Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Complete Week 10 Preview for Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers get a shot at revenge this week, as they play host to the Atlanta Falcons, who embarrassed them on a national stage early in the season.
An injury-riddled Tampa Bay team got down 35-0 at halftime to Atlanta in Week 3, ultimately falling, 56-14, on Thursday Night Football.
The Falcons have struggled since, managing just a 2-6 record, while Tampa Bay continues to wonder how preseason expectations could have been so high as it currently sits at 1-7. A huge overhaul in the offseason—from front office to coaching staff to roster—had Bucs fans looking forward to a quick turnaround under new head coach Lovie Smith, but the growing pains of breaking in a new regime have left a sour taste in their collective mouth.
Smith says his team is better than their record indicates, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times:
"(The) record doesn't show it right now, but we're a better football team. Offensively, yes. Our offensive line did some good things last time out. I think receiver-wise, you look at our passing game right now, we can do some things with it...Eventually the wins have to come, and our offensive stats have to say that.
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Will a home-field advantage do anything to change the Bucs' fortunes this time around? Will a change at quarterback spark Tampa Bay's lackluster offense? Will strong words from Smith and defensive captain Gerald McCoy light a fire under the Bucs' underachieving talent?
Here's everything you need to know heading into this week's NFC South showdown.
Bucs Week 9 Recap
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Despite multiple opportunities for a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter, the Bucs fell to the Cleveland Browns 22-17 on the road last week.
Despite tallying three sacks and two interceptions, the Bucs' league-worst pass defense allowed Brian Hoyer to throw for 300 yards, completing 21 of his 34 passes and a pair of touchdowns, hitting rookie undrafted free agent Taylor Gabriel for the go-ahead score in the final period.
Mike Glennon threw two touchdowns of his own, but numerous poor throws and two key interceptions cost his team points. The performance helped lead to his benching for this week's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Glennon missed on multiple deep throws to rookie Mike Evans that could have been touchdowns, one of which was intercepted, tip-drill style, by Donte Whitner off a deflection by Joe Haden.
Bobby Rainey rushed for 80 yards in the first half for Tampa Bay, but strangely he was given the ball just four times in the second half, despite the game remaining close to the end. Rainey ended with 121 total yards on 20 touches, despite running behind a struggling offensive line that was without starting left tackle Anthony Collins.
Despite the missed throws from Glennon, Evans was dominant all afternoon, hauling in seven passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns. The rookie wideout caught what looked to be a key fourth-down conversion on Tampa Bay's final drive of the game, but he was called for offensive pass interference, which led to a turnover on downs on the next play.
Gerald McCoy continued to prove worthy of his recent big-money extension, tallying his fourth and fifth sacks of the season.
The Bucs lost despite holding the Browns to under two yards per carry on the ground while outgaining Cleveland 365-330 in total offense.
News and Notes
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Back to McCown
After making some costly mistakes in last week's loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Bucs are turning back to Josh McCown as their starting quarterback. The veteran has recovered from the sprained thumb on his throwing hand and will see his first action since leaving Tampa Bay's Week 3 drubbing at the hands of the same team they face this week.
Head coach Lovie Smith had cited multiple reasons for the change, according to Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune:
"It’s the same with every position. You look at the production and what we’re getting at the time, and I just think we need better play at the quarterback position right now. So, you start with that. Then I go back and (McCown) was our starter before an injury. And right now we need a little boost. But if the play isn’t what we think it should be, we’re going to see if there’s another option. That’s where we’re at.
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Lovie's Way or the Highway
Tampa Bay's 1-7 record through the first half of this season has fans questioning the team's decision to hire Smith as the team's head coach. Whether it's his coaching style, defensive scheme or lack of offensive production over his NFL tenure, plenty of questions have been swirling about whether or not Smith's ways can succeed in today's NFL.
But according to the team's vocal on-field leader, Gerald McCoy, Smith has made it clear that he's not changing any time soon, per ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas:
"I said Coach has been letting guys know we're going to do things one way around here. His way. He knows his way works and that's what we're going to do. Bottom line is that's the head coach and his way he believes works. How I was raised is whoever is in authority and whatever rules they have set in place is what you do. That's what I'm preaching.
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Yasinskas notes that Tony Dungy had similar struggles in his first season as head coach in Tampa Bay, and it's well known that Smith is a Dungy disciple. Fans can only hope their new lead man can take their defense to the same heights enjoyed under Dungy.
Time to Let Loose?
When you've only one a single game in eight tries, it's not exactly a recipe for the most jovial football team, whether on the field or in the locker room.
But ask McCoy and he'll say that it's important for players to enjoy the short time they spend on the field, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com:
"I always try to preach to have fun. This is a very short-lived game. Even on Sundays, before you know it…it seems like it's a long game, and everybody says, 'Oh, it's a long game, it's not over 'til it's over,' but you blink your eyes and there are two minutes left in the fourth quarter and you ain't had no fun all day. I always tell guys, you've got to enjoy it while you have it because there are tons of people who would do anything to switch places with you. We've just got to have fun regardless of what the result is.
