Buccaneers at Falcons
THE STORY: The rallying cry after the Atlanta Falcons were hammered by the New Orleans Saints last week was they wanted a rematch. That may just be what’s ahead for Atlanta, which backed into the playoffs a week ago and hosts Tampa Bay in what could be a meaningless regular-season finale on Sunday. Currently the No. 6 seed, the Falcons’ ultimate playoff seeding will be decided by other teams – with a matchup against either New Orleans or the Giants-Cowboys winner in the offing. Unless San Francisco loses, New Orleans is locked into the No. 3 seed and a matchup with the sixth seed. As for Tampa Bay, the trendy preseason choice, the Buccaneers have limped to the finish and coach Raheem Morris’ job appears in major peril as a result.
TV: FOX, 4:15 p.m. ET. LINE: Falcons -12, O/U 47
ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (4-11): Quarterback Josh Freeman scored his team's lone touchdown as Tampa Bay snapped a five-game losing skid against the Falcons with a 16-13 home victory earlier in the season. But that was in Week 3 and since then things have completely spiraled out of control for the Bucs. They’ve lost nine straight games, and even Morris said his team lacked any focus last week in a 48-16 thrashing against Carolina. Cornerback Ronde Barber will set the team record for games played on Sunday but it appears that it could be his last with the franchise, which has allowed the most points in the NFL and has scored 20 points only once in the last nine outings. The Bucs are also 1-6 on the road and certainly looking forward to the offseason.
ABOUT THE FALCONS (9-6): The Falcons rushed for only 30 yards in the September setback against the Bucs. They figure to do much better this time. Atlanta has won seven of its last 10 games to reach the playoffs for its second straight season. Last week, the Falcons gave up four touchdown drives of 80 or more yards, atypical for the NFL’s 12th-ranked defense. It’s hard to say how hard the Falcons will go in this game or how long the starters will play. Atlanta is the No. 6 seed and can move to the No. 5 spot only if Detroit loses at Green Bay. That game is scheduled for 1 p.m. so Atlanta will know if its contest has any bearing on the playoff matchups by kickoff time.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Ryan threw for 330 yards in the team’s first matchup. Josh Freeman threw for 180 yards and two interceptions.
2. Roddy White needs four catches for 100 on the season.
3. Bucs star cornerback Aqib Talib was placed on injured reserve 10 days ago.