TAMPA, Fla. — The Atlanta Falcons opened their 2025 season with a 23-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Now, in Week 15, the two NFC South teams will have their annual series rematch. This time, the game is set to take place under the lights at Raymond James Stadium for a "TNF on Prime Video" showdown.
Both the Falcons and Buccaneers are coming off home losses. The Falcons lost to the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, while the Buccaneers lost to the New Orleans Saints.
While their records are different — the Falcons are 4-9, the Buccaneers are 7-6 — Atlanta and Tampa Bay have had similar seasons in that each team had a stronger start than its recent run. The Falcons began 3-2 but have since gone 1-7 to reach their current standing. The Buccaneers were 6-2 before but have since gone 1-4.
There is, however, more on the line for the Buccaneers in Thursday's game when it comes to the playoffs. The Buccaneers are fighting to stay atop the NFC South, whereas the Falcons have been eliminated from postseason contention. Tampa Bay has a slight edge over the second-place Carolina Panthers right now despite sharing the same overall record. Atlanta is third. The New Orleans Saints, who are 3-10 and also eliminated, are fourth.
With that in mind, many NFL experts have revealed their Falcons-Buccaneers picks. Check out the full list below:
| Author | Outlet | Pick |
|---|---|
| Jeremy Fowler | ESPN | Buccaneers |
| Dan Graziano | ESPN | Buccaneers |
| Pamela Maldonado | ESPN | Buccaneers |
| Lindsey Thiry | ESPN | Buccaneers |
| Bucky Brooks | NFL Network | Buccaneers |
| Daniel Jeremiah | NFL Network | Buccaneers |
| Colleen Wolfe | NFL Network | Buccaneers |
| Adam Rank | NFL Network | Falcons |
| Claire Brennan | Sports Illustrated | Buccaneers |
| Gilberto Manzano | Sports Illustrated | Buccaneers |
| Matt Verderame | Sports Illustrated | Buccaneers |
| Conor Orr | Sports Illustrated | Falcons |
| Vic Tafur | The Athletic | Buccaneers |
| Pete Prisco | CBS Sports | Buccaneers |
For more complete picks and analysis, visit: ESPN, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic and NFL Network.
