Week 3 of the Buccaneers season will not be forgotten. The Atlanta Falcons beat the Bucs 56-14 on a Thursday night game in front of a national audience. Both teams have since spiraled to the bottom of the NFC South. But make no mistake about it. This is a divisional rivalry between two teams who don't like each other. On Sunday you can throw out the records. Both teams will be desperate for a win. Here's some keys for the Buccaneers to avenge that Thursday night loss:1) FALCONS ROOKIE C JAMES STONE VS BUCS DT GERALD MCCOY
I'm not quite sure where
to start here. The Falcons offensive line has been decimated with injures. Right now they only have one healthy starter in the line up along with T Jake Matthews, whose been battling an ankle injury all year. Then there's the rookie undrafted C James Stone making his second career start for Atlanta. This match up against McCoy should most certainly make every bone in QB Matt Ryan's body tremble. This could likely be McCoy's best statistical day of the season.2) WR'S WHITE & JONES VS CB'S VERNER & BANKS
With the defensive line pressure most certainly being a factor in the game the secondary of the Bucs must challenge the receivers of the Falcons early. I remember the Ravens a few weeks ago, with O-line issues themselves, throwing multiple short passes and having a ton of success. Verner and Banks need to be quick on their feet to attack and challenge the two Falcon stud receivers knowing that Matty Ice won't have the time to distribute the ball vertically.3) ROOKIE-TOWN: EVANS, JENKINS, AND NOW CHARLES SIMS
The Bucs season hasn't lived up to
expectations. The one thing that has is the play of WR Mike Evans and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Evans is coming off of his best game as a Buccaneer and Jenkins has shown he can be a complete TE staying on the field on all three downs. Now enter our third round pick, RB Charles Sims. It looks like all systems go for the rookie running back out of West Virginia. There's really nothing not to like about this kid. He runs the ball with power and speed, and he's about as good a pass catcher and route runner out there. His skill set allows you to be versatile in your play calling and create mismatches. At this point of the season I'm feeding the ball to these three rookies all day and getting their confidence level as high as possible as the Bucs start the second half of the season.4) SECOND TIMES A CHARM FOR QB MCCOWN
The first three starts at quarterback this season are games the veteran McCown wants to forget. Crucial turnovers in all those games plus an injury to his hand led Head Coach Lovie Smith to make a change. McCown's inconsistent play early in the season was uncharacteristic for the journeyman QB after he lit the NFL on fire last season while filling in for Jay Cutler in Chicago. Lets look at it this way for McCown. He's coming off the bench as a Buccaneer now. Maybe that role creates the drive and motivation he needs to make the most of the Bucs last eight games of the season. In this game vs the Falcons, I want to see all of McCown's skill sets be utilized. His athletic ability is a huge reason why he’s still in the league. He needs to use it this week. Take what the Falcons give you, and when the windows close up, use your legs and move the chains. Stats aren't important for me to see. I's four quarters of efficient play that will put the Bucs in a position to win the game.
