2022 Sport Preview: Buccaneers-Falcons, Week 18

The very best play an NFL group can run normally loses a yard. It is referred to as the ‘Victory Formation,’ and it is a easy kneel-down by a group with a lead with a view to kill the remaining seconds on the sport clock. The opposing group primarily does nothing.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head to Atlanta in Week 18 to tackle the Falcons in each group’s regular-season finale, and in some respects it is a game-long equal of the Victory Formation. The Buccaneers are in possession of the NFC South title and the fourth seed within the convention playoff subject, and there may be nothing that may occur in Week 18 to vary that. Nonetheless, the Buccaneers don’t plan to easily kneel the season out and the Falcons definitely will not be standing idly by.

Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles made it clear on Monday that he plans to begin his regulars, and that Sunday’s recreation is a chance to fine-tune some areas of the group’s execution and to construct momentum heading into the playoffs. Tampa Bay is raring to trip a three-game successful streak into the postseason, and to complete the 2022 marketing campaign with a successful file. The 6-10 Falcons, in the meantime, are persevering with the event of quite a lot of younger gamers and are working laborious to complete their very own season sturdy.

“We all know that we won’t be within the playoffs this yr, however what we talked about is that we wish to end these final two video games sturdy,” stated rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder, who has began the Falcons’ final three video games. “End it for one thing good for the long run.”

Atlanta already took care of half of that objective, defeating the visiting Arizona Cardinals, 20-19, in Week 17 on a 21-yard stroll off subject objective by Younghoe Koo on the finish of a powerful 12-play drive on which Ridder accomplished all three of his passes. Ridder has but to throw both a landing or an interception however his completion proportion and passer ranking has improved in every successive begin, peaking final week at 73.1% and 90.1, respectively.

Atlanta isn’t asking an excessive amount of of their third-round rookie at this level, as a substitute counting on one of many league’s most potent dashing assaults. Led by one other rising rookie, fifth-rounder Tyler Allgeier, the Falcons picked up 132 yards on the bottom towards Arizona and are third within the NFL with a mean of 159.0 dashing yards per recreation. Different NFL newcomers who’re making Atlanta’s future look vivid embrace first-round wideout Drake London, who has a team-high 66 receptions for 746 yards and 4 touchdowns, and second-round edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie, who has 2.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits and two compelled fumbles.

The Falcons’ protection ranks twenty ninth in yards allowed and twenty third in factors allowed however has been considerably extra stingy of late. After permitting roughly 25 factors per recreation by way of the primary 11 video games of the season, Atlanta has given up simply 19 per contest over its final 5 outings. Relentless defensive lineman Grady Jarrett has racked up a team-leading 6.0 sacks to go together with 11 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits, and third-year cornerback A.J. Terrell continues to become one of many NFL’s finest at his place.

The Buccaneers, in the meantime, will probably be attempting to show that the explosiveness they displayed on offense in a 478-yard efficiency towards the Panthers may be maintained, making them a severe menace within the playoffs. Together with his two beginning tackles in place for the primary time since November, Tom Brady had time to throw and he ripped off three lengthy landing passes to Mike Evans throughout a 432-yard afternoon. Evans, the NFC Offensive Participant of the Week, and Chris Godwin mixed for 327 receiving yards because the Bucs’ passing assault lastly resembled the unit that had led the NFL in passing over the earlier two seasons.

How lengthy Brady and tackles Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs, amongst different core veterans, will play on Sunday in Atlanta stays to be seen. It’s potential that Bowles will select to carry out a number of gamers coping with late-season accidents, and it is also potential he’ll select a sure time to place others on the sideline. That stated, the Buccaneers are hungry for a ninth victory and are hoping they’ll pull out the Victory Formation yet one more time through the 2022 common season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) at Atlanta Falcons (6-10)

Sunday, January 8, 1:00 p.m. ET

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (capability: 71,000)

TV Broadcast Crew: Adam Amin (play-by-play), Mark Schlereth (analyst), Kristina Pink (reporter)

Radio: 98Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM), Flagship Station

Radio Broadcast Crew: Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (analyst), T.J. Rives (reporter)

From 1977 by way of final season, Tampa Bay and Atlanta performed one another 57 occasions, and whereas every group has had an occasional sizzling streak within the collection, the head-to-head file has hardly ever strayed too removed from lifeless even. Actually, when the Buccaneers defeated the Falcons in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 13 final December, finishing a season sweep, it precipitated the collection result in change fingers for the eighth time total. The Buccaneers now have the higher hand, 29-27, having gained 5 in a row and 6 of the final seven.

