Tampa Bay looks to regain momentum in NFC South on TNF vs. Falcons
Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca break down Tampa’s loss to the Saints and look ahead to their Thursday night matchup vs. the Atlanta Falcons.
The final four weeks of the 2025 NFL regular season kick off with an NFC South matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) and the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) on “Thursday Night Football.”
The visiting Falcons hope to play spoiler in tonight’s game but the Buccaneers have plenty at stake tonight and should come prepared.
Tampa Bay and quarterback Baker Mayfield had a remarkable first half of the season with a 6-2 start and appeared on track to claim their fifth consecutive NFC South crown. Instead, they’ve lost four of their last five and are clinging to the division lead, tied with the feisty Carolina Panthers.
Injuries are a significant factor this time of year and Mayfield has been dealing with a left shoulder sprain he suffered in Week 12. However since then, running back Bucky Irving returned from a seven-game absence and Chris Godwin is back in the lineup after missing five games.
More reinforcements are on the way with Bucs all-time leading receiver Mike Evans and star tackle Tristan Wirfs expected to return tonight. On the contrary, Atlanta will be without its top receiver Drake London for the fourth straight week.
The Falcons offense will have four-time Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins under center since starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 11. Atlanta will lean on Bijan Robinson who leads the NFL with 1,683 yards from scrimmage and hope its defense can keep Tampa Bay out of the end zone.
This is the second meeting between these NFC South foes, with Tampa Bay winning 23-20 on the road back in Week 1. Will the Bucs get back on track or can the Falcons spoil their playoff hopes?
USA TODAY Sports will provide updates, analysis and highlights from the Week 15 “Thursday Night Football” matchup below. All times are Eastern.
The Falcons had appeared to stop Tampa Bay on a third-and-goal play, but Atlanta nickel back Dee Alford was called for illegal contact, then linebacker Divine Deablo got a flag for a face mask.
So after two new fresh sets of downs, the Buccaneers’ tight end found the end zone to reclaim the lead for Tampa Bay.
Culp’s first career touchdown gives the Bucs a 20-14 lead with 6:22 left in the third quarter.
The Buccaneers were unable to complete a touchdown drive in the final moments of the first half, but their kicker managed to cut their deficit to one point as time expired on the second quarter.
McLaughlin’s 52-yard field goal was his second make of the night. The Falcons still lead, 14-13, at halftime.
For the first time tonight, the Falcons have the lead. Once again, it was tight end Kyle Pitts with the score.
Pitts’ second touchdown of the night is also his third of the season, and it gives Atlanta a 14-10 lead with 38 seconds left in the first half.
The Bucs’ kicker knocked through his first field goal attempt of the night from 49 yards out to push his team to a three-point lead.
It’s 10-7 Buccaneers with just over two minutes left in the first half.
Bryant is a rookie cornerback who joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent earlier this year. Atlanta elevated him from the practice squad in late November.
Outside of a similar-sounding name, there is no relation to the deceased basketball great.
Outside of a player for the Tampa Bay football franchise, a buccaneer today is a synonym for “pirate,” though the origin dates back to explicitly to the privateers of the 17th and 18th centuries who used to sail the Caribbean sea.
For the first time since Week 4, the Falcons’ top tight end is on the board and in the end zone. His second touchdown of the season came on an eight-yard pass from Kirk Cousins and drew Atlanta even with the Buccaneers early in the second quarter.
The game is all tied up at 7 points each with 12:11 left in the first half.
A replay review overturned what was initially ruled a touchdown by second-year wide receiver Jalen McMillan on his first catch of the season. Instead, Tampa Bay had to run a couple of extra plays from the 1-yard line, and running back Sean Tucker pushed his way across the goal line for the first score of the night.
The Buccaneers lead, 7-0, with 1:38 left in the first quarter.
Length: Four yearsValue: $180 millionAAV: $45 million per year
Cousins signed his four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons before the 2024 season. He is tied with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the 14th-highest AAV at his position.
Just over one month after signing Cousins, Atlanta drafted rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Since joining the Falcons, Cousins has appeared in 20 games over two seasons with 18 starts. The veteran quarterback is in line to start the remainder of the Falcons’ games during the 2025 regular season after Penix underwent surgery to repair a partially torn ACL.
Yes, the Falcons are both eliminated from the playoffs and clinched a losing record for the eighth consecutive season.
The Falcons are owned by Arthur Blank, who purchased ownership of the Atlanta-based franchise in 2002. Blank was a co-founder of The Home Depot in 1978.
He owns two other sports franchises: MLS’s Atlanta United FC and TGL’s Atlanta Drive GC. Blank also owns the Atlanta-based expansion team in the NWSL that it set to debut in the women’s soccer league 2028.
How to watch Buccaneers vs. FalconsLive stream: Amazon Prime Video Tampa market: WTVT (Fox 13) | Atlanta market: WAGA (Fox 5)
The NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” game will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video for national viewers. For those in the Buccaneers TV market, WTVT (Fox 13) will air the game. In Atlanta, viewers can tune to WAGA (Fox 5).
The Buccaneers reintroduced their orange “Creamsicle” jerseys this season, uniforms which they wore for the first 21 years of their existence.
Here’s the complete list of Falcons who won’t see the field vs. the Buccaneers:
WR Drake LondonWR Jamal AgnewILB JD BertrandOL Michael JerrellWR Casey WashingtonWR Malik HeathDL Elijah Garcia
Tight end Cade Otton will not play tonight vs. Tampa Bay, and it’s official that Mike Evans will see the field. Here’s the full list of inactives:
QB Connor BazelakLB Sirvocea DennisG Elijah KleinCB Benjamin MorrisonTE Cade OttonDL Elijah SimmonsS Tykee Smith
Yes, the Falcons tight end is active and set to play despite carrying a questionable status entering the game.
The Buccaneers wide receiver is expected to play tonight, but in a limited role, per ESPN. The wide receiver is returning from a fractured collarbone which he suffered in Week 7.
Yes, the Buccaneers quarterback is expected to start despite dealing with a left shoulder injury he suffered in Week 12. Mayfield has not missed any time while nursing the injury.
Buccaneers vs. Falcons TNF live stream
Amazon Prime Video will air the Buccaneers-Falcons “Thursday Night Football” matchup. Those in local TV markets can watch the matchup on Fubo.
Watch “Thursday Night Football” with a Prime Video subscription
Buccaneers vs. Falcons predictions, picks
Tampa Bay hit a roadblock with injuries halfway through the season, which explains why they’ve lost four of their last five. They just lost to the lowly Saints at home, but they still control their playoff hopes. It sounds like they’re finally getting healthy with Tristan Wirfs, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan potentially returning. Atlanta’s offense is one-dimensional without Drake London, and the strength of the Bucs defense is against the run. Tampa Bay’s push for the playoffs starts tonight. They’ll win by a touchdown and prepare for a massive divisional clash against the Panthers with a few extra days of rest.
Prediction: Buccaneers 23, Falcons 17
Buccaneers vs. Falcons odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list.
Moneyline (ML):Â Tampa Bay -225 (Bet $225 to win $100) | Atlanta +185 (Bet $100 to win $185)Against the spread (ATS):Â Tampa Bay -4.5 (-110) | Atlanta +4.5 (-110)Over/Under (O/U):Â 44 (O: -110 | U: -110)