Buccaneers vs Falcons: Week 15 game-changing players

Brent Grimes

On that same point, Brent Grimes has a real ability to keep the Atlanta offense in line. The Bucs failed to move the veteran over to cover Julio Jones back in week twelve. That led to a monstrous day for the Falcons’ top threat and a disastrous day for the Buccaneer defense. Perhaps this time around, Tampa Bay will make the wise decision to have Grimes mark Jones. If that happens, it’ll give the Bucs a much better chance.

Grimes, as far as we know, could be playing his final few weeks in a Bucs uniform. He and his wife, Miko, don’t seem to be as happy in Tampa as they were coming into the year. That’s pure speculation, but as he gets up there in age, thoughts of retirement will emerge. Not only that, but if he stays in the league, he will likely want one last shot at a Super Bowl. That would presumably mean signing elsewhere, considering the Bucs are about as far away from a championship as I am from marrying Gal Gadot. Regardless of Grimes’ decision about the future, there shouldn’t be any doubt that he wants to show out over the season’s final three games.

Tampa Bay’s best chance at stopping Atlanta’s offense is putting Grimes on Jones. If they do so, that will be a major matchup to watch. If Grimes can lock down Jones, the Falcons suddenly have to turn elsewhere for their production. They are capable of doing so, but it would be less ideal for Matt Ryan and company.