The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally found a rhythm, absolutely tearing apart the Carolina Panthers 43-13 with a monster rushing attack and five sacks. But hold up, because their next challenge is a whole different beast: the Atlanta Falcons just wrecked the previously undefeated San Francisco 49ers, handing them their first L of the season. This Sunday at Raymond James Stadium is not just another game, either. It has serious NFC South implications. The Bucs roll in at 2-5, while Atlanta sits at 3-4. Carolina is also 3-4 after losing to Green Bay on Thursday, so a Bucs win would magically put them within half a game of first place, even after that disastrous start. Talk about a must-win scenario!
Mayfield Needs to Sling It, But Who’s Catching?
Baker Mayfield made his comeback from a dislocated right thumb against Carolina, and honestly, the Bucs didn’t even need him to do much. He completed seven of 11 passes for a measly 64 yards and a touchdown. Why? Because the ground game went absolutely bonkers, racking up 258 yards and three touchdowns on 49 carries. But Atlanta’s defense is a whole different animal. They held San Francisco to just 20 points and forced four turnovers in their win. The Bucs cannot just assume they can run all over these guys again. Here’s the kicker: the Falcons rank fourth against the run, allowing only 88.9 yards per game. But flip that script, and they are 29th against the pass, giving up 255.6 yards per game. That is a massive opportunity for Mayfield to air it out. The problem is, they will be missing Emeka Egbuka, who is out with a foot injury. Who is going to step up and make those plays downfield?
Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts Are a Nightmare Combo
Let’s talk about Kyle Pitts, because this dude is a major problem for Tampa Bay. The last time these two teams met, back on December 11, 2025, Pitts absolutely went off against the Bucs. He caught 11 of 12 targets for a mind-boggling 166 yards and three touchdowns in Atlanta’s 29-28 victory. Tampa Bay just could not contain him, and guess what? Pitts is still a seriously dangerous weapon. He is walking into Week 8 with four touchdowns in his last three games. Good news, Bucs fans: Antoine Winfield Jr. is back after missing Week 7 with a rib injury. That gives Todd Bowles another option in coverage, but stopping Pitts from cooking linebackers and defensive backs will take way more than just one player.
And then there’s Bijan Robinson. This offense literally revolves around him. He leads the entire NFL in scrimmage yards with 907, including 704 rushing yards, heading into Week 8. His ability to produce both on the ground and through the air makes him a nightmare to defend, no matter who the Bucs throw at him. Tampa Bay has been excellent against the run, ranking second in the NFL by allowing only 77.3 rushing yards per game. That strength is about to be tested against Robinson and a Falcons offense that averages 149.5 rushing yards per contest. Oh, and Michael Penix Jr. is no slouch at quarterback either. Since returning to the starting lineup, Penix has thrown nine touchdowns against only one interception over five games, rocking a 109.0 passer rating. And Drake London is still one of his primary targets, giving Atlanta a legit threat on the outside while Robinson and Pitts attack everywhere else.
Can That Bucs Pass Rush Save The Day?
So, with all those offensive weapons the Falcons have, how do the Bucs even slow them down? Their pass rush has been *electric*. They recorded five sacks in each of their last two games. That kind of pressure is exactly what they need to disrupt Penix Jr. and keep him from getting the ball to Pitts and London. If they can get to Penix, maybe, just maybe, they can throw off the rhythm of this Falcons offense.
This game is absolutely massive for the NFC South. The Bucs have a shot to claw their way back into the race, but they are going up against a Falcons team that just took down an undefeated squad. Can Tampa Bay’s defense step up against a multi-faceted Atlanta offense, or will Pitts and Robinson run wild again? Sunday is going to tell us everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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