Thursday. September 18
8:25 pm ET @ Georgia Dome (CBS/NFLN)
The Buccaneers have had the benefit to be “drama-free” but not so fortunate in the wins column. Coming is as the second-worst passing team in the league, the Bucs are yet to find a spark. In the first two games of the regular season, Josh McCown is 38 for 56 for 362 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs, and 2 fumbles. Both games were played at home and yet the Bucs were able to find a way to lose at home. Oddly, both of those visiting teams (Carolina and St. Louis) were playing with back-up quarterbacks. The defense hasn’t been as anemic as the offense, and is tied for 10th in points allowed and 14th overall in the NFL. It will be the offense that needs to shape up, with star WR Vincent Jackson is yet to touch 100 receiving yards. The calls for Mike Glennon will get louder if McCown is unable to provide more of an offensive spark.
The Falcons have a huge hole that many people have overlooked, even as Matt Ryan was spectacular in Week 1. Their defense has been porous, looking at the yardage and points the Saints and the Bengals were able to put up in Atlanta’s matchups thus far. The Saints racked up over 400 yards of offense in week 1, and last week, Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill were able to combine for 164 rushing yards and one TD each, with Andy Dalton compounding matters by adding 252 yards through the air. Even Mohamed Sanu was able to get in on the act, taking a handoff for a 46-yard bomb. The end product: a 24-10 loss to Cincinnati and Atlanta finishing the opening couple of weeks as the number 32 defense in the NFL. The number two offense has to live with the worst defense in the league.
Fantasy Notes
Start ’em: Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Bobby Rainey (Rushing game will be key)
Sit ’em: Tampa Bay Defense/ST, Josh McCown
Xandro’s Fearless Prediction: Although the Falcons have the worst defense in the league, McCown (or Glennon) will show why they lead the second worst passing offense in the league. Ryan will go off on the lowly Bucs.
Final Score: Buccaneers 10-Falcons 27
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Photo Credit: AP Photo/Frank Victores