The Buccaneers and the Falcons renewed their NFC South rivalry when they opened up Week 15 on “Thursday Night Football.”
Both Tampa Bay and Atlanta are looking to bounce back after disappointing Week 14 losses; the Buccaneers (7-6) dropped a 24-20 decision to the Saints, putting them in a de-facto tie with the Panthers atop the NFC South. Though Tampa Bay technically holds the tiebreaker, the Buccaneers and the Panthers still have two games to play, and Tampa Bay can ill afford another slip-up.
Lucky for them, the offense is starting to round into health. Baker Mayfield is expected to have his full complement of wide receivers, as Mike Evans (collarbone) will return for his first game in nearly two months and Jalen McMillan (neck) will make his season debut. Add in rookie standout Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin and running back Bucky Irving, and Tampa Bay is just about as healthy as it’s been all season.
That will provide a tough test for a Falcons team simply looking to find any positives as another lost season winds down. Atlanta (4-9) has lost two straight and seven of eight, and with Michael Penix Jr. out for the season, Kirk Cousins will be looking for a repeat performance of his 2024 performances against Tampa Bay, in which he threw for eight touchdowns and nearly 800 yards across two games.
Here’s how to watch tonight’s proceedings:
Where to watch Buccaneers vs. FalconsDate: Thursday, Dec. 11 | Time: 8:15 p.m. ETLocation: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)Stream: Prime VideoFollow: CBS Sports AppOdds: Buccaneers -4.5, O/U 44.5 via DraftKings Sportsbook
Be sure to follow along for live updates throughout the night!