Tampa Bay Buccaneers bold predictions for Week 15 against the Falcons.
Despite the records, the Week 15 game against the Falcons is no easy win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The two teams usually play each other close and they split their series last season. A win means the team has a two-game winning streak. A loss would be devastating for the team’s playoff hopes.
This is the first of two games against the Falcons in the next three weeks. The Falcons are looking to finish the season on a positive note and surely want to beat the Bucs. Spoiling the Buccaneers season and helping them miss the playoffs would be big for Atlanta.
The Falcons are 4-4 under interim head coach Raheem Morris. This is the same Raheem Morris who previously spent nine years with the Buccaneers. Morris was the team’s head coach for three of those nine years. The Falcons also have former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator and head coach Dirk Koetter as their offensive coordinator.
With such close ties, the Falcons will be looking to do more than just play out the string in both games against the Buccaneers.
3. The game will be a shootout
Although the Tampa Bay defense looked better once they were able to get their feet under them on Sunday, they were not great. Atlanta’s defense has mostly been a mess all season. The end result is more than likely a battle of the offenses.
Atlanta has a wide receiving dynamic duo of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Jones might not play, but Ridley alone poses problems. Matt Ryan is having another solid season at quarterback and the Falcons need to throw the ball to win games. Expect them to put some points on the board and expect the Buccaneers to do the same.
The Falcons are near the bottom of the league in most defensive categories including pass defense. This will be a good game for the Buccaneers to use to build confidence in the offensive passing game. Meanwhile, the Falcons will be able to put some points on the Bucs defensive unit. Expect both teams to score over 25 points for this game.
2. The Buccaneers defense will have at least five sacks
The Buccaneers were able to sack Kirk Cousins six times last week. They will do similar against the Falcons this week. The team is fourth in the league with 40 sacks while the Falcons have given up 33 sacks.
With a heavy passing game script, it gives the Buccaneers more chances to rush the quarterback. With the Falcons struggling to protect the quarterback, it is a recipe for sacks and plenty of them. This will be another week for Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaquil Barrett to flex their muscle and cause havoc in the backfield.
1. The Buccaneers will miss a field goal or attempt none at all
Ryan Succop has been very good for the Buccaneers this year. He has made his last 20 field goal attempts and has 110 points for the season. For a franchise that has consistently struggled at the kicker position, Succop’s reliability has almost felt like a miracle.
Unfortunately, Succop along with long snapper Zach Triner and punter Bradley Pinion were all placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday. While this does not mean any of the three have tested positive, it does put their availability on Sunday in doubt.
While all three or some combination can still be activated off of the list on Sunday, this could still be a bad blow to the Tampa Bay kicking game this week. If the team is using a different long snapper, but Succop is activated, he has no time to get used to the new snapper. Same with Pinion as the holder.
If Succop does not play, Bruce Arians may shy away from attempting field goals unless he absolutely has to have it to either tie or win the game. I wouldn’t bet on a good kicking game from whoever kicks for the Buccaneers this week.