The Buccaneers will go for his or her third straight season sweep in Atlanta on Sunday, and in the event that they succeed they may match the longest successful streak for both group within the collection. The Buccaneers additionally gained six in a row from 1997-2003, a streak that bridged the Buccaneers’ swap from the outdated NFC Central to the brand new NFC South in 2002 and made Atlanta and Tampa Bay division mates. For the reason that Bucs and Falcons turned fellow South denizens, the Bucs have a slight 21-20 edge within the collection. Atlanta’s longest successful streak within the head-to-head battle with Tampa Bay is 5, achieved twice, as soon as from 2018-10 and once more from 2016-18.

The newest assembly was in Tampa in Week 5, with the Buccaneers holding on to a 21-15 victory. Tampa Bay managed the motion for 3 quarters and used two Leonard Fournette touchdowns to take a 21-0 lead into the ultimate interval earlier than Atlanta stormed again with two touchdowns. After an Olamide Zaccheaus landing catch made it a one-score recreation, the Bucs’ offense was capable of drain the ultimate 4:38 from the clock with one lengthy drive.

The Bucs’ two wins in 2021 have been each by double-digit margins. In Week at Raymond James Stadium, the Buccaneers bought 5 landing passes from Tom Brady, together with two every to Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski – plus Mike Edwards’ two fourth-quarter pick-sixes as an exclamation in a 48-25 victory. Within the rematch in in Atlanta, Chris Godwin set a group single-game file with 15 catches and Gronkowski as soon as once more discovered the tip zone twice in Tampa Bay’s 13-point win. Russell Gage, who’s now a Buccaneer, caught 11 passes for 130 yards for the Falcons.

Previous to retaking the collection led final yr ,the Buccaneers had been on prime with a 24-22 benefit halfway by way of the 2016 season earlier than Atlanta reeled off 5 straight victories in a streak that included sweeps in 2017 and 2018. With at the least 30 factors scored in every of its final 5 victories whereas storming again to the highest, Tampa Bay has elevated its the all-time scoring benefit within the collection, with 1,323 factors in these 57 video games in comparison with 1,241 for the Falcons.

Of their run to the Tremendous Bowl championship in 2020, the Buccaneers gained eight straight spanning the common season and the postseason, and so they downed the Falcons twice within the closing three weeks of the common season, scoring a complete of 75 factors. Tampa Bay gained, 31-27, at Atlanta in Week 15 after which took the rematch in Tampa by a 44-27 margin. The primary win required a wild comeback after the Falcons raced out to a 17-0 halftime lead, with Tom Brady throwing for 330 yards and two touchdowns within the second half. The second recreation at Raymond James Stadium was much less anxious, because the Buccaneers led from wire to wire, however included one other big day by Brady, who threw for 399 yards and 4 touchdowns.

The Buccaneers got here near taking each halves of the collection in 2019, successful by a 35-22 rating in Atlanta and taking a 22-16 lead into the fourth quarter within the Week 17 rematch in Tampa. Nonetheless, Matt Ryan led a game-tying drive within the closing three minutes of that contest, resulting in Younghoe Koo’s 33-yard subject objective as time expired in regulation. The Buccaneers gained the time beyond regulation coin toss however misplaced the sport on the primary play of the additional interval, as Jameis Winston’s final move for Tampa Bay was picked off and returned 27 yards for a landing by Deion Jones.

Each of the video games in 2018 went right down to the wire, neither ending nicely for the Buccaneers. In Week Six in Atlanta, Tampa Bay rallied from a 15-point deficit to make it a 31-29 recreation with 4 minutes to play on Peyton Barber’s five-yard landing catch. The Falcons then tacked on a subject objective to make it a five-point recreation with simply over a minute to play however Winston bought the guests again into scoring vary with consecutive completions of 18, 18 and 19 yards to DeSean Jackson, Mike Evans and Adam Humphries. With seven seconds left and the ball at Atlanta’s 21, the Bucs tried a difficult play wherein Winston started to scramble up the center after which all of a sudden tried a lateral to Humphries. The ball ended up on the turf earlier than Evans scooped it up and bought a one-hopper off to Jackson, who appeared to have a path to the tip zone pylon alongside the left sideline. Nonetheless, Jackson could not haul it in and time expired on a 34-29 Falcons victory.

Within the Week 17 rematch, at Raymond James Stadium, the Bucs gave up a 10-point halftime lead and fell behind by 11 within the fourth quarter earlier than as soon as once more rallying, this time taking the lead with 5 minutes to play on a 19-yard Chris Godwin landing catch. That was an excessive amount of time to go away Ryan, nonetheless, and he hit Jones on a pair of 16-yard passes to get the ball into subject objective vary. Matt Bryant gained it as time expired with a 37-yarder.

·    Buccaneers huge receiver Julio Jones is the all-time main pass-catcher in Falcons historical past. Jones, who performed for Atlanta from 2011-20 after being drafted sixth total, caught 848 passes throughout his tenure with the group for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns.

·    Keith Armstrong, the Buccaneers’ particular groups coordinator, crammed the identical position in Atlanta for greater than a decade (2008-19). He was additionally on the Falcons’ teaching employees from 1994-96, teaching safeties and the secondary.

