Game Scout: Buccaneers at Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-5) at Atlanta Falcons (1-4)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at Georgia Dome, Atlanta - TV: FOX
*TV announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Molly McGrath
*Keys to the game: The Falcons aren't your typical team coming off a bye week, healthy and ready for the stretch run. Atlanta is riding a three-game losing streak, has issues along the offensive line and is minus RB Steven Jackson (thigh) and WRs Julio Jones (out for season) and Roddy White (ruled out due to hamstring/ankle). QB Matt Ryan has been robbed of his primary threats, and the Bucs' defense has performed admirably considering the team's overall struggles. Tampa Bay will be happy to engage in a low-scoring game of field position. The Bucs' ground game has taken a step back -- Doug Martin is averaging 3.5 yards per carry -- due to injuries along the offensive line and opponents daring Tampa Bay to pass. Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan wants to shut Martin down and force rookie QB Mike Glennon to decipher a mix of coverage and blitz packages. Atlanta has turned to plenty of youth on the defensive side of the ball as well, so Glennon can be successful as long as he avoids Nolan's traps.
*Matchup to watch - Bucs WR Vincent Jackson vs. Falcons CB Desmond Trufant: Jackson has built quick chemistry with Glennon, catching nine passes for 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week. Trufant is a talented rookie who boasts five passes defensed.
*Player spotlight - Falcons WRs Drew Davis and Kevin Cone: Meet the pair of 2011 undrafted rookies with a combined one catch this season who will be in line for significant playing time opposite Harry Douglas with White ruled out.
*Fast facts: The Bucs have lost 10 of their past 11 games. ... Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez has caught 22 passes for 246 yards with two touchdowns in his last two games.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
The talk has morphed from Super Bowl run to youth movement in record time in Atlanta, where the Falcons look a lot more like Tampa Bay on both sides of the ball than New Orleans or even Carolina. Two big differences remain, however: playing at home with a veteran quarterback.
*Our pick: Falcons 20-17
