The Falcons will look to bounce back and return to the win column as they welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the final home game of the 2020 season.
Atlanta leads the all-time series between the two teams, 28-25, and has won six of the past seven matchups, including a 28-22 overtime win in Week 17 of the 2019 season. Deion Jones intercepted Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston on the first play of overtime and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown to give the Falcons the victory.
HOW TO WATCH
What: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons
- When: Sunday, Dec. 20, 1 p.m. ET
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
- TV: FOX
- TV announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, Daryl Johnston, Pam Oliver
- Radio: 92.9 The Game, the Falcons' official radio network
- Radio announcers: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Dave Archer (color analyst)
- Live Stream: Watch Falcons games live for free in the official Falcons app (iOS & Android) and on AtlantaFalcons.com mobile web.*_Geographic and device restrictions apply. Local & primetime games only. Data charges may apply. _
BROADCAST MAP
Below is the broadcast map for the NFL on FOX games in the late window this weekend, including the Buccaneers-Falcons game (courtesy of 506sports.com):
WEATHER FORECAST
Here's the current forecast for Atlanta on Sunday, according to The Weather Channel:
- Showers
- High/low: 51/40
- 50 percent chance of precipitation
- 79 percent humidity
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Sunday's matchup will feature a Falcons offense that pushes the ball down the field and a Buccaneers defense that limits opponents' explosive plays. Atlanta's offense has completed 86 explosive passes (16+ yards) this season, tied for the most (86 in 2016) through the first 13 games of a season in franchise history and the second-most in the NFL this year. Only Kansas City (91) has more. The Buccaneers defense has limited opponents to an average of 5.1 explosive plays per game this season, the third-fewest in the NFL. Only the Los Angeles Rams (4.4) and the Saints (4.8) allow fewer per game.
Atlanta's offense will look to continue to move the chains on third down this week. The Falcons converted a season-high 75 percent of third down attempts (9-for-12) against the Chargers in Week 14 and have converted 52.3 percent of third down attempts over the past three games. Only the Packers have converted more often over that span in the NFL.
In 24 career games against Tampa Bay, Matt Ryan has passed for 6,291 yards and 36 touchdowns with 16 interceptions for a 94.6 passer rating and 16-8 record. Dating back to 2015, Ryan has passed for at least 300 yards in seven of his past nine games against the Buccaneers.
In eight games under Interim Head Coach Raheem Morris and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, the Falcons defense has limited opponents to 20.1 points per game, the seventh-fewest in the NFL since Week 6. The defense has also forced 13 turnovers in those eight games, including at least one in six consecutive games.
Falcons K Younghoe Koo leads the NFL in points scored (124) and field goals made (33) this season. With one field goal on Sunday, Koo would tie Matt Bryant (34 in 2016 & 2017) for the most made field goals in a single season in franchise history.