·    Huge receiver Russell Gage is in his first season as a Buccaneer after spending his first 4 seasons in Atlanta. The Falcons drafted Gage out of LSU within the sixth spherical in 2018, and over the subsequent 4 years he appeared in 61 video games with 21 begins and caught 193 passes for two,065 yards and 9 touchdowns.

·    In the meantime, punter Bradley Pinion is in his first season in Atlanta after enjoying the earlier three in a Buccaneers uniform. Pinion performed in 47 video games for the Buccaneers, posting a gross punting common of 43.6 yards and likewise serving as one of many NFL’s finest kickoff specialists.

·    Falcons Secondary Coach Jon Hoke tutored the Buccaneers’ defensive backs through the 2016-18 seasons.

·    Tampa Bay Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich noticed motion for each group’s in Sunday’s matchup throughout his 10-year enjoying profession. He was with Atlanta in 2007, making two begins, and with the Buccaneers in 2009, beginning the primary three video games of the season.

·    Buccaneers security Keanu Neal began his profession in Atlanta as a first-round decide (seventeenth total) within the 2016 draft out of the College of Florida. Neal performed 5 seasons for the Falcons, making the Professional Bowl in 2017 however lacking all however 4 video games in 2018-19 as a consequence of accidents. He got here to Tampa this season after one yr with the Dallas Cowboys.

·    Tampa Bay defensive lineman Deadrin Senat can also be a former Falcons draft decide, as he was chosen out of the College of South Florida within the third spherical in 2018. Senat performed in 23 video games over 4 seasons in Atlanta, 15 of which got here in his rookie season, alongside along with his two profession begins.

·    Buccaneers Cornerbacks Coach Kevin Ross additionally spent a small portion of his lengthy NFL enjoying profession in Atlanta, becoming a member of the Falcons in 1994 after 11 years with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Ross performed two seasons in Atlanta earlier than ending his enjoying profession with one yr in San Diego and yet one more again with the Chiefs.

·    Keith Tandy, who joined the Buccaneers’ teaching employees final yr as a defensive/particular groups assistant, wrapped up his NFL enjoying profession with one season (2018) in Atlanta after six years on the sphere for Tampa Bay.

·    Danny Breyer, now a run recreation specialist on Arthur Smith’s employees, was on the Buccaneers’ teaching employees in 2017 and 2018, first as an analytics assistant after which as a defensive assistant.

·    Head Coach Todd Bowles

·    Assistant Head Coach/Run Sport Coordinator Harold Goodwin

·    Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich

·    Run Sport Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach Kacy Rodgers

·    Move Sport Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote

·    Particular Groups Coordinator Keith Armstrong

·    Head Coach Arthur Smith

·    Offensive Coordinator Dave Ragone

·    Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees

·    Particular Groups Coordinator Marquice Williams

·    P Jake Camarda (fourth-round draft decide)

·    WR Russell Gage (UFA)

·    G Luke Goedeke (second-round draft decide)

·    DL Logan Corridor (second-round draft decide)

·    T Fred Johnson (FA)

·    WR Julio Jones (FA)

·    TE Ko Kieft (sixth-round draft decide)

·    G Shaq Mason (commerce–NE)

·    CB Zyon McCollum (fifth-round draft decide)

·    OLB Carl Nassib (FA)

·    S Keanu Neal (UFA)

·    TE Cade Otton (fourth-round draft decide)

·    TE Kyle Rudolph (FA)

·    S Logan Ryan (FA)

·    RB Rachaad White (third-round draft decide)

·    RB Tyler Allgeier (Fifth-round draft decide)

·    ILB Troy Anderson (2nd-round draft decide)

·    WR Dameire Byrd (UFA)

·    OLB Lorenzo Carter (UFA)

·    WR Frank Darby (FA)

·    OLB Arnold Ebiketie (2nd-round draft decide)

·    ILB Rashaan Evans (UFA)

·    TE Anthony Firkser (UFA)

·    CB Mike Ford (UFA)

·    CB Casey Hayward (UFA…at the moment on injured reserve)

·    T Germain Ifedi (UFA)

·    WR Drake London (1st-round draft decide)

·    OLB DeAngelo Malone (Third-round draft decide)

·    QB Marcus Mariota (UFA…at the moment on injured reserve)

·    P Bradley Pinion (FA)

·    QB Desmond Ridder (Third-round draft decide)

·    G Elijah Wilkinson (UFA)

·    Whereas the Bucs proceed to keep up enviable continuity on their teaching employees, there’s a new particular person within the nook workplace. In March, Bruce Arians stepped down after three years as the pinnacle coach and took on a brand new position as a senior advisor to the final supervisor. Todd Bowles was promoted from defensive coordinator to take his place. Bowles beforehand served because the New York Jets’ head coach from 2015-18 earlier than rejoining Arians when the latter got here on because the Buccaneers’ head coach in 2019.

