Falcons at Buccaneers
THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers missed the playoffs by the slimmest of margins last year. Although Raheem Morris' club won 10 games, a pair of narrow losses to the eventual NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons left the Buccaneers on the wrong end of a postseason tiebreaker. Tampa Bay will look to remedy that situation Sunday when it hosts Atlanta in an early-season division showdown. Both clubs are coming off spirited victories in Week 2. The Falcons survived Michael Vick's return to the Peach State to post a 35-31 win over the Philadelphia Eagles while the Buccaneers overcame a 17-point deficit to rally to a 24-20 triumph over the Minnesota Vikings.
TV: FOX, 4:15 p.m. ET. LINE: Falcons -1, O/U 46
ABOUT THE FALCONS (1-1): While far from aesthetically pleasing, Matt Ryan tossed a career-high four touchdowns on an economical 195 yards passing against the Eagles. Veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez looked spry in prime time, reeling in seven receptions for 83 yards and two scores. Roddy White is Ryan's most trusted target and rookie Julio Jones has already shown the ability to stretch the field. Bruising back Michael Turner, who has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in both games this season, will face a Buccaneers' defense that is allowing 156 yards per game (31st in NFL).
ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (1-1): After receiving just five carries in the season opener, LeGarrette Blount ran for 5.5 yards a clip and matched a career high with a pair of touchdowns against the Vikings. The latter score came with 31 seconds remaining. Blount did not practice on Wednesday, with Morris noting that he is "hopeful" to play with undisclosed injury. Josh Freeman is off to a slow start this season, and he hasn't exactly lit up the Falcons in four career contests (198.5 yards per game).
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Atlanta has won the last five meetings between the clubs, highlighted by a 28-24 win in December. The Falcons foiled a late Freeman rally to win at Raymond James Stadium.
2. Tampa Bay tight end Kellen Winslow has a catch in 78 consecutive contests and Ronde Barber has started an NFL-record 187 straight games by a cornerback.
3. Atlanta's John Abraham has two of the team's five sacks this season. The veteran defensive end has also collected eight sacks in 11 games against Tampa Bay.