These Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had the highest of highs in 2024, and now it feels as if they're reaching the lowest of the lows. This team is coming off a 41-31 loss to Baltimore on Monday Night, but more importantly left that game with an injury to their two star receivers.
The 4-3 record the Bucs have is liveable moving into their week eight matchup against Atlanta, but this game is officially urgent to win and potentially enters must win territory. Since Tampa Bay lost in week five to the Falcons, a loss would forfeit the tiebreaker of the division to Atlanta and this Bucs team would be playing from behind already.
Is It Truly A Must Win Game Already?
It’s only week eight. Yes, losing the tie breaker to Atlanta would sting and not be beneficial to winning the division at all. But you can’t get too high and you can’t get too low in the NFL.
These teams come into the week with the same record. There’s still ten weeks remaining in the NFL and this Buccaneers team would trail the Falcons by a single game.
A loss would sting, but not a harder sting than losing two star players, especially the one in emotional-fashion that was season-ending. It’s an opportunity for the new targets to step up and show who they are.
This early season matchup will end the series between Atlanta and Tampa Bay already, it’s the biggest game so far this year and shouldn’t be taken lightly by any player on this team. But the season is NOT over if the Bucs aren’t able to pull this one out.
Will They Win?
This Tampa Bay defense will be playing with a chip on their shoulder. Not only did Falcons QB Kirk Cousins eclipse 500 yards against the Bucs in week six, but this Bucs defense is coming off another performance giving up 500 yards.
Knowing how good this Bucs defense can be, it should be a completely different looking game against the Falcons this time around. Head coach Todd Bowles will have a plan put together that should put these Tampa Bay defenders in position to sack and intercept Cousins.
It won’t matter how many offensive stars are injured if your defense is consistently giving up high yardage, high scoring games to opposing offenses. It has to start with the defense plugging up Atlanta rushing lanes and shutting down the pass, then it will be fun to see what Baker Mayfield and his new arrangement of weapons are capable of.
Should Tampa Bay win this week against the Falcons? Yes. Is it a must win game, or the season is over, type game for the Bucs? No, it isn't to that point yet.
Atlanta Falcons (4-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)
Sunday, October 27, 1:00 p.m. ET
Raymond James Stadium (capacity: 65,844)
Tampa, Florida
Television: FOX
TV Broadcast Team: Adam Amin (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst), Pam Oliver (reporter)
Radio: 98Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM), Flagship Station
Radio Broadcast Team: Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (analyst), T.J. Rives (reporter)
Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente
Spanish Radio Broadcast Team: Carlos Bohorquez (play-by-play), Martin Gramática (analyst)
These Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had the highest of highs in 2024, and now it feels as if they're reaching the lowest of the lows. This team is coming off a 41-31 loss to Baltimore on Monday Night, but more importantly left that game with an injury to their two star receivers.
The 4-3 record the Bucs have is liveable moving into their week eight matchup against Atlanta, but this game is officially urgent to win and potentially enters must win territory. Since Tampa Bay lost in week five to the Falcons, a loss would forfeit the tiebreaker of the division to Atlanta and this Bucs team would be playing from behind already.
Is It Truly A Must Win Game Already?
It’s only week eight. Yes, losing the tie breaker to Atlanta would sting and not be beneficial to winning the division at all. But you can’t get too high and you can’t get too low in the NFL.
These teams come into the week with the same record. There’s still ten weeks remaining in the NFL and this Buccaneers team would trail the Falcons by a single game.
A loss would sting, but not a harder sting than losing two star players, especially the one in emotional-fashion that was season-ending. It’s an opportunity for the new targets to step up and show who they are.
This early season matchup will end the series between Atlanta and Tampa Bay already, it’s the biggest game so far this year and shouldn’t be taken lightly by any player on this team. But the season is NOT over if the Bucs aren’t able to pull this one out.
Will They Win?
This Tampa Bay defense will be playing with a chip on their shoulder. Not only did Falcons QB Kirk Cousins eclipse 500 yards against the Bucs in week six, but this Bucs defense is coming off another performance giving up 500 yards.
Knowing how good this Bucs defense can be, it should be a completely different looking game against the Falcons this time around. Head coach Todd Bowles will have a plan put together that should put these Tampa Bay defenders in position to sack and intercept Cousins.
It won’t matter how many offensive stars are injured if your defense is consistently giving up high yardage, high scoring games to opposing offenses. It has to start with the defense plugging up Atlanta rushing lanes and shutting down the pass, then it will be fun to see what Baker Mayfield and his new arrangement of weapons are capable of.
Should Tampa Bay win this week against the Falcons? Yes. Is it a must win game, or the season is over, type game for the Bucs? No, it isn't to that point yet.
Atlanta Falcons (4-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)
Sunday, October 27, 1:00 p.m. ET
Raymond James Stadium (capacity: 65,844)
Tampa, Florida
Television: FOX
TV Broadcast Team: Adam Amin (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst), Pam Oliver (reporter)
Radio: 98Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM), Flagship Station
Radio Broadcast Team: Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (analyst), T.J. Rives (reporter)
Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente
Spanish Radio Broadcast Team: Carlos Bohorquez (play-by-play), Martin Gramática (analyst)
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