·    With Bowles stepping up the Bucs wanted a brand new defensive coordinator and so they primarily named two of them. Defensive Line Coach Kacy Rodgers added the title of Run Sport Coordinator whereas Outdoors Linebackers Coach Larry Foote switched to inside linebackers and added the title of Move Sport Coordinator. They’re in impact co-defensive coordinators. Bob Sanders joined the employees to take over for Foote within the exterior linebackers room. Foote made his swap after Inside Linebackers Coach Mike Caldwell landed the defensive coordinator place in Jacksonville below new Head Coach Doug Pederson.

·    The Buccaneers had two key gamers retire after the 2021 season, however solely one among them stayed retired. Whereas quarterback Tom Brady finally elected to return 40 days after saying he was stepping away from the sport, his long-time buddy Rob Gronkowski walked away for good, resulting in huge adjustments within the Bucs’ tight finish room. Whereas veteran Cam Brate returned, O.J. Howard left in free company and the Buccaneers subsequently drafted Cade Otton and Ko Kieft and signed veteran Kyle Rudolph.

·    Tampa Bay’s protection additionally noticed the departure of two front-seven stalwarts from the extraordinarily profitable 2020-21 seasons, as neither DL Ndamukong Suh nor OLB Jason Pierre-Paul was re-signed. The group signed veteran standout Akiem Hicks and drafted Houston’s Logan Corridor thirty third total to handle depth up entrance and are counting on 2021 first-round decide Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to step up on the sting.

·    The Falcons introduced an period to an finish on March 21 once they traded long-time beginning quarterback Matt Ryan to Indianapolis for a third-round decide in 2022 draft. The third-overall decide within the 2008 draft, Ryan began 222 of a potential 225 video games for Atlanta over the subsequent 14 seasons, incomes 4 Professional Bowl choices alongside the way in which. He was the NFL MVP in 2016, the identical season he led the Falcons to Tremendous Bowl LI. Ryan felt that his time in Atlanta had come to an finish when the Falcons have been one among a number of occasions that attempted to commerce for former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. To fill their new emptiness below heart the Falcons signed former second-overall decide Marcus Mariota – on the identical day they traded Ryan – to begin and drafted Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder within the third spherical as a developmental choice. Mariota began the primary 13 video games of the yr earlier than the Falcons turned to Ridder, with Mariota ending up on injured reserve.

·    Atlanta let former Huge Receivers Coach Dave Brock go after the 2021 season and to fill that spot they shifted Passing Sport Specialist T.J. Yates over to the receiver room. The group additionally added Mario Jeberaeel to the employees as an assistant offensive line coach, changing Chandler Henley, who left for a spot on the Miami Dolphins’ employees. Jeberaeel had come to group in 2021 as a variety teaching intern. Different additions to the teaching employees included Steve Jackson (senior offensive assistant), Shawn Flaherty (soccer analyst), Nick Edwards (offensive assistant) and Steven King (variety teaching intern).

·    As just lately as 2020 the Falcons’ receiving corps was headlined by Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Nonetheless, after buying and selling Jones to the Titans within the 2021 offseason, the Falcons noticed Ridley step away from the group for a lot of final season to deal with his psychological well-being. Ridley then drew a suspension for the complete 2022 season for betting on NFL video games. Atlanta’s receiving corps is now led by rookie Drake London, the eighth-overall decide on this yr’s draft.

·    The Falcons began the season with out one among their defensive centerpieces. Inside linebacker Deion Jones, who has began 83 video games for the group, together with 48 of a potential 49 over the previous three seasons, started the marketing campaign on injured reserve after present process offseason shoulder surgical procedure. He was later traded to the Cleveland Browns on October 10. With fellow off-ball linebacker Foyesade Oluokun shifting on to Jacksonville in free company, the Falcons have a brand new look in the midst of their protection with offseason acquisitions Rashaan Evans and Lorenzo Carter.

Damar on Their Minds – The NFL postponed Monday night time’s Buffalo-Cincinnati recreation after Payments security Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after making a deal with and needed to be resuscitated by emergency medical personnel. Hamlin stays in vital situation and the NFL has not but determined when or if to renew the sport. Nonetheless, the NFL has introduced that there will probably be no adjustments to the Week 18 schedule, which implies soccer will resume in just some days. Whereas the soccer world has centered on Hamlin’s well being within the aftermath of his terrifying harm, gamers throughout the league will finally return to work, and to the enjoying subject. How Hamlin’s life-threatening incident will have an effect on the psychological state of a participant seemingly varies from man to man, however Buccaneers’ defensive lineman Akiem Hicks stated it’s truly tougher on the gamers’ family members. “It is a harmful recreation,” stated Hicks. “It is a very violent recreation. It is tough. You hate to see a man go down like that. I believe one of many issues that touched me probably the most was seeing guys on the sphere having to witness their teammate being down like that. That is a tricky feeling. … You recognize who it shakes up? Our households. Our households name us and so they wish to know if we’re okay. They’ve these emotions: That could possibly be my son or that could possibly be my brother. I believe that is the those that it shakes up, and finally it will get to you.”

