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If you’re the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, you had a bad Monday night. Not only did the Bucs lose to the visiting Baltimore Ravens 41-31 (while giving up 508 yards), but they also lost wide receivers Chris Godwin (dislocated ankle) and Mike Evans (hamstring re-aggravation). Because I lost. ) also fell.
Bucks HC Todd Bowles – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Godwin won’t play again this season (surgery), but Evans will likely be out for about a month. Pending the acquisition, rookie Jalen McMillian is the lead wideout for a team with playoff aspirations.
On Sunday, Tampa will host the Atlanta Falcons for the second time this season between the 4-3 co-leaders in the NFC South. Atlanta won 36-30 in overtime at home three weeks ago. Quarterback Kirk Cousins (508 passing yards, 4 touchdowns) crushed the Buccaneers.
Atlanta lost their last game at home to the Seattle Seahawks, 34-14, giving up 17 points in the first half.
The wideout’s injuries partly explain why visiting Atlanta is a 2-point favorite (46 total points), according to . NFL odds.
Atlanta and Tampa Bay have met 62 times, with the series tied 31-31.
Who are the Falcons?
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins – Photo courtesy of USA Today
It wasn’t that long ago (three weeks) that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had his best game of the season, at least for now. Cousins (42 of 58, 509 yards, 4 touchdowns) I found a way to win in overtime. We will be playing against the same Tampa team.
The Falcons had many close games before that win. Including that game, all of Atlanta’s first five games of the season were one-possession games. Cousins (1,830 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions) was anything but consistent in his first season in Dixie, including two interceptions and a fumble in last week’s game against the Hawks.
Wideouts Drake Rondon and Darnell Mooney combined for eight receiving touchdowns.
From Mayfield…?
Bucks WR Jalen McMillan – Photo courtesy of USA Today
As mentioned above, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are without wide receiver duo Chris Godwin and Mike Evans due to injuries.. They will look to the rest of the wideouts on the roster to be productive. Tampa is confident in their abilities and is not considering adding a receiver from another roster.
Jalen McMillian and Sterling Shepard have combined for 14 catches this season, 62 fewer than Godwin and Evans. Tight end Cade Otton, who had eight receptions (100 yards) in last Monday’s game against the Ravens, got plenty of attention from quarterback Baker Mayfield (1,859 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, seven interceptions). I’m sure they’ll get together, and so will one of the three players. Possible options out of the backfield.
It’s here
According to the NFC South, Atlanta is the favorite at 5-8 (-160) and Tampa Bay is the second favorite at +155. NFL division odds.
The first meeting between the two teams resulted in 70 points in regulation and six more points in overtime.
Even though Tampa Bay tested the depth chart at wide receiver, that’s ultimately what they should get again. It probably won’t be 70 points again, but Tampa’s secondary has been hurt on a regular basis (see Lamar Jackson’s five touchdown passes last Monday).
Remember, these teams allowed a combined 75 points last week, so stopping an opponent was an entirely foreign concept.
Now try 46 or more.
