Falcons vs. Buccaneers 2016: Who to Watch in Home Opener

All of the waiting and anticipation has come to a close. It's time to take a look at who to watch when the Falcons take the field against the Bucs.

Matt Ryan, Quarterback

I tend to stay away from the most obvious names, but this game holds a lot of importance for many reasons. For Matt, this game is a chance to prove that he's made real strides in year two of Shanahan's scheme. Not to mention the added importance of it being a divisional matchup. With Ryan being a perfect 8-0 in home openers, I'm excited to see what kind of show he puts on this Sunday.

Desmond Trufant, Cornerback

Sean Tomlinson of Bleacher Report brought up a cool little stat. "During the 12 games when Evans didn't have to concern himself with Trufant in 2015, he averaged 84.4 receiving yards. When he squared off against Trufant, that average dropped to 54.5 yards", said Tomlinson. We all know Trufant is one of the league's most underrated players, but it's interesting to see Trufant still giving opponents with clear height advantages night terrors.

Vic Beasley, Edge Rusher

We've all heard the concerns for Beasley's pass rush, but we know for a fact that the ability is there. For the second year player from Clemson, it's all about turning that talent into sacks. We saw the flashes at the end of 2015, and Atlanta desperately needs him to show up against a talented quarterback like Jameis Winston.

Who are you watching in the Georgia Dome's last home opener?