If there is any hope from this miserable season, it’s been the play of rookie quarterback Josh Freeman.

It’s not just fans and pundits who have been impressed by Freeman. It’s also Freeman’s teammates, specifically wide receiver Antonio Bryant, documents Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

“He’s getting better every week,” Bryant said of Freeman, who bounced back from a shaky effort a week ago against New Orleans to keep the Bucs alive in what proved to be a 20-17 loss to the Falcons.

Freeman played at almost an elite level against the Falcons, who were on the receiving end of a 20-for-29 passing effort in which Freeman threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

Freeman also was sacked once, and just as he has on several occasions already this year, he fumbled the ball while being sacked. This time, however, teammate Cadillac Williams was there to save him.

Freeman also ran two times for 14 yards, but it was his throwing performance (he finished the game with a 118.5 passer rating) that had the Bucs buzzing again.

“You saw right there on those two plays what he can do,” said Bryant, who had to make an adjustment against cornerback Tye Hill and come back on the ball to make his touchdown catch.

That’s about the only thing to look forward to the rest of the season for Joe: To see how Freeman develops.