The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead the Atlanta Falcons 9-0 at halftime on a rainy afternoon at Raymond James Stadium. It’s been one of the strangest, most unorthodox games played across the NFL this year.
Baker Mayfield has attempted just two passes, completing none, but Tampa Bay has rushed for 146 yards on 27 attempts to power the offense.
There has been nothing normal about this game, but all that matters is Tampa Bay finds a way to come out on top in this crucial NFC South showdown.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat all the odds against the Atlanta Falcons in the first half
The Falcons entered Week 8 as the NFL’s No. 4 rushing defense, allowing just 89 yards per game. Tampa Bay has obliterated that number in the first half, proving this offensive line can win the battle in the trenches against any opponent.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Tampa Bay has intercepted Michael Penix Jr. three times and held the Falcons scoreless
Penix entered today’s game with only one interception on the season, and Atlanta has scored 31 points per game in his starts, ranking second in the NFL.
The Falcons quarterback is a dismal 2-of-10 for 24 yards and three interceptions. The Buccaneers defense is having an absolute field day.
The fact that the Buccaneers have been able to shut down this explosive offense and also impose their will on Atlanta’s rushing defense is something to behold.
It’s not often that a team can hold a multi-possession lead without completing a single pass, but when your run game and defense are this dominant, the sky is the limit.
Still, there’s a whole half left to play. The Buccaneers’ defense needs to prove they can put together a full four quarters against Atlanta’s star-studded offense. Tampa Bay looked incredible in the first half, but they can’t afford to let Penix and the Falcons get into a rhythm in the second half.
On the other side of the ball, the offense needs to put together a few sustained drives. The running game has been phenomenal, but the Buccaneers can’t rely on its defense to keep pitching a shutout. The Buccaneers need to find ways to move the chains, control the clock, and most importantly, put more points on the board.
They’ve put themselves in an ideal position after the first half, but they need to finish what they started.
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