The opponent: After seven weeks, the Buccaneers, like the Falcons, have four wins and three defeats. Based on their game last Monday, the Buccaneers are not coming off a short week with little rest. In addition, the team around signal caller Baker Mayfield has to compensate for two significant losses: Wide receiver Chris Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle in the last game and will have to undergo an operation that will mean the end of the season. In addition, wide receiver Mike Evans will also have to watch the game from the sidelines for a few weeks due to a hamstring injury. “Those guys are hard to replace,” Morris said of losing Evans and Godwin to the Buccaneers. He also said that the Falcons couldn’t let up despite the two’s absence, because someone else would step in in their place and Baker Mayfield would find a free man. With 3 touchdowns and 370 passing yards in the game against the Ravens, Mayfield showed again, despite the loss, that he seems to be experiencing his second spring of football. The Buccaneers are currently in the top 5 in terms of points scored per game. Players to watch in the game will definitely be tight end Cade Otton, wide receiver Jalen McMillan and the two running backs Rachaad White and Bucky Irving, who will have to be stopped by Atlanta’s defense.
Die Falcons: The team started preparing for the upcoming game hungry. “Next week can’t come fast enough,” safety Justin Simmons said after the loss to the Seattle Seahawks. But in addition to training, the Falcons also attended the annual “Hometown Huddle” community event this week and packed around 1,000 boxes for hurricane relief. A good opportunity to help and at the same time to come together as a team off the pitch. Because the division rivals are not an easy opponent for Atlanta, but rather a team that likes to score a lot of points in a game. In contrast, the Falcons’ defense currently ranks 22nd in points allowed per game. Morris and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and the staff have to turn this adjustment screw. Above all, they have to finally get Atlanta’s pass rush going, which currently seems too harmless as Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was only sacked once in the entire game last weekend. But the offense also has to score more points and exploit the Buccaneers’ weak point – namely their defensive performance from the last game. Five touchdowns allowed by Tampa’s defense in the game against the Ravens – that should also be the goal of Cousins and his offense. Angry runs by running back Tyler Allgeier and clean pocket work by signal caller Cousins, especially to serve go-to guy Drake London and get him into the end zone: that’s the key to success against Tampa Bay.
Good to know: Since 1990, 64.1 percent of teams that were 5-3 after eight weeks have made it into the playoffs, compared to just 32 percent of 4-4 teams. The statistics show: A win in Tampa is essential. But the US experts are also in good spirits. The game preview picks are 100 percent on Atlanta. And us too! Rise Up, Falcons fans and don’t forget: Due to the time change, the Falcons game this Sunday will exceptionally start at 6:00 p.m.!
