ATLANTA (2-6) at TAMPA BAY (1-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
OPENING LINE -- Falcons by 1½
RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Atlanta 3-5, Tampa Bay 3-5
SERIES RECORD -- Tied 21-21
LAST MEETING -- Falcons beat Buccaneers 56-14, Sept. 18, 2014
LAST WEEK -- Falcons had bye, lost to Lions 22-1 on Oct. 26; Buccaneers lost to Browns 22-17
AP PRO32 RANKING -- Falcons No. 27, Buccaneers No. 31
FALCONS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (8), RUSH (25), PASS (7).
FALCONS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (32), RUSH (25), PASS (30).
BUCCANEERS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (31), RUSH (29), PASS (26).
BUCCANEERS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (31), RUSH (18), PASS (31).
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Atlanta has won two of past three in series between NFC South rivals. Since division formed in 2002, Falcons lead 13-12. They built 56-0 advantage in September meeting. Bucs scored late on Danny Lansanah interception return and Vincent Jackson TD reception. ... Falcons have not won since, dropping five straight. ... First game since blowing 21-0 lead in 22-21 loss to Detroit in London. ... Atlanta QB Matt Ryan is 9-4 vs. Bucs. ... Ryan on pace to top 4,500 yards passing for third time. He has 15 TD passes, spread among nine receivers... Falcons WR Julio Jones third in NFC with 53 receptions, has 734 yards, three TDs. ... Bucs QB Josh McCown hasn't played since injuring right thumb at Atlanta, but returns to lineup after missing five starts. ... Bucs rookie WR Mike Evans coming off seven-catch, 124-yard, two-TD performance vs. Cleveland. At 21 years, 73 days he's youngest player in NFL history to have 100 yards receiving and two TDs in a game. ... Jackson has 22 receptions, 322 yards, four TDs in last four games vs Atlanta. ... With RB Doug Martin slowed by ankle injury, Bobby Rainey could get start for Bucs. He rushed for 163 yards and scored three TDs in home win vs. Falcons in 2013. ... Tampa Bay's Gerald McCoy third in league among DTs with five sacks behind Buffalo's Marcell Dareus (7), Minnesota's Tom Johnson (5½). McCoy had two last week against Browns.
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Online:
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