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McCoy has been trying to set the tone for his teammates with strong comments over the past couple of weeks. Hopefully, they'll respond to his call for them to relax and let loose on the field this week, and it'll translate into a improved performance.
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| Lavonte David | LB | Limited Participant |
| Vincent Jackson | WR | Limited Participant |
| Alterraun Verner | CB | Did Not Participate |
| Michael Johnson | DE | Limited Participant |
| Doug Martin | RB | Did Not Participate |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | TE | Limited Participant |
| Anthony Collins | OT | Did Not Participate |
| Akeem Spence | DT | Did Not Participate |
| Charles Sims | RB | Limited Participant |
| Brandon Magee | LB | Limited Participant |
| Luke Stocker | TE | Limited Participant |
*All injury statuses courtesy of Buccaneers.com, based on participation in Thursday's practice.
This is as lengthy an injury report as the Bucs have seen this season, and there are some key areas of concern.
Verner (hamstring) has yet to practice this week, which won't do anything to help the league's worst pass defense as it faces the likes of Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White. Collins (foot) missed last week's game and hasn't practiced yet either, so don't be surprised if Oniel Cousins starts at left tackle for the second straight week.
Martin (ankle) also missed last week's game and has yet to practice this week, while Sims (ankle) was recently activated from the early-return injured reserve. Look for Martin to be inactive again this Sunday, with Sims getting worked in slowly behind starter Bobby Rainey in the backfield.
If the Bucs are without Spence (hamstring) this week, it will leave them incredibly thin at defensive tackle behind Gerald McCoy and Clinton McDonald, which doesn't bode well for stopping a deep Atlanta backfield.
Bucs fans got a scare when Lavonte David (knee) left last week's loss after a nasty block from Cleveland rookie Terrance West. However, David has practiced on a limited basis this week and should be good to go on Sunday.
The rest of the names on this list shouldn't be in danger of missing this week's game, but tomorrow's practice could point the arrow in the other direction.
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X-Factor and Matchups to Watch
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Falcons receivers vs. Bucs secondary
This was a matchup that got ugly early and often in the Bucs' Week 3 drubbing at the hands of these same Falcons, and things don't look much better for Tampa Bay this time around.
Roddy White missed that game with an injury, but Julio Jones ravaged the Tampa Bay pass defense to the tune of 161 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions. Matt Ryan had an absolute field day against the Bucs defensive backs, completing 21 of his 24 passes for 286 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, before giving way to backup T.J. Yates.
With Alterraun Verner yet to practice this week due to a hamstring injury, it could be another long four quarters for Tampa Bay's last line of defense.
Michael Koenen vs. Devin Hester
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a punter should be in want of a kick that goes out of bounds instead of into the hands of Devin Hester.
Unfortunately, Koenen failed to acknowledge this truth in Week 3, and it led to a record-breaking touchdown for Hester and a backbreaking loss for the Bucs.
Tampa Bay's special teams were a huge problem last week, and the punting game hasn't been a strength for this team all season. This week, Koenen can't afford to again make the mistake of kicking to the greatest returner in NFL history.
Josh McCown vs. his memory
Crowned the starter immediately after signing with the Bucs this offseason, McCown played poorly through two-and-a-half games before injuring the thumb on this throwing hand. Costly mistakes and an overall lack of efficiency in commanding the offense have many Bucs fans assuming his return to the starting job is a sign the team is packing it in for the season.
If the veteran wants to prove that theory wrong, he'll have to clear his memory of the terrible decision-making and turnovers that plagued him early in the season. If he can't shake the demons and keep recent history from repeating itself, it could be another ugly outing the the Bucs.
Bucs X-Factor of the week: RB Charles Sims
Much ado was made about the rookie third-rounder being activated from the Injured Reserve/Designated for Return list prior to last week's game, but Sims wasn't part of the 43-man active game-day roster.
This week, however, it looks like the former West Virginia standout will get his first regular-season action in a Bucs uniform, coming off a preseason ankle injury that required surgery.
Don't expect Sims to be any kind of immediate savior for the Bucs' offensive woes, but he should provide a welcomed spark with his explosiveness and big-play ability, especially as a receiver out of the backfield. Don't be surprised if he sees 10-15 touches this week and flash the ability that made the Bucs draft him high despite a seemingly deep backfield.
Prediction
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The Falcons are 2-6, playing some pretty poor football and likely seeing the last days of Mike Smith as their head coach.
Their defense is struggling mightily, and despite a having a top quarterback and a plethora of offensive weapons, Atlanta has looked much more like last year's injury-riddled team than the 2012 version that was just yards away from a Super Bowl berth.
Unfortunately for Bucs fans, their team is still worse.
Tampa Bay isn't quite as banged up as they were in Week 3 coming off a quick turnaround for a Thursday game, but I still don't expect them to hang with the team that humiliated them 56-14 on national television back in September.
On paper, the Bucs should have a shot. I won't believe it until I see it on the field.
PREDICTION: Falcons 38, Bucs 24
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