Falcons always play Buccaneers tough; and Tampa Bay is missing big players Sunday

After back-to-back road losses, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have righted the ship with a two-game winning streak as they prepare for a Week 13 road trip to face the Atlanta Falcons.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sunday’s NFC South showdown:

TOP STORYLINES

Antonio Brown, Mike Edwards Suspended

The big story for the Bucs this week will be who isn’t on the field, as wide receiver Antonio Brown and safety Mike Edwards were suspended three games for misrepresenting their COVID-19 vaccination status to the NFL. Brown is still working his way back from an ankle/heel injury and wasn’t expected to play this week, but Edwards has been one of Tampa Bay’s best playmakers on defense this season. They’ll be eligible to return in Week 16, but the Bucs will have to navigate some challenging matchups without them in the coming weeks.

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Division dominance

The Bucs haven’t won the NFC South since 2007, but they’re inching closer to clinching that title with six games still remaining in the regular season. After the New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, every other team in the division has just five wins each, while the Bucs are enjoying a commanding lead with an 8-3 record. The 5-7 Carolina Panthers are on a bye this week, so a Tampa Bay win over the Falcons would give the defending Super Bowl champs a four-game advantage over the rest of the division.

Injury updates

Tampa Bay still has plenty of big names on the injury report, but there’s still plenty of optimism regarding who should be on the field Sunday. Defensive tackle Vita Vea (knee), left guard Ali Marpet (abdomen), safety Jordan Whitehead (calf) and defensive lineman William Gholston (wrist) were all limited participants in Thursday’s practice, while linebacker Devin White (quad), cornerback Jamel Dean (shoulder) and wide receiver Jaelon Darden (concussion) practiced fully. Outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul didn’t practice Thursday, but he’s played through his shoulder injury without practicing all week multiple times this season. The best news for Bucs fans? All signs are pointing toward cornerback Carlton Davis III (quad) being activated from injured reserve and returning to the starting lineup for the first time since Week 4.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Bucs WR Mike Evans vs. Falcons CB A.J. Terrell

Evans is enjoying one of the best seasons of his impressive NFL career so far this year, but he was held to just 16 yards on three receptions in Tampa Bay’s Week 12 road win over the Indianapolis Colts. He’ll be hoping for a different outcome Sunday, like the one he had against these same Falcons back in Week 2, when he caught five passes for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Terrell has quickly developed into one of the NFL’s most promising young corners, and his combination of size and length should make for an entertaining battle with Evans’ massive frame and physicality.

Falcons’ offensive weapons vs. Bucs’ defense

Today’s NFL features plenty of dynamic talents that transcend traditional position roles, and the Falcons have two prime examples in Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Pitts. Patterson’s versatility has become the engine that powers Atlanta’s entire offensive game plan, while Pitts’ rare combination of size and athleticism make him an elite wide receiver with a tight end’s frame. Key players on Tampa Bay’s defense (White, Vea, Pierre-Paul, Dean) are nursing injuries, which could make the task of defending these explosive playmakers even more challenging.

Bucs’ OL/DL vs. Falcons’ OL/DL

Football is won and lost in the trenches, and the Bucs have a huge advantage on paper in that department, on both sides of the ball. Their defensive front is one of the most dominant in the league, with the NFL’s top-ranked rush defense and one of the most fearsome pass rushes in the league. Tampa Bay’s offensive line has been equally impressive this year, plowing the road for Leonard Fournette and the ground game, while protecting Tom Brady and allowing him to take advantage of his many weapons in the passing game. In contrast, the Falcons have struggled in the trenches all year long, and could face a long afternoon if they don’t elevate their level of play to match the Bucs’ this week.

PREDICTION

The Bucs are coming off a huge statement win on the road against the Colts, one that featured a double-digit comeback in the second half. They still need to prove it wasn’t a fluke, and that their road struggles from earlier this season are truly behind them. Division games on the road are always challenging (see last year’s installment of this matchup in Atlanta, when the Bucs needed another double-digit comeback in the second half to win), but even with the injuries the Bucs are dealing with, there’s no reason the Falcons should be able to hang with them for four quarters. Much like in Week 2, the Falcons should put up some points, and might even keep it close for a while. But the defending champs are simply too talented on both sides of the ball, and they’re coming in with tons of confidence and momentum.

Bucs 38, Falcons 20

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Tampa Bay Buccaneers play at the Atlanta Falcons in 1 p.m. game Sunday