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The Atlanta Falcons have been on the wrong side of a one-way rivalry with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and are hoping to record their first victory since Dec. 29 of 2019. Atlanta and Tampa Bay will face off in an NFC South battle at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. These two teams seek to continue their momentum from their previous wins.
The Falcons beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 21-14 last week. Atlanta can attribute much of their success to RB Cordarrelle Patterson, who rushed for two TDs and 108 yards on 16 carries. That nimble footwork stands out as the first time Patterson has hit the 100-yard rushing mark this season. Patterson's sharp performance also set his single-game rushing touchdown high for the season.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay was able to grind out a solid win over the Indianapolis Colts last week, winning 38-31. Tampa Bay's RB Leonard Fournette was on fire, rushing for three TDs and 100 yards on 17 carries in addition to snatching one receiving TD. The Buccaneers' victory came on a 28-yard rush from Fournette with only 0:29 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Tampa Bay's defense was a force to be reckoned with, as it collected two interceptions and three fumbles. The picks came courtesy of SS Antoine Winfield Jr. and CB Pierre Desir.
The Falcons are the clear underdogs, so they're hoping it's the size of the fight that determines this one. At 1-4 against the spread at home, they are no cash cow. That said, Tampa Bay isn't so hot on the road, where they are 1-5.
The wins brought Atlanta up to 5-6 and the Buccaneers to 8-3. A couple stats to keep an eye on: Atlanta is stumbling into the matchup with the second most touchdowns allowed in the league, having given up 31 on the season. Tampa Bay's offense has more to brag about, as they they come into the game boasting the most overall offensive touchdowns in the NFL at 42. So the cards are definitely stacked in their favor.
