Atlanta at Tampa Bay
TAMPA (Interstat) — The Atlanta Falcons will visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in a National Football League game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The forecast at game time is 82 degrees. Both teams are in the NFC South.
Atlanta enters at 3-4. Tampa Bay is 2-5. The Falcons are coming off a 29-20 home win against San Francisco. Michael Penix Jr. completed 25 of 34 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns in that victory. Penix also completed 19 of 33 for 225 yards and three touchdowns against Chicago and had one rush for 1 yard; 19 of 32 for 240 yards and one touchdown against Baltimore and had two rushes for 8 yards; and 15 of 20 for 223 yards and one touchdown at New Orleans. Over his past four games, Penix has passed for 901 yards and eight touchdowns. Mike Hughes and Brandon Dorlus each had two tackles in the San Francisco win. Atlanta has also beaten New Orleans 45-24 and Green Bay 35-14, while losing to Chicago 31-23, Baltimore 30-23 in overtime, Carolina 34-3 and Pittsburgh 20-13. Atlanta’s most recent road results include a 45-24 win at New Orleans and a 35-14 win at Green Bay. Atlanta’s win against San Francisco followed a 31-23 loss to Chicago.
Tampa Bay is coming off a 43-13 win at Carolina. Baker Mayfield completed 7 of 11 passes for 64 yards and one touchdown and had one rush for 1 yard. SirVocea Dennis and Bauer Sharp each had two tackles in the win. The Buccaneers have also lost to Pittsburgh 26-19 in overtime, Green Bay 17-14, Minnesota 23-16, Cleveland 23-19 and Cincinnati 33-27, and they beat Dallas 24-16. Tampa Bay’s win at Carolina followed a 26-19 overtime loss to Pittsburgh.
Penix has thrown for at least 213 yards and multiple touchdowns in each of his past four games. Mayfield completed 7 of 11 passes for 64 yards and one touchdown in his most recent game. The Falcons have scored 45 points in a game this season, and the Buccaneers have scored 43. Atlanta is scheduled to host Cincinnati, Kansas City, Detroit and New Orleans and to visit Minnesota, Cleveland, Washington, Carolina and Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is scheduled to visit Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Atlanta and New Orleans and to host Carolina, the Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans and the Los Angeles Rams. The teams are scheduled to meet again later this season in Atlanta.
Interstat’s game simulator projects Tampa Bay to win 36-27. Interstat’s ELO system gives Tampa Bay a 64.9% probability to win. Tampa Bay is a 2-point favorite, and the over/under is 43.5.