Buccaneers-Falcons Preview Capsule
TAMPA BAY (3-7) at ATLANTA (3-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox
OPENING LINE - Falcons by 3ˆ½
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Buccaneers 2-8, Falcons 4-6
SERIES RECORD - Falcons lead 27-24
LAST MEETING - Falcons beat Buccaneers 34-31, Dec. 30, 2018
LAST WEEK - Buccaneers lost to Saints 34-17; Falcons beat Panthers 29-3
AP PRO32 RANKING - Buccaneers No. 27; Falcons No. 24
BUCCANEERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (8), RUSH (11), PASS (8)
BUCCANEERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (30), RUSH (7), PASS (31)
FALCONS OFFENSE - OVERALL (18), RUSH (28), PASS (6)
FALCONS DEFENSE - OVERALL (21), RUSH (15), PASS (24)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Falcons have won last five meetings between division rivals. Buccaneers last beat Atlanta on Sept. 11, 2016. ... Falcons are on two-game winning streak after starting season 1-7. ... Tampa Bay has lost five of its last six. Loser of game will fall into sole possession of last place in NFC South. ... Bucs QB Jameis Winston, in final year of rookie contract, leads NFL with 22 turnovers, including league-high 18 interceptions. He had four picks in loss to Saints, third time he's had three or more in game this year. ... That doesn't bode well against Atlanta, which had four interceptions in win over Panthers. ... Even with turnovers, Winston has thrown for 300-plus yards in franchise-record five consecutive games. ... Atlanta has really turned up pressure last two weeks. After league-worst seven sacks through first eight games, Falcons got to quarterback 11 times in wins over New Orleans and Carolina. ... Falcons defense has not allowed touchdown in 10 consecutive quarters, streak that began in second half of loss to Seattle. Before dramatic about-face, Falcons ranked last in takeaways and sacks and third worst in points allowed. ... Falcons TE Jaeden Graham has two catches for 23 yards against Carolina, doubling career output. He teamed with Luke Stocker to fill in for injured Austin Hooper. ... With RB Devonta Freeman sidelined by toe injury, Falcons are coming off 54-yard rushing effort against Panthers. Brian Hill was held to 30 yards on 15 carriers. ... Kenjon Barner became second straight Falcons player to claim NFC special teams player of week award. He had 79-yard punt return for touchdown against Carolina. ... Fantasy Tip: Both teams have stellar receiving corps, and they'll be going against suspect secondaries. Look for Tampa Bay's Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to put up big numbers. Ditto for Atlanta's Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, who had eight catches for 143 yards and TD last weekend.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL