Buccaneers: Analyzing potential changes in the point spread
By Brian DeFeo
Week Fifteen Monday Night Football Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Bucs
Vegas Spread: Bucs (+1.5)
The Bucs biggest scheduled prime time game is at home against the Atlanta Falcons in what should be pivotal action with playoff implications. Entering the final stretch with three division games remaining, these are the most important games on the Bucs schedule.
For the second time in four weeks the Bucs take on the Falcons giving both teams relevant tape on each other to fix any mistakes they made in week twelve. The Bucs are still not favored at home against the defending NFC champions. The only way to change Vegas’ mind is to win games. The Falcons might not make it to the Super Bowl again this year but they are favorites to win the division. The Bucs can make another statement here because of home field advantage.
The key will be to slow down that offense. Whomever is running the football by week 15 will be an important player in this one. The Bucs will need to control the tempo, and that means run the football. On defense, they will have to get after Matt Ryan. The Patriots proved that there is a formula to take that offense out of a game. Tampa will make it close trying, especially with this game being at home.