The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have little time contemplate the ramifications of their Week 14 loss to the New Orleans Saints, as they will be back on the playing field just four days later, against another heated NFC South rival. And they will be back on the prime-time national stage for the fourth time this season.
The Atlanta Falcons will visit Raymond James Stadium on Thursday, December 11, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast by Amazon Prime Video. It will be the final game of a three-game homestand and chance for the Buccaneers to get a season sweep over the Falcons after a 23-20 win in Atlanta in Week One.
The game will be played with first place in the NFC South at stake. The Bucs dropped to 7-6 with their loss to the Saints, which dropped them into a tie with the 7-6 Carolina Panthers, who were idle in Week 14. The Buccaneers still technically hold the top spot in the division to a common games tiebreaker, but it is highly likely two head-to-head games with the Panthers in Weeks 16 and 18 will decide the South champion.
Tampa Bay's loss to a 2-10 Saints team came on a very rainy afternoon, with the Buccaneers offense turning the ball over on downs five times in a 24-20 final. The Buccaneers ran for 179 yards but went three for 13 on third downs and two for seven on fourth downs to suppress their scoring opportunities. Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough ran for two long touchdowns, including what proved to be the game winner in the fourth quarter.
Atlanta also lost at home in Week 14, getting blown out by the red-hot Seattle Seahawks, 37-9. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins was intercepted twice and limited to 162 yards on 30 pass attempts. Atlanta's defense gave up three touchdown passes to Sam Darnold, 365 total yards of offense and six conversions in 13 third-down tries.
The all-time series between the Buccaneers and Falcons is currently tied at 32-32. The lead has changed hands nine times through the years, and that could become 10 if the Bucs can finish off the season sweep on Thursday night. Tampa Bay's three previous time games this season were a Monday night win in Houston in Week Two, a Monday night loss in Detroit in Week Seven and a Sunday night loss to the Rams in Los Angeles in Week 12.
