Through The Spyglass: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are just one game out of first place in the NFC South division with the opportunity to overtake the lead if they can win their matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

In this weekly article, BucsGameday will preview the upcoming opponent. We’ll break down their prior season, the moves they’ve made this year, and the top players to watch on the offense and defense to give you insight into what to expect on game day.

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Matchup History

Since the realignment of divisions, the Falcons and Buccaneers have played each other 60 times. Tampa Bay dropped one to the Falcons at home to tie the series up at 30 wins a piece.

Looking Back At 2022

Last season, Atlanta moved on from long-time quarterback Matt Ryan trading him to the Indianapolis Colts for a third-round pick. Replacing him was Marcus Mariota who had an up-and-down season until he was benched for rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder.

The Falcons had one of the league's top rushing units behind rookie Tyler Allgeier and finished with a 7-10 record. The defense however was ranked near the bottom of the league in almost every category. They were 23rd in points allowed, 27th in total yardage, 25th against the pass, 23rd against the run, and managed just 21 sacks on the year.

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What's New In 2023

The Falcons made several moves in free agency to strengthen their defense starting with the addition of Saints co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. They made additions along the defensive line with Calais Campbell and David Onyemata and brought in outside linebacker Bid Dupree as well. In the secondary, they added safety Jessie Bates and traded for former top 10 pick cornerback Jeff Okudah.

On offense, they named Desmond Ridder the starting quarterback and added star running back Bijan Robinson through the draft. They signed Mack Hollins and former Buccaneer Scotty Miller at wide receiver and traded for tight end Jonnu Smith. They recently traded for Rams wideout Van Jefferson as well.

Top Players On Offense

RB Bijan Robinson

Robinson has been electric as a rookie through the first six weeks. He is the ultimate weapon for the Falcons with the ability to line up anywhere on the field. His elusiveness, vision, and ability to make defenders miss make him a difficult player for opponents to bring down.

The Falcons are a run-first team and Robinson will get plenty of opportunities against the Bucs front seven.

WR Drake London

London is the Falcons' number-one receiving option. The 6-5, 200-pound receiver lines up all over the field in Atlanta's offense and uses his frame to box out corners to high-point catches. He has 26 receptions for 329 yards and two scores on the season.

When teams focus too heavily on stopping the run against the Falcons that is when London does his most damage.

OG Chris Lindstrom

Lindstrom is the Falcons' best offensive lineman and one of the better guards in the NFL. He garnered his first Pro Bowl nod in 2022 and was named to the second All-Pro team as well. He is one of the main reasons for the Falcons' dominance in the run game and was rewarded with a deal that made him the highest-paid guard in NFL history this offseason.

Top Players On Defense

DL Grady Jarrett

Jarrett is one of the most underrated defensive tackles in the league. He gives interior linemen fits with his quick get-off and strength to push and collapse the pocket. Jarrett commands double teams to handle his speed-to-power ability and has been one of the most consistent pass rushers at the defensive tackle in the NFL.

Jarrett was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL in October ending his season.

CB A.J. Terrell

Terrell has developed into one of the better cornerbacks in the league. He possesses excellent coverage skills using his long arms to physically disrupt routes and make it difficult for receivers to gain separation. he's a strong tackler with the ability to read and react to plays putting him in a position to come away with interceptions and pass deflections.

Terrell is questionable with a concussion.

S Jessie Bates

Bates is a cerebral player at safety. Equipped with speed, agility, and quick reflexes makes him a force to be reckoned with on the backend. He displays a keen sense of anticipation putting him in the right position to make plays and quarterbacks must know where he is on the field at all times. Bates covers the ground quickly to disrupt passes and create turnovers, he has three interceptions on the season and is a strong tackler.

Final Thoughts

The Falcons have faced an onslaught of injuries, inconsistent play from their quarterback and offense in general, and have just six wins on the season. The NFC South is no beauty pageant but right now Atlanta is the prettiest one at the ball. Their defense has feasted on inept offenses to pad their stats while their offense hasn't been able to score more than 25 points all season. The battle for first is on the line this weekend but should either team really want it?

You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.

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