Countdown to Kickoff: Falcons-Buccaneers, Week 5 2022

In Week 5, there are excessive stakes. The victor of the NFC South showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons will take first place within the division. Within the first of two matchups on the 2022 common season slate, the Bucs will host the Falcons on Sunday, October 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Atlanta is coming into Raymond James Stadium assured, driving a two-game win streak with a speeding juggernaut. Conversely, the Buccaneers are transferring in the other way following consecutive losses to Inexperienced Bay and Kansas Metropolis. On the outset of the season after Tom Brady’s unretirement, the Bucs had been deemed a main contender within the NFC, whereas the Falcons had been thought-about the prototypical ‘rebuild’ staff. 4 video games are actually not a complete analysis of any NFL staff; nonetheless, the Bucs are at a crux. With each groups sitting at a 2-2 mark, Tampa Bay must show they will play a full sport with effectivity on each side of the soccer. After per week of preparation, here’s what it comes all the way down to:

• After ending close to the underside of the league in speeding final season (thirty first), the Falcons have undergone a metamorphosis. The membership is presently averaging 168 yards per sport on the bottom, fourth finest within the NFL. Twin-threat quarterback Marcus Mariota has been a element of the offense’s success on the bottom.
• Tom Brady has carved up defenses on fast passes in 2022, main the NFL with a median time to throw of two.39 seconds per Subsequent Gen Stats. Conversely, the Falcons’ protection has allowed a league-high 130.0 passer score vs. fast passes this season.
• Atlanta’s protection has struggled towards the run, permitting 126.3 yards per sport (twenty first). The Buccaneers haven’t been in a position to generate a balanced assault since their floor assault in Week One, coming in at thirty first in speeding offense (65.3) coming into Week 5. Sunday might invite alternatives for the Bucs to get the bottom sport rolling on their dwelling discipline.
• With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin again within the combine towards the Chiefs, the Bucs put up 385 passing yards – a unit that had averaged 211.3 yards per sport by means of the air beforehand. Their presence was felt and with each Godwin and Evans on the sphere towards Atlanta, defenses should choose their poison.

• Bucs’ huge receiver Russell Gage practiced in a restricted style this week and was added to the damage report on Saturday with a questionable sport designation as a consequence of a again damage. Moreover, each wideouts Julio Jones and Breshad Perriman are additionally thought-about questionable. Perriman sat out final week as a consequence of knee and hamstring illnesses, whereas Jones performed the primary half towards the Chiefs however missed nearly all of the second body as a consequence of a knee damage. On a optimistic be aware, Chris Godwin practiced in a restricted style all through the week and for the primary time this season, didn’t obtain a game-status designation (out, uncertain, questionable).
• After the conclusion of the Buccaneers’ last apply on Friday on the AdventHealth Coaching Middle, Head Coach Todd Bowles confirmed that Cameron Brate wouldn’t swimsuit up towards the Falcons on Sunday. Brate entered concussion protocol following the Week 4 matchup and is making progress. He returned to apply on Friday in a restricted foundation after being a non-participant on Wednesday and Thursday. Each security Logan Ryan (foot) and defensive lineman Akiem Hicks (foot) had been dominated out of Sunday’s sport.
• The Falcons positioned operating again Cordarrelle Patterson on injured reserve after he underwent a knee process earlier this week. He will likely be out a minimal of 4 weeks, however the Falcons are hopeful Patterson will return earlier than anticipated. Tight finish Kyle Pitts didn’t apply this week and has been dominated out of the Week 5 matchup vs. Tampa Bay. His stats might not garner consideration; nonetheless, Pitts attracts focus from opposing defenses that has created alternatives for teammates. With Pitts and Patterson out of the equation, it will likely be a committee effort between rookie receiver Drake London, Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley at operating again and a mixture of Parker Hesse and Anthony Firkser at tight finish.

The Falcons traded longtime veteran quarterback Matt Ryan, signaling a change within the tide. Head Coach Arthur Smith, who original an imposing floor assault in Tennessee whereas serving because the Titans’ offensive coordinator, has translated that smash-mouth system to the Falcons. The RPO-centric construction advantages cell quarterback Marcus Mariota. His pace is featured on designed rollouts and bootlegs as an extension of Atlanta’s run sport. The Falcons’ make the most of a mix of inside and outdoors zone, with linemen rapidly transferring off the road and driving defenders again to create seams. Smith additionally dials up receiver screens and jet sweeps to assault the perimeter, stretching C-gap assignments by getting playmakers in area. The goal is to gash defenses by getting the operating backs downhill post-cut and for receivers to choose up yards-after-catch. The Buccaneers’ protection should present as much as Raymond James Stadium to play sound, disciplined soccer. After uncharacteristic missed assignments and run matches towards the Chiefs in Week 4, Tampa Bay’s unit will want a bounce again towards the Falcons. Setting the sting, efficient pursuit angles and ending tackles will likely be keys for the Bucs’ protection on Sunday. Tampa Bay’s protection relies on stopping the run and the Week 5 division conflict is a chance for Todd Bowles’ crew to get again to their bread-and-butter: forcing groups to be one-dimensional.

On protection, Atlanta defensive deal with Grady Jarrett is off to a sizzling begin in 2022. By means of 4 video games, the Falcons’ anchor has logged 3.5 sacks, 16 tackles – together with 5 for a loss – and 14 quarterback pressures with an explosive get-off. Jarrett is on tempo to set profession marks this season and has bolstered your complete unit. For added context, two of his quarterback takedowns towards the Seahawks and the Browns, respectively, arrange game-sealing interceptions. He has been the Falcons’ cornerstone defender, fostering development alongside the road. Total, Atlanta’s protection has closed out the earlier two video games, with elevated manufacturing within the trenches spearheading the membership’s two-game win streak. Regardless of a sluggish begin on the 12 months, a four-sack effort towards New Orleans supplied a defensive surge. Dean Pees’ aggressive-styled entrance is making progress because the season wears on, albeit a gradual enchancment. The Falcons presently stand at twenty fifth in each yards and factors allowed. A scarcity of stress has hindered the unit’s progress previously however in 2022, the Falcons’ protection has made important strides with Jarrett because the catalyst within the inside. All through the offseason, Atlanta revamped their protection coming into 2022, together with inside linebacker Rashaan Evans, exterior linebacker Lorenzo Carter, cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Mike Ford, together with second-round edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie. They be part of carryovers A.J. Terell, security Richie Grant and linebacker Mykal Walker. The bolstered group will look to proceed their imposition on the Bucs’ remade offensive line.

On Atlanta’s speeding assault:

“They’re hard-headed about it. You realize, that is the factor, if you take a look at them – we see on this league a whole lot of offensive linemen, tackles up in a two-point stance – and if you take a look at [the Falcons] everyone’s down in three-point stances [and] you understand they’re coming off. And so they’re doing a fairly good job of it. What’s form of superb is, you look again and on the point of play them final 12 months, they completed thirty first within the league in speeding offense, and proper now, they’re fourth. So, you may see what they’ve dedicated to within the offseason.”