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We won’t have to wait very long for the Atlanta Falcons to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and I’m legitimately excited for this game. The divisional games have been few and far between this year, and any time you’re facing a squad loaded with former players and coaches, you’ve got something to prove.
For the Falcons, this game is about extending their winning streak to three games, running their record to 7-4, and putting together yet another solid effort after such a mixed bag during their first eight contests. Atlanta needs to beat Tampa Bay to continue to show that they’re a contender, to get their first win in the NFC South, and to show that Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith aren’t going to beat them. No sir.
For Tampa Bay, this is already a lost season, so they’re just trying to hang in, keep their heads high, and build on something for next year. There’s no real way to know whether Dirk Koetter and company will return in 2018 after an uneven tenure, but this Bucs team has to start getting more out of the talent it has and play quality football, either way. Right now, every other team in the NFC South looks better than them by a significant margin.
Let’s hope Atlanta walks out of this one with a win. Here’s what you need to know to watch today.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 12
Time: Sunday, November 26, 1 p.m. EST
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
TV Channel: FOX
Announcers: Booth: Dick Stockton & Marc Schlereth
Radio: 92.9 The Game
Odds: The Falcons are favored by two scores
Prediction: Falcons win, 34-23
Key Questions: Will the Buccaneers be able to put up enough points on this Falcons defense to keep this one close? Can their anemic pass defense actually stop Atlanta, which has had a bit of an up-and-down season to this point? Will Tevin Coleman get all the yards, or just most of them?
SB Nation Opposition Site: Bucs Nation
Twitter: @TheFalcoholic
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