Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) vs. Atlanta Falcons (6-10)
January 8, 2023 1:00 pm EDT
The Line: Atlanta Falcons -3 / Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3; Over/Under: +40
(Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons meet Sunday in week 18 NFL action at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have split their last 10 games. The Atlanta Falcons have lost 6 of their last 8 games.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost 4 of their last 5 road games. Tom Brady is completing 66.6 percent of his passes for 4,610 yards, 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have combined for 2,092 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns, while Leonard Fournette has 72 receptions. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ground game is averaging 76.4 yards per contest, and Fournette leads the way with 668 yards and 3 touchdowns. Defensively, Tampa Bay is allowing 20.5 points and 320.7 yards per game. Devin White leads the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 122 tackles, Vita Vea has 6.5 sacks and Jamel Dean has 2 interceptions.
The Atlanta Falcons have won 5 of their last 7 home games. Marcus Mariota is completing 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Drake London and Olamide Zaccheaus have combined for 1,242 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, while Kyle Pitts has 28 receptions. The Atlanta Falcons ground game is averaging 159 yards per contest, and Tyler Allgeier leads the way with 900 yards and 3 touchdowns. Defensively, Atlanta is allowing 23.1 points and 370.9 yards per game. Rashaan Evans leads the Atlanta Falcons with 154 tackles, Grady Jarrett has 6 sacks and Richie Grant has 2 interceptions.
The Buccaneers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games and 2-11-1 ATS in their last 14 games overall. The Falcons are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games and 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games overall. The under is 11-5 in Buccaneers last 16 games overall. The under is 5-0 in Falcons last 5 games overall. The over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Atlanta and 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.
Todd Bowles says he plans on playing his starters, but that could mean for a series or two. It doesn’t mean they’ll play the entire game, and frankly it would be stupid to with them locked into the fourth seed with no chance of improving. The Atlanta Falcons have been decent at home this season, and I’d assume they can beat the Bucs backups at some point. Send the fans out on a high note while beating the Bucs for the first time in over 3 years. I’ll lay the field goal, banking on Tampa Bay doesn’t play its starters for 60 minutes.
