The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could face wet conditions when they host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 1, at Raymond James Stadium. Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for the Week 8 NFC South matchup, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
According to AccuWeather's forecast for Raymond James Stadium, Sunday's high is expected to reach approximately 79 degrees, with cloudy skies, periods of rain, and the possibility of a heavy thunderstorm. The forecast calls for east-northeasterly winds around 10 mph, with gusts reaching 16 mph.
AccuWeather currently projects a 98% chance of precipitation during the day and a 59% chance of thunderstorms. Those figures represent the overall daytime forecast, not the probability of rain at any particular
point during the game.
Conditions around kickoff should be warm and humid, with temperatures near 80 degrees. Showers are possible during the first half, while thunderstorms could become a concern later in the afternoon. Raymond James Stadium is an open-air venue, meaning rain could directly affect field conditions.
The forecast adds another consideration for a Buccaneers offense that has increasingly relied on its ground game. Tampa Bay rushed for 258 yards in its Week 7 43-13 win over Carolina, with Baker Mayfield completing seven of 11 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.
The Buccaneers enter Sunday ranked third in the NFL with 146.4 rushing yards per game. However, Atlanta presents a considerably tougher challenge than Carolina, allowing just 88.9 rushing yards per game, the league's fourth-best mark.
The Falcons also have a productive ground game, averaging 149.5 rushing yards per contest. Bijan Robinson enters Week 8 with 704 rushing yards and 907 yards from scrimmage, giving Atlanta an established option if heavy rain makes passing more difficult.
Lightning is the biggest weather-related concern. Thunderstorms near Raymond James Stadium could result in a temporary delay under NFL safety procedures. No delay has been announced, and the forecast does not guarantee one.
With both teams fighting for position in the NFC South, weather could become a key factor in Sunday's game. Fans attending should prepare for rain and continue monitoring updated forecasts before kickoff.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers vs. Falcons Week 8 weather: Storms threaten Tampa
