It’s make or break time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They’ve lost their top two offensive players and could put themselves in position to lose the division if they don’t beat the Atlanta Falcons today. It’s going to take a strong showing from the defense as well as other offensive players stepping up to win this one.

Kirk Cousins’ best game of the year came against this Bucs defense when he had 509 yards and four touchdowns in Atlanta’s overtime win against the Bucs. Meanwhile, 126 of Baker Mayfield’s 179 passing yards went to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans the first time around - so this has to be the “1 Buck Tuck” show in Tampa.

Rachaad White has to be the everything guy for the Bucs in this one. Catching passes, running the ball, picking up blitzes - the Bucs will have to lean heavily on his playmaking ability and hope that this is his big breakout game of the season. That also means they need heavy doses of Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker. While Irving is the elusive, quick guy that can change direction and reverse course to turn nothing into something, Tucker has to be out there punishing defenders and wearing them down. The more punishment Tucker inflicts on his runs, the better things are going to be for Irving and White later in the game.

On the flip side, Bowles needs to be ready for this Falcons passing attack and not leave the middle of the field ripe for the picking all day long. The big difference between this game and the last one is the Cousins didn’t have to go up against Antoine Winfield Jr. and Calijah Kancey in the first meeting. Winfield Jr. can roam the middle of the field and take away some of those easy passes Cousins had the first time around while Kancey helps the pass rush that needs to get pressure on Cousins.

On that Thursday night game, the Bucs pressured Cousins on just 17% of his dropbacks. That number needs to dramatically increase to force Cousins into bad passes and mistakes that Tampa can take advantage of. This is a beat up secondary that will be without Jamel Dean and Tykee Smith, so the best way to help them is get after Cousins quickly and not leave the guys in coverage on islands for extended periods of time. If they don’t, it’s going to look a lot like the first meeting this season.

The Falcons have now won three of the last four meetings between these two teams after the Bucs had rattled off five straight wins from 2020-2022. The all-time series is tied at 31-31 while the Bucs have a 17-15 record at home, having won three of the last five at Raymond James Stadium. That said, the Bucs haven’t won a throwback game since 2009, losing four straight in their creamsicle uniforms.

The Bucs are 2.5-point underdogs with an over/under of 45.5. The Falcons have won six of their last seven against teams with winning records and six straight games when favored following a loss.

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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