Falcons’ Blowout of Buccaneers Features a Record Return by Devin Hester

Devin Hester high-stepped to an N.F.L. record with his 20th career return touchdown, Julio Jones caught two scoring passes and the Atlanta Falcons beat the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 56-14, on Thursday night.

Atlanta scored all of its points in the first three quarters. Tampa Bay did not put up a point until midway through the fourth.

Hester ran back a punt 62 yards down the left side midway through the second quarter to give the Falcons a seven-touchdown lead. He has 14 career punt return touchdowns, five scores on kickoffs and one on a fumble return.

The previous record was held by the Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, a former Falcon who was working the game as a television analyst. Sanders was on the video board smiling and raising his arms as the public address announcer told the Georgia Dome crowd about Hester’s achievement.

The Falcons tied a team record for largest halftime lead at 35 points. They were up, 42-7, against Tampa Bay on Jan. 1, 2012.Hester, who spent the first eight years of his career with the Chicago Bears before signing as a free agent with Atlanta, copied Sanders’s renowned high step, putting his left arm up beside his helmet after he ran past punter Michael Koenen to cover the last 20 yards. Hester scored earlier in the second on a 20-yard reverse.