Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9/19/21 - NFL Picks & Predictions

The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will meet up in the first divisional game when they Falcons travel south to Raymond James Stadium to take on the defending Super Bowl champions. Tampa Bay had their struggles against the Cowboys, needing a 57 yard drive to win the game after the Cowboys took the lead with 1:24 to go, they got down the field and kicked a game-winner as time expired to win their 9th straight game dating back to last season. Atlanta also picked up right where they left off, with a loss, they were dominated in all three facets by the Eagles on their way to 32-6 loss.

Atlanta’s normally high-powered offense looked a step slow without superstar wideout Julio Jones, Matt Ryan completed just 21 of his 35 pass attempts 164 yards and was held without a touchdown. His favorite target of the day was Calvin Ridley who reeled in 5 passes for 51 yards, while highly touted rookie Kyle Pitts was targeted eight times, catching four for 51 yards. THe Falcons run game was surprisingly solid averaging 4.8 yards a carry but ran it just 26 times after falling behind 15-6 heading into half time. 

Atlanta struggled on the defensive end as well allowing second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts to throw for 264 yards and three touchdowns. In total, the Eagles ran up 434 yards without a turnover as the Falcons struggled to stop the run, allowing 173 yards and a touchdown on the ground on their way to 32 points.

The defending champs were clicking on all cylinders offensively week one led by 44-year-old Tom Brady. Brady threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns, he did throw two interceptions but both of them were not on him - one bouncing off the hands of a running back on a screenplay, the other on a hail mary at halftime. Tampa Bay has the best group of weapons in the NFL and with Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski looking healthy as ever, this is a dangerous offensive unit.

The area of concern for Tampa after week one? The defense, and specifically the secondary. Dallas was able to throw for over 400 yards against the Bucs secondary - including one that is now missing a starter with Sean Murphy Bunting. Tampa continued to defend the run well, as they’ve done for the last three seasons, allowing just 60 yards rushing.