Falcons host Buccaneers in Make-or-Break Game

NFL 2008 Week 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4) AT Atlanta Falcons (8-5) | NFL 2008 Week 15 Analysis, Preview & Prediction

The Atlanta Falcons (8-5) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4) this week, marking the final NFC South Division meeting of the season for both teams.

Both teams lost to NFC South Division rivals on the road last week. The Bucs lost to the Panthers 38-23, while the Falcons dropped a 29-25 decision to the Saints.

Both teams have won 4 of their past 5 games and are still in strong playoff contention.

Currently, the Bucs trail the Panthers by one game in the NFC South, while the Falcons are 2 games behind.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4) at Atlanta Falcons (8-5)

Heading into week 15, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold the NFC's first Wildcard slot, while the Falcons are tied with the Cowboys for the second NFC Wildcard position.

This season, NFC South teams are collectively 24-2 at home. The Atlanta Falcons are 5-1 at home this season. The Falcons only loss at home this season came at the hands of the Denver Broncos 24-20 in Week 11 of the NFL 2008 Season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4) - Atlanta Falcons (8-5) Series

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers own an 18 to 12 edge in the series against the Falcons and have won 12 of the last 16 meetings with the Falcons, including a 24-9 victory over the Falcons in Week 2 (9/14/2008).

In that game, Bucs RB Earnest Graham gained 116 yards, including a 68-yard TD run. Buccaneers QB Brian Griese added 160 yards & 1 TD.

Falcons QB Matt Ryan had his full complement of rookie mistakes against the Bucs in Week 2.

Matt Ryan threw the first interceptions of his career into an aggressive Buccaneers defense. Ryan rebounded and the Falcons showed incredible heart in the second half, but could not overcome his first-half miscues.

Ryan misfired on his first nine pass attempts as the Falcons offense struggled to get into the powerful groove it established the previous week in a victory over the Detroit Lions.

Tampa Bay won both meetings last season with a 31-7 victory at Atlanta followed by a 37-3 win at home.

NFL 2008 Week 14: Carolina Panthers 38, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23

Playing on Monday Night Football for the first time since 2006, Tampa Bay's four-game winning streak came to an end against the Panthers.

Wasted in the loss was WR Antonio Bryant's record-setting performance as he posted nine receptions for a career-high 200 yards, the second-highest run total in franchise history, and two touchdowns.

The Buccaneers offense produced 384 yards and 21 first downs, but the Panthers running attack proved to be the difference as they posted 299 yards on 37 carries, tied for the second-highest total ever surrendered by the Buccaneers defense.

Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter, Bucs CB Ronde Barber picked off QB Jake Delhomme in Buccaneers territory. Tampa Bay drove to the Panthers one-yard line, but had to settle for a K Matt Bryant field goal to tie the game at 3-3.

Set up by a 40-yard RB DeAngelo Williams run, Carolina took a 10-3 lead before halftime on a RB Jonathan Stewart two-yard touchdown run.

On the first drive of the second half, S Jermaine Phillips intercepted Delhomme at midfield and two plays later, QB Jeff Garcia hit WR Antonio Bryant for a 50-yard score and a 10-10 tie. Carolina responded following Bryant's touchdown with a long touchdown pass of its own as Delhomme hit WR Steve Smith for a 38- yard score. Set up by a 39-yard pass to Bryant, RB Carnell Williams tied the score at 17-17 with a four-yard touchdown run on the game's next possession, but the Panthers again responded as Stewart ran in from four yards out to give Carolina a 24-17 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

The Buccaneers punted on their next possession and Carolina followed with another touchdown run as Williams scampered for a 16-yard score and a 31-17 lead. With less than three minutes remaining, Garcia found Bryant in the back of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown, but the extra point was blocked and Carolina held a 31-23 advantage. Bryant's onside kick attempt failed and the Panthers secured the victory as Williams scored his second touchdown of the evening on a 36-yard run with 2:07 left in the contest.