Actually, Who’s Going to Play? – The Buccaneers are anticipated to begin all of their regulars, with the potential exception of some injured gamers, however will they take a few of them out earlier than the sport is over? Todd Bowles hinted at a potential reply on Wednesday when he stated second-year quarterback Kyle Trask, who has but to play in a regular-season recreation, has a great likelihood to be lively on Sunday. Bowles stated Tom Brady would begin, and if Brady comes out of the sport the group would then flip to Blaine Gabbert. Bowles additionally stated that if Gabbert was then taken out, Trask would get into the sport. When Brady is within the recreation, the Buccaneers will seemingly hold in most of their different starters, as nicely, significantly on the offensive line, and just by sheer depth numbers a number of of these linemen should play the complete contest. May the Buccaneers check out some gamers who’ve been a bit buried on the depth chart this season, comparable to third-year working again Ke’Shawn Vaughn, second-year inside linebacker Okay.J. Britt, huge receivers Scotty Miller and Deven Thompkins, and/or rookie defensive lineman Logan Corridor? Bowles needs to play his starters as a result of he says it is yet one more alternative to work on some points of the group’s efficiency earlier than they’ve to put all of it on the road within the playoffs. Nonetheless, he could in some unspecified time in the future stability that towards the danger of harm and finally play it secure with a number of the group’s core performers. Both method, there will not be any meaningless snaps. “I do not suppose something is meaningless,” stated Brady. “And every little thing is in preparation for what’s forward…I like attempting to get higher. We’re 8-8. We do not have all our issues solved. I imply, I take a look at it like, man, we gotta use each alternative, on daily basis of apply to get higher.”

Cease the Run, Job Quantity One – The Buccaneers headed into their Week 17 matchup towards the Panthers with a singular deal with stopping a Carolina dashing assault that had racked up 320 yards the earlier week. Tampa Bay’s protection did, the truth is, sluggish the Panthers’ backs down, permitting solely 74 yards on 22 carries, however the formulation did not appear to be working for about three quarters. Due to the heroics of Tom Brady and Mike Evans, nonetheless, the Bucs have been capable of rally for the victory and may relaxation straightforward understanding their plan labored ultimately. Bowles’s crew is prone to take the same method to a Falcons group that’s pounding its approach to 159 dashing yards a recreation however is rolling with a rookie quarterback who has but to throw a landing (or an interception, to be truthful) and has averaged 161.3 passing yards in his first three begins. The Buccaneers want to make third-round decide Desmond Ridder beat them, however stopping the run and placing the sport on his shoulders will not be straightforward. Former undrafted rookie Caleb Huntley (366 yards, 4.6 yards per carry) is on injured reserve however the Falcons nonetheless have a robust duo within the backfield of veteran Cordarrelle Patterson and rookie fifth-rounder Tyler Allgeier, each of whom are averaging at the least 4.8 yards per carry. Allgeier has taken on the lead position of late, and the powerfully-built runner leads the group with 900 dashing yards. Patterson is among the NFL’s most versatile weapons and he leads the squad with eight touchdowns.

Perfection on the Line for Brady – Tom Brady has an amazingly unblemished file towards the Atlanta Falcons, having gained all 11 of his begins towards them, together with Tremendous Bowl LI. Sustaining that excellent file has been a tougher job since he joined the Buccaneers and moved into the NFC South as a result of he now has to place it on the road twice a yr. To this point, so good, as Tampa Bay swept its close by division foe in each 2020 and 2021 and may achieve this once more with a victory on Sunday. Brady stays undefeated towards 5 groups (together with the Buccaneers), however Atlanta is the one a kind of 5 groups he is performed at the least 10 occasions. He has been downright masterful when dealing with the Falcons, compiling a 114.1 passer ranking in regular-season conferences, his highest towards foe. (Within the Tremendous Bowl he threw for 466 yards and two touchdowns.) He has a 27-3 TD-INT ratio towards the Falcons and has averaged 322.6 passing yards per recreation in these contests, his highest mark towards any group. As famous above, Brady could not get a possibility to complete what he began – and, notably, 13 of his 24 landing passes this season have come within the fourth quarter – however he can at the least put the Buccaneers in a great place to complete off one other season sweep.

