had a long run of 27 yards.

“I though the offensive line did a really good job out there,” Jackson said on Sunday “The three young offensive linemen that we have in the starting lineup along with the two veterans, I think they’ve got a really good feel for each other. They created some movement for me and we were able to get me some lanes so that I could get downhill.”

Overall, the Falcons rushed for 110 yards on 28 carries.

The Falcons were averaging 95.6 yards per game, which ranked 25th in the league.

–There is a chance Falcons wide receiver Drew Davis could play against Carolina on Sunday after he made it through his first week of practice with no issues.

Davis returned to the field on Nov. 3 after being out since July following foot surgery. The Falcons have up to 21 days from that date to add him to the active roster from the physically unable to perform list.

“We got him through the first week,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He went through it very well. He’s close to a full load.”

Davis, 25, is in his third season with the Falcons. He has 16 catches for 256 yards and three touchdowns in 32 career games and also has been a core special-teams player.

–Safety William Moore is eligible to begin practicing after missing the past six weeks with a shoulder injury.

Moore suffered the injury during a 41-28 loss at Minnesota on Sept. 28 and was placed on short-term injured reserve two days later. He’s missed five games.

Once Moore begins practicing he won’t be eligible to play in games for another two weeks, so he can’t return until the Nov. 30 game against Arizona at the earliest.

“He is progressing well,” Smith said. “We anticipate and are looking forward to getting him back on the field as soon as we can. He should be able to start working here pretty soon.”

The Falcons drafted Moore, 29, in the second round of the 2009 draft out of Missouri. He’s been a starter since his second season.

Second-year safety Kemal Ishmael has started the past five games in place of Moore.

–The Falcons started the same offensive line for the second straight game for just the third time this season.

There wasn’t a lineup change between the Tampa Bay and Minnesota games and the Chicago and Baltimore games. In all other games, there have been changes because of injuries.

All together, the Falcons started six different combinations.

In addition to going big with Carimi, the starters were left tackle Jake Matthews, left guard Justin Blalock, center James Stone, right guard Jon Asamoah and right tackle Ryan Schraeder.

“I thought our offensive line did a great job today,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “Having some continuity was really good for those guys.”

–The Falcons’ receivers continued to drop passes.

Julio Jones dropped a screen pass on the Falcons’ second possession, but on the next play Ryan and Jones hooked up for a 39-yard gain on a slant pattern.

Later in the drive on third down-and-goal from the 19, Ryan found Devin Hester opened in the end zone, but he dropped the pass

–Defensive linemen Osi Umenyiora (1.5), Kroy Biermann (1.5) and Jonathan Babineaux (one) had sacks for the defense.

“We had critical plays on the defensive side,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “Those sacks in the first quarter, you don’t remember them. You remember them in the last two or three minutes of a football game much more. That’s when you really want to make the play when you’re rushing the passer.”

Umenyiora and Biermann also had three quarterback hits each.

“We’ve been improving our rush and getting to the quarterback more and more,” defensive end Malliciah Goodman said. “We have not executed on the sacks, but today it showed. We were just being relentless.”

The defensive linemen also created a turnover.

Goodman force Bucs running back Charles Sims to fumble in the third quarter and defensive end Stansly Maponga recovered the ball.

–Falcons free safety Dwight Lowery knew he made an interception with 1:49 to play.

“He came over and said that he caught it,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We couldn’t see it from the view that we had, but he came over and said that he caught it. I thought with the new system in place that the league did a very good job of doing what they are supposed to do and they were able to overturn the play on the field.”

REPORT CARD VS. BUCS

–PASSING OFFENSE: B — Matt Ryan completed 20 of 31 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown. He had a passer rating of 96. He underthrew Julio Jones on a deep ball early in the first quarter and Jones and Devin Hester both had dropped passes. Jones finished with eight catches for 119 yards and had a 39-yard gainer. Roddy White was steady as he caught all six of the passes thrown his way for 72 yards and had the go-ahead touchdown reception.

–RUSHING OFFENSE: B — Steven Jackson rushed for a season-high 81 yards on 16 carries. He had a long of 27 yards. The Falcons rushed for 110 yards on 28 carries. It was the fourth time this season the Falcons rushed for more than 100 yards in a game. The Falcons opened some holes in the run game. All together, the Falcons have started six combinations. In addition to going big with Gabe Carimi at Jumbo tight end, the starters were left tackle Jake Matthews, left guard Justin Blalock, center James Stone, right guard Jon Asamoah and right tackle Ryan Schraeder.

–PASS DEFENSE: C — Defensive linemen Osi Umenyiora (1.5), Kroy Biermann (1.5) and Jonathan Babineaux (one) had sacks for the defense. “We had critical plays on the defensive side,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “Those sacks in the first quarter, you don’t remember them. You remember them in the last two or three minutes of a football game much more. That’s when you really want to make the play when you’re rushing the passer.” Umenyiora and Biermann also had three quarterback hits each. “We’ve been improving our rush and getting to the quarterback more and more,” defensive end Malliciah Goodman said. “We have not executed on the sacks, but today it showed. We were just being relentless.” Second-year cornerback Robert Alford had another penalty, but came up with the tipped pass that was intercepted by Dwight Lowery. Trufant dropped an interception that he likely could have taken back for a touchdown. Tampa Bay rookie wide receiver Mike Evans had seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. The Bucs also used their rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who had five catches for 30 yards and a touchdown. Safety Kemal Ishmael also had an interception.

–RUSH DEFENSE: D — The defensive linemen also created a turnover. Goodman force Bucs running back Charles Sims to fumble in the third quarter and defensive end Stansly Maponga recovered the ball. Paul Worrilow led the Falcons in tackles with 10 and he had a quarterback hit. Joplo Bartu finished with three tackles and Prince Shembo had one quarterback hit. The group helped to hold Tampa Bay’s running backs in check. Charles Sims, Michael James and Bobby Rainey where held to 53 yards on 18 carries.

–SPECIAL TEAMS: B-plus — Returner Devin Hester broke loose for a 48-yard kickoff return. Also, linebacker Nate Stupar had two tackles including a touchdown-saving stop. Kicker Matt Bryant made field goals for 37, 43, 44 and 33 yards. Matt Bosher averaged 48 yards on three punts. The coverage units let Bucs punt returner Marcus Thigpen break loose for a 53-yard return in the third quarter.

–COACHING: B — The offense came out and established the ground attack. Protecting against the deep passes that have plagued the defensive unit, the Falcons gave the Bucs receivers a lot of room to work underneath, but didn’t let them get open deep.