It’s Halloween night, the scariest night of the year, and there is plenty that should strike fear into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of their Week 8 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Playoff hopes are on the line, as a win would put Tampa Bay within a half-game of first place in the NFC South, complete with head-to-head tiebreakers over the Falcons and Panthers. But a loss would see the Buccaneers fall to 2-6, and barring a miracle second-half run, could effectively end their playoff chances.
As they enter a must-win game, what should scare Bucs fans the most about the Falcons matchup?
Buccaneers must fear these nightmare scenarios vs. Falcons in Week 8
Falcons shut down the Buccaneers’ run game
In the two games the Buccaneers have won this year, they’ve established a strong running game, totaling over 240 yards on the ground in each contest.
While their rushing attack has been explosive, the Buccaneers are ranked dead-last in passing offense. They simply can’t win games without establishing the run.
The bad news for Tampa Bay is that the Falcons are one of the league’s best rush defenses, ranking No. 4 in the NFL and allowing just 89 yards per game. Running on that defense won't be as easy as taking (Halloween) candy from a baby. If Atlanta shuts down the Bucs’ ground game, it could be a long day for Tampa Bay.
Baker Mayfield lays an egg
If the Falcons do bottle up the Bucs’ run game as mentioned above, it’ll be up to Baker Mayfield and the passing offense to carry the offense.
Mayfield has been disappointing this season, going 1-3 as a starter, recording four total touchdowns and five turnovers.
Asking him to carry the offense in his second game back from a dislocated thumb injury is far from ideal. If he fails to connect with his receivers and the offense is as ineffective through the air as it’s been all season, it’ll be a nightmare for Tampa Bay.
Kyle Pitts dominates the Buccaneers *again*
There’s nothing scarier than Kyle Pitts showing up at Raymond James Stadium, the home of some of the best games of his career.
Last season, he caught 11 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Falcons past the Bucs. In his 2024 trip to Tampa Bay, he caught four passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
Pitts is the Buccaneers’ kryptonite, and the thought of him dominating at Raymond James Stadium once again is more frightening than any Halloween costume out there.
Add us as a preferred source on Google