Offensive Momentum – Brady and the Buccaneers could have a greater likelihood of staying undefeated towards the Falcons since 2020 if he can direct the kind of explosive passing assault that was on show final Sunday towards Carolina, and for many of the earlier two campaigns. The Buccaneers led the NFL in passing yards and scoring over the 2020-21 seasons mixed however have seen their per-game scoring common drop by practically two touchdowns in 2022. In opposition to the Panthers, Brady threw for a season-high 423 yards and tossed three touchdowns, all of them on deep go routes to Mike Evans. Previous to that recreation, Brady had one landing move of 30 or extra yards in 2022; he and Evans connected for 63, 57 and 30 yard TDs in Week 17. The Buccaneers clinched the division within the course of and can head again to the playoffs for a 3rd straight yr, however they may end the regular-season at both 9-8 or 8-9 and, as of but, haven’t strung collectively three straight wins in 2022. They will have to do this plus yet one more as soon as the postseason begins in the event that they wish to obtain their final objective. A stingy protection and the ever-present risk of a dramatic Brady-led comeback will assist, however the Bucs most likely have to be extra constantly productive on offense in the event that they wish to survive lengthy within the playoffs. Sunday’s recreation in Atlanta will not matter within the standings, however it is going to give the Bucs an opportunity to construct on the momentum they began in Week 17.

1. Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette vs. Falcons LB Rashaan Evans

The Buccaneers have the NFL’s Thirty second-ranked dashing assault and the Falcons are twenty fourth within the league in stopping the run, so this is not the place we’ll discover strength-on-strength on Sunday in Atlanta. However Leonard Fournette has topped 100 yards from scrimmage 4 occasions this season and simply two weeks in the past in Arizona mixed 72 dashing yards with 90 receiving yards. He and rookie Rachaad White are sharing the backfield snaps nearly equally, however the Buccaneers have said they may trip the recent hand if one emerges on any specific Sunday, and that is all the time a risk with ‘Late-Season Lenny.’ Fournette leads the Buccaneers with 1,187 yards from scrimmage and is a menace within the passing recreation each week, as evidenced by his 72 receptions, which rank third within the NFL amongst working backs. Rashaan Evans, a former first-round decide by the Tennessee Titans, is in his first yr with the Falcons and is the number-one thumper in the midst of their protection. His 154 tackles lead the group and rank fifth within the NFL, and 98 of these have come on working performs. He is fast to the discover the ballcarrier and is a rugged tackler, and he is a bodily presence within the field. Evans can also be a great blitzer who has 2.0 sacks, so Fournette could have to concentrate on him in move safety. Evans has not been thought-about one of many league’s higher protection linebackers throughout his profession, so Fournette may get some favorable matchups out of the backfield.

2. Falcons T Jake Matthews vs. Buccaneers OLB Anthony Nelson

Guard Chris Lindstrom is the Falcons’ lone Professional Bowl choice this season, however left deal with Jake Matthews has been to a Professional Bowl of his personal and has been the anchor of Atlanta’s line since he was chosen sixth total within the 2014 draft. The most recent in an unimaginable lineage of NFL gamers from the Matthews household, Jake has missed just one begin in his nine-year profession, that in his rookie marketing campaign, and has performed in 144 video games total. Professional Soccer Focus credit him with permitting solely 4 sacks this season. Anthony Nelson has stepped up in a really huge method for the Buccaneers in 2022, and particularly of late. The fourth-year edge rusher moved into the beginning lineup after Shaquil Barrett suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon harm in Week Eight, and as a consequence of different accidents on the place he has performed each single defensive snap over the Bucs’ final three video games. He has been extraordinarily productive in that additional enjoying time, with 2.5 sacks and a pair of game-changing compelled fumbles. Nelson has been an every-down hustler all through his 4 NFL seasons however in his newfound beginning position he has proven improved burst across the edge and wonderful closing velocity. He typically rushes off the quarterback’s blind facet and thus will largely be Matthews’ accountability.

3. Buccaneers WR Russell Gage vs. Falcons CB A.J. Terrell

The final time the Buccaneers and Falcons met in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Gage hauled in 11 passes on 12 targets for 130 yards. On the time, he was enjoying for Atlanta, however he returns to his unique NFL dwelling this weekend as a member of the Buccaneers. Although accidents slowed him down within the offseason and thru a great portion of the common season, Gage has rounded into type for the stretch run and is seeing quite a lot of motion because the third receiver together with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. In his final three outings, Gage has caught 16 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Whereas he has seen some motion within the slot, practically two-thirds of his work has come on the skin when Godwin has moved into the slot. Gage hasn’t run a route longer than 21 yards downfield this season however he has been a vital issue on third and fourth downs, serving to to increase drives with very well timed catches. With Evans and Godwin positive to attract quite a lot of consideration, Gage ought to see loads of single protection. Nonetheless, a few of that protection will probably be offered by third-year participant A.J. Terrell, who already ranks among the many league’s finest cornerbacks. In line with Subsequent Gen Stats, Terrell completed final season with the second-lowest EPA allowed when focused (-29.4) amongst all NFL gamers. He hasn’t fairly met that very same degree of success in 2022 however stays a protracted and rangy nook with wonderful footwork and press-man protection potential.

