Buccaneers-Falcons capsule

TAMPA BAY (6-10) at ATLANTA (8-8)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox

OPENING LINE - Falcons by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Tampa Bay 7-9, Atlanta 6-10

SERIES RECORD - Buccaneers lead 23-22

LAST MEETING - Buccaneers beat Falcons 23-19, Dec. 6, 2015

AP PRO32 RANKING - Buccaneers No. 20, Falcons No. 19

BUCCANEERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (5), RUSH (5), PASS (17).

BUCCANEERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (10), RUSH (11), PASS (16).

FALCONS OFFENSE - OVERALL (7), RUSH (18), PASS (6).

FALCONS DEFENSE - OVERALL (16), RUSH (14), PASS (18).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter, former Falcons offensive coordinator, making debut. Koetter's defensive coordinator is former Falcons coach Mike Smith, making first return to Georgia Dome. ... QB Jameis Winston threw for 4,042 yards, 22 TDs as rookie as Tampa Bay improved from 2-15 in 2014. ... Tampa Bay looking for first playoff berth since 2007. ... Winston and RB Doug Martin led Buccaneers to highest total offense ranking in team history. Martin was second in NFL with 1,402 yards rushing and fourth with 1,673 scrimmage yards. ... Former Falcons CB Brent Grimes making Tampa Bay debut. ... WR Mike Evans set career highs with 74 catches, 1,206 yards receiving. ... Falcons play NFC South opponents in three of first four games. ... Falcons started 5-0 in Dan Quinn's first season as coach last year. ... QB Matt Ryan had 4,591 yards passing but only 21 TDs, fewest since 2008 rookie season. Ryan's 16 INTs second most of career. ... WR Julio Jones shared NFL lead with 136 catches, led league with 1,871 yards receiving. Marvin Harrison (2002) and Antonio Brown only other players in NFL history with at least 125 catches, 1,700 yards in a season. ... Falcons signed DE Dwight Freeney (119 1-2 career sacks) after ranking last in NFL with 19 sacks. ... RB Devonta Freeman fifth in NFL with 1,634 scrimmage yards in breakout 2015 season: 1,056 rushing, 578 receiving. Fantasy Tip: Freeman led NFL RBs with 14 TDs, including 11 rushing, in 2015. Freeman should remain valuable as Falcons' top back near goal line even as backup Tevin Coleman expected to play bigger role.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL