Falcons Firsts: Records, Milestones at Stake vs. Buccaneers
The Atlanta Falcons (6-10) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) are set to close the regular season Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with few implications on the line for each side.
Despite once having potential for a win-or-go-home Week 18 matchup, the reality is far from that, as the Buccaneers have clinched the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs and the Falcons have a small range of draft slots to be choosing from.
Still, while Atlanta knows its season will end Sunday, the players inside the locker room believe finishing strong can springboard an important offseason - making that just one of many reasons why the Falcons are treating it as a "huge" game, per quarterback Desmond Ridder.
Apart from the team-related reasons - which include beating Bucs quarterback Tom Brady for the first time in 11 tries - there are several individual and franchise records and/or milestones that can be achieved.
Here are some of the most noteworthy ...
- Receiver Drake London needs just three receptions to best tight end Kyle Pitts' 68 catches, a franchise record for receptions by a rookie.
- Running back Tyler Allgeier is exactly 100 rushing yards away from 1,000 and is 124 away from setting a rookie franchise record in the same category. Allgeier needs only 40 yards to surpass Houston Texans runner Dameon Pierce and become the league's leading rookie rusher.
- Return specialist Avery Williams, with an average of 16.2 yards per punt return, is on pace to set a franchise record by over two full return yards.
- Left tackle Jake Matthews is poised to make his 144th consecutive start, which would tie him with center Todd McClure for the second-longest mark in Falcons history.
- Outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter needs one sack, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits to tie his previous career-highs. Carter currently has four, five and 11 in those categories, respectively.
- Ridder, despite throwing 85 passes through three games, is still searching for his first career touchdown, both passing and rushing.
- The Falcons, who currently have 2,544 rushing yards, are 129 yards away from moving into second place in franchise history over a single season.
- Atlanta's three blocked kicks/punts is tied for the most in franchise history. With one apiece in each of the last two games, another one against Tampa Bay would seal the record.
The Falcons will look to make history - and end on a high note - against the Buccaneers at 1 p.m. Sunday.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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