Buccaneers at Falcons: Bold predictions for Week 15

The Buccaneers are in Atlanta to face the Falcons and make it two in a row after beating the Minnesota Vikings last week at home. At 8-5, Tampa Bay controls their playoff destiny and with three games left, winning out pretty much guarantees them a spot in the postseason.

While the Falcons are 4-9 in 2020, a division battle is never a walk in the park. So the Bucs will have to take their A-game to Atlanta and the Bucs Nation staff offers up some bold predictions on how they can fly back to Tampa Bay with a victory.

David: The Falcons have only won games in which their defense got takeaways. The Buccaneers are undefeated when they don’t turn the ball over. Might seem simple, but in a lot of ways, simplifying things between two teams who like to go for big plays on a regular basis could lead to the win. Bucs have no turnovers for just the fifth time in 2020 and win the game.

Jason: I’m giving Mike Evans the big game here. He’s been flying to low under the radar for too long. I say he gets a touchdown, and he’ll do it in style. He’ll only get about 6 receptions, but he’ll get over 100 yards and 1 touchdown. To make it more exciting, his TD will be a deep ball throw.

BONUS: Calvin Ridley gets the most fantasy points out of all wide receivers in week 15.

Bailey: Well, Jason kind of stole my thunder here, so I’ll pivot. I’ll call for a big day from a different Buccaneer receiver, and that’s Antonio Brown. It feels like we have all predicted him to break through at one time or another, but let’s have this be the week when he actually does. He hasn’t scored since joining the team, but against the Falcons, he finds the end zone twice while again leading Tampa Bay in receptions.

James: No Ronald Jones, no Donovan Smith. Not exactly what you would call an ideal situation for the Bucs - that is, if they were going up against a formidable foe. Luckily, they are not. Leonard Fournette is going to get the bulk of the carries which means the Bucs will probably abandon the run sooner rather than later. Usually that spells disaster but in this case, I think they can get away with it. My bold prediction is that Tom Brady throws for four touchdowns in this one, but all to different receivers. Mark down one for Mike Evans, one for Chris Godwin, one for Rob Gronkowski, and finally we will see Antonio Brown get in the end zone for the first time as a Buccaneer.

Evan: Everyone has literally picked apart my original prediction (400 yards passing, four passing touchdowns to four different receivers), but this is what I deserve for being the last one to get my stuff in. The Bucs have allowed 10 points twice this year, but will break that this week by allowing just three points to the Falcons. The Bucs haven’t allowed less than 10 points in a game since Todd Bowles came to town and that last time they did allow less than 10 points was the 26-7 win over the Bears back in 2017. That changes this week.

Editor’s Pick by Gil Arcia: Seems so easy and cliché, right? Coaches harp on protecting the football and as David points out, Tampa Bay is undefeated when they don’t turn the ball over. Yes, simple. But saying it is more difficult than actually doing so. I’m rolling with David’s bold prediction here because Atlanta is a team you don’t want to give scoring chances to. Protect the football. Get yourselves to 9-5.