4. Falcons G Chris Lindstrom vs. Buccaneers DL Akiem Hicks

As famous above, Lindstrom, the 14th-overall decide within the 2019 draft, is headed to his first Professional Bowl because the Falcons’ lone consultant. He has been credited with permitting solely 2.0 sacks this yr and has an total grade of 95.0 on Professional Soccer Focus, by far one of the best of any guard within the NFL. He stands up nicely towards energy rushers however can also be agile sufficient to make clear blocks on the transfer. Lindstrom’s personal energy within the floor recreation is an enormous purpose why Atlanta is averaging a sturdy 159.0 dashing yards per contest. Lindstrom will see quite a lot of down lineman Akiem Hicks, who’s coming off a disruptive efficiency within the Buccaneers’ Week 17 win over Carolina. Hicks knocked down two passes on the line, and whereas he was not credited with a sack or a QB hit towards the Panthers he spent quite a lot of time within the backfield. The previous Bears Professional Bowler is among the Buccaneers’ strongest gamers and he kinds a formidable wall when paired with the equally huge Vita Vea. With Vea working his method again from a calf harm, Hicks has been the Buccaneers’ most lively inside lineman when it comes to defensive snaps performed. He and Lindstrom ought to have a three-hour battle on Sunday.

DNP: Didn’t take part in apply

LP: Restricted participation in apply

FP: Full participation in apply

·    CB Carlton Davis (shoulder) – WEDS: DNP

·    CB Jamel Dean (toe) – WEDS: LP

·    S Mike Edwards (hamstring/hip) – WEDS: LP

·    WR Julio Jones (knee/sickness) – WEDS: DNP

·    OLB Carl Nassib (pectoral) – WEDS: LP

·    S Logan Ryan (knee) – WEDS: DNP

·    T Donovan Smith (foot) – WEDS: DNP

·    NT Vita Vea (calf) – WEDS: DNP

·    T Tristan Wirfs (ankle) – WEDS: LP

·    TE Feleipe Franks (concussion) – WEDS: LP

·    RB Cordarrelle Patterson (relaxation) – WEDS: DNP

·    OL Elijah Wilkinson (calf) – WEDS: LP

·    RB Avery Williams (foot) – WEDS: FP

Domed stadium. Exterior climate: Cloudy, excessive of fifty, low of 37, 24% likelihood of rain, 81% humidity, winds out of the NNW at 5-10 mph.

Head referee: Land Clark (fifth season, third as referee)

·    Favourite: Falcons (-3.0)

·    Over/Beneath: 40.5

Factors Scored: Okay Ryan Succop, 112

Touchdowns: WR Mike Evans/RB Leonard Fournette, 6

Passing Yards: QB Tom Brady, 4,610

Passer Ranking: QB Tom Brady, 90.4

Speeding Yards: RB Leonard Fournette, 668

Receptions: WR Chris Godwin, 98

Receiving Yards: WR Mike Evans, 1,124

Interceptions: CB Jamel Dean/Mike Edwards/Sean Murphy-Bunting, 2

Tackles: ILB Devin White, 122

Factors Scored: Okay Younghoe Koo, 117

Touchdowns: RB Cordarrelle Patterson, 8

Passing Yards: QB Marcus Mariota*, 2,219

Passer Ranking: QB Marcus Mariota*, 88.2

Speeding Yards: RB Tyler Allgeier, 900

Receptions: WR Drake London, 66

Receiving Yards: WR Drake London, 746

Interceptions: S Richie Grant/S Jaylinn Hawkins/LB Mykal Walker, 2

Sacks: DL Grady Jarrett, 6.0

Tackles: LB Rashaan Evans, 154

Scoring Offense: twenty fourth (18.5 ppg)

Whole Offense: eleventh (354.5 ypg)

Passing Offense: 2nd (278.1 ypg)

Speeding Offense: Thirty second (76.4 ypg)

First Downs Per Sport: t-Ninth (20.9)

Third-Down Pct.: twenty second (36.9%)

Sacks Per Move Try Allowed: 1st (3.07%)

Purple Zone TD Pct.: twenty fifth (51.1%)

Scoring Protection: eighth (20.5 ppg)

Whole Protection: eighth (320.7 ypg)

Passing Protection: Ninth (203.3 ypg)

Speeding Protection: fifteenth (117.4 ypg)

First Downs Allowed Per Sport: 4th (18.3)

Third-Down Pct. Allowed: sixth (36.7%)

Sacks Per Move Try: tenth (7.96%)

Purple Zone TD Pct. Allowed: twenty fifth (61.4%)

Turnover Margin: t-Twentieth (-2)

Scoring Offense: t-Nineteenth (20.9 ppg)