NFL 2008 Week 14: New Orleans Saints 29, Atlanta Falcons 25

Last Sunday, the Falcons fell five points shy of a victory against the New Orleans Saints, losing 29-25.

Quarterback Matt Ryan established a new career-high in passing yards with 315, rushed for his first NFL touchdown and added a passing TD as well.

Wide receiver Roddy White also posted a new career-high after finishing with 164 receiving yards on 10 receptions.

Running back Michael Turner paced a ground attack with 61 yards and tallied his 14th rushing touchdown of the season, which ties a franchise high.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-4)

  • - QB JEFF GARCIA has won his last 6 starts in row vs. the Atlanta Falcons In 9 career starts vs. the Atlanta Falcons, Garcia has completed 160 of 254 (63.0 pct.) for 1,960 yards with 12 TDs vs. 3 INTs for 97.6 passer rating. When Garcia has 95.0 or more rating as starter (including playoffs), his teams are 36-13 (.735)
  • - RB WARRICK DUNN spent 6 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (2002-07) & rushed for 5,981 yards & 30 TDs. Dunn needs 3 catches to become 6th player in NFL history with 10,000 or more rush yards (10,870) & 500 or more receptions (497)
  • - WR ANTONIO BRYANT had career-high 200 yards on 9 catches and 2 touchdowns last week versus the Panthers on Monday Night Football. Bryant needs 64 yards for 2nd career 1,000-yard season
  • - CB RONDE BARBER has 2 TDs in past 3 vs. the Atlanta Falcons Had 41-yard fumble recovery for a TD in 11/18/07 contest & 29-yard INT-TD in 12/16/07 meeting. Has 11 career defensive TDs (fumble recoveries & INT), most among active players & 3rd all-time. DE GAINES ADAMS has 5.0 sacks & 2 FFs in 3 meetings & aims for 4th in row vs. the Atlanta Falcons with sack. S JERMAINE PHILLIPS aims for 3rd in row with INT. Had INT in 12/16/07 meeting

ATLANTA FALCONS (8-5)

  • - Falcons Rookie QB MATT RYAN is 5-1 (.833) at home & has 107.1 passer rating, completing 96 of 144 (66.7 pct.) for 1,411 yards with 5 TDs vs. 1 INT this season. The Falcons are 6-0 when Ryan has 100.0 or more rating
  • - RB MICHAEL TURNER ranks 2nd in the NFL with 1,269 rush yards & ties for 1st with 14 rush TDs. This year, Turner has rushed for 672 yards (112.0 per game) & 12 TDs in 6 home games. When Turner has 8 or more carries, his teams are 19-5 (.792). RB JERIOUS NORWOOD has 6 career TDs & 4 have been 67 or more yards
  • - WR RODDY WHITE had 10 catches for 164 yards last week. White has 72 catches for 1,136 yards (103.3 per game) & 6 TDs in past 11, including 7 100-yard games. In past 5 at home, White has 28 catches for 471 yards (94.2 per game) & 3 TDs, including 3 100-yard games
  • - DE JOHN ABRAHAM has 22.5 sacks in past 28. Abraham has 80.0 sacks since 2000, tied for 3rd most in the NFL and has sacks in 5 of 6 career meetings. DT JONATHAN BABINEAUX had sack in last meeting.

PREDICTION: Atlanta Falcons 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17

No reason to go against the grain here and pick a road team in an NFC South game. More importantly, rookie phenom and Falcons quarterback is a much better player than his dismal NFL 2008 Week 2 performance indicates. Consider that game, Matt Ryan's real NFL debut.

The Buccaneers secondary is still one of the best in the NFL, but without a strong pass-rush on Ryan, the Falcons rookie will not have that much difficulty reading the Bucs defensive schemas.

Falcons host Buccaneers in Make-or-Break Game - NFL 2008 Week 15