The Falcons shocked the NFL by coming away with the big upset victory over the previously-undefeated 49ers in Week 7. That win put Atlanta at 3-4 and, somehow, in the driver’s seat for the NFC South heading into Week 8. With the Panthers falling to the Packers on Thursday Night Football, the Falcons now have an opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the division for the first time this season.
Standing in their way are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who managed to claw their way back to 2-5
despite an 0-4 start to the season. The Bucs are fresh off a thrashing of the aforementioned Panthers, where they ran the ball over 40 times and capitalized on four Carolina turnovers. Whether that performance is replicable or simply a blip on the radar remains to be seen.
The consensus seems to be leaning towards the Bucs, with Tampa Bay currently 2.5-point home favorites over the Falcons in Week 8 per FanDuel. Can Atlanta take care of business on the road to get back to .500 and take control of the division?
Falcons vs Bucs Week 8 predictions
The Bucs are certainly not the pushover everyone thought they might be after a very rough 0-4 start to the season. Tampa Bay’s defense has largely played well, creating turnovers and stopping the run at a high level. That’s kept the team in games despite an offense that’s been among the league’s worst and most inconsistent.
Tampa Bay’s offense looks and performs a lot like the Falcons offense of the previous two years under Zac Robinson. In case you haven’t heard, he’s coaching the Bucs offense now—so that shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. When Tampa can run the ball effectively, they can have a lot of success on offense. In both their wins, the Bucs piled up over 240 rushing yards.
However, the passing game has been horrible. Tampa Bay is the NFL’s worst passing attack, 32nd in yards and 32nd in N/YA. When the Bucs have had to lean on Baker Mayfield (or rookie Jalon Daniels), things typically went off the rails. Baker, in particular, has been turning the ball over at a high rate. It’ll be up to Atlanta’s defense to force the Bucs out of their comfort zone and into passing situations, where the Falcons will have the clear advantage.
Doing that is twofold: the Falcons will have to play the run effectively, but they’ll also need to avoid their characteristic slow start on offense. Building a lead and winning the time of possession battle will be key. If the Bucs can’t lean on their run game, they don’t appear capable of winning with the passing game. That’s likely a combination of a depleted receiver room—now without Emeka Egbuka once again—Baker Mayfield’s struggles, and a poor scheme from Zac Robinson.
Offensively, the Falcons are facing an objectively bad matchup. The Bucs excel at stopping the run, and they’ve typically leaned on the blitz and bringing extra rushers. Atlanta played the Ravens and Bears very poorly, and hasn’t managed a good rushing game since Week 4. However, Michael Penix Jr. and the passing game showed a lot of growth against an excellent 49ers defense in Week 7. They proved they could win with an efficient quick passing attack, and Penix has continued to improve and deciphering and managing pressure looks.
We know the Falcons can win, and even dominate, when the run game is working. If it’s not, this team has typically gotten stuck in the mud. This Bucs matchup is another where Atlanta will have to show their passing game chops. Tampa Bay has been great at taking the ball away defensively, but they’ve also given the ball away at a high rate. Turnovers could once again play a major role in this one, for or against Atlanta.
I should also mention that the Falcons have won their last three games in Tampa Bay, and the Bucs are currently 0-4 in their home stadium this season. Will those streaks continue? We’ll find out on Sunday.
Rise up with Falcons fans on the SB Nation app!
Follow every big play and talk through every game-day moment with fans who care just as much as you do.
- Chat live with Falcons fans during each game
- Browse with fewer ads
- Easily move between communities and conversations
- Enjoy faster commenting and posting
Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.