Whole Offense: twenty fifth (314.7 ypg)

Passing Offense: thirty first (155.7 ypg)

Speeding Offense: Third (159.0 ypg)

First Downs Per Sport: twenty second (19.3)

Third-Down Pct.: tenth (42.0%)

Sacks Per Move Try Allowed: Twenty sixth (9.09%)

Purple Zone TD Pct.: seventeenth (54.0%)

Scoring Protection: twenty third (23.1 ppg)

Whole Protection: twenty ninth (370.9 ypg)

Passing Protection: Twenty sixth (237.9 ypg)

Speeding Protection: twenty fourth (133.0 ypg)

First Downs Allowed Per Sport: t-Twenty sixth (21.2)

Third-Down Pct. Allowed: thirty first (45.9%)

Sacks Per Move Try: Thirty second (3.98%)

Purple Zone TD Pct. Allowed: thirteenth (54.4%)

Turnover Margin: twenty fifth (-4)

·    Quarterback Tom Brady set the NFL single-season file for completions final yr at 485. He has one other 476 completions this season, which implies he solely wants 9 extra to interrupt the file as soon as once more. He additionally wants 9 move makes an attempt to interrupt that single-season file. He is at 719 thus far this season and the file is 727, by Matthew Stafford in 2012.

·    Brady can even transfer up one spot on the Tampa Bay’s franchise checklist for many passing yards. He has 14,559 yards in just below three seasons as a Buccaneer and wishes 262 extra to overhaul Vinny Testaverde (14,820) for second place.

·    Each tight finish Cameron Brate and huge receiver Chris Godwin have 33 profession touchdowns. With yet one more, both one or each will tie Ring of Honor member Jimmie Giles for fourth place in franchise historical past in total touchdowns. All 33 of Brate’s touchdowns are receptions (Godwin has one dashing landing), which means he’s additionally one behind Giles for second place on the group’s all-time checklist in that class.

·    Godwin’s 9 receptions in Week 17 gave him 98 on the season, tying his personal 2021 mark for the second most in franchise historical past. He wants two extra to turn into the second Buccaneer ever to achieve 100 catches in a season and 9 extra to surpass Keyshawn Johnson’s 2001 group file of 106.

·    Kicker Ryan Succop has made 30 subject targets in 2022. He wants three extra to surpass the Bucs’ single-season file of 32, which is shared by Matt Bryant (2008) and Martin Gramatica (2002).

·    Head Coach Todd Bowles on how second-year quarterback Kyle Trask has dealt with being inactive each week: “Since he is been right here, each time I look out my window, he is on the market engaged on his personal. He has the best resolve and toughness and inside energy nearly than any particular person I’ve seen. A younger man popping out – he prepares on daily basis. When his time comes, he’ll be prepared as a result of I see him working at it on daily basis. He has inside toughness, he has inside energy, and he has the drive and the desire to win. Should you put that collectively, given the chance, I believe he’ll benefit from it.”

·    Cornerback Carlton Davis on the life-threatening harm suffered by Buffalo Payments security Damar Hamlin on Monday night time: “That was simply heartbreaking. One among our earlier teammates Jordan Whitehead was truly his roommate in faculty and he used to inform me about [Hamlin] as a result of he was youthful than him and he was simply telling me like, ‘Be careful for him.’ And it is simply so heartbreaking to see that play, the way it appeared prefer it was only a regular play, and it was only a detrimental play to him. It is only a unhappy factor to see for the game. My coronary heart and prayers actually exit to him. Final night time I could not sleep – simply type of excited about what number of occasions I have been in that place and the way I’d really feel if that occurred to one among my teammates. Like I could not fathom ending that recreation. At that time, it is nearly life, it is about getting dwelling to your households. It is about popping out alive, man. It is unhappy to see and I am actually praying for him – actually hoping he pulls by way of.”

·    Defensive lineman Akiem Hicks on stats saying it is extra advantageous for groups to play starters as a substitute of resting them earlier than the playoffs: “They have stats on every little thing now, man. You simply go on the market and do your finest on Sunday – I believe that is a great way to carry your self and maintain enterprise through the season. Each week, be ready to play no matter what the stats are.”

·    Deal with Tristan Wirfs on changing into extra of a group chief in his third season: “Yeah, I’ve stated a pair issues generally, simply issues I’ve seen once I was damage. I’ve simply executed my finest to be extra of a pacesetter this yr. I did that quite a bit throughout camp and simply tried to fill that position and step into these sneakers.”

·    Bowles on what has precipitated the Buccaneers’ improve in takeaways in latest video games: “I want I may provide the reply to that – I’d have tried to make it occur earlier. Such as you stated, they arrive in bunches. We work at it, we swipe on the ball, we attempt to get picks and every little thing else. We have had three the final two video games and it resulted in wins so we’re simply going to attempt to stick with it. No rhyme or purpose.”