### Buccaneers Face Falcons in Crucial NFC South Showdown

This Thursday Night Football will feature a critical clash in the NFC South as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Buccaneers enter the game with momentum, having secured a decisive 33-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Meanwhile, the Falcons narrowly escaped the New Orleans Saints with a 26-24 win. Tampa Bay, boasting a 3-1 record and an undefeated 3-0 in conference play, aims to extend their streak of consecutive playoff appearances to five seasons. Atlanta, currently 2-2 and perfect in conference games at 2-0, is eyeing its first playoff berth since 2017.

The Buccaneers will be without key players, including receivers Trey Palmer (concussion) and Jalen McMillan (hamstring), as well as tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion). Despite these setbacks, veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield has been a standout performer this season. Mayfield has completed 70.5% of his passes, amassing 984 yards and eight touchdowns with just two interceptions, earning a QB rating of 106.9. He has also contributed on the ground with two rushing touchdowns. Mayfield's stellar play was on full display in last Sunday's win over the Eagles, where he threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns.

Helping to balance Tampa Bay's offensive attack is running back Bucky Irving. So far, Irving has carried the ball 35 times for 203 yards, averaging an impressive 5.8 yards per carry, and has scored one touchdown. His ability to break off explosive runs was evident in the game against Philadelphia, where he had a long carry of 32 yards.

On the other side, Atlanta will look to veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to lead their offense. Cousins has had a solid start to the season, completing 64.7% of his passes for 864 yards and four touchdowns, although he has been intercepted four times. His best performance came during a comeback win over the Eagles on September 16, where he threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Complementing Cousins is running back Bijan Robinson, who has tallied 224 rushing yards and one touchdown on 55 carries. Robinson also has 15 receptions for 135 yards, showcasing his versatility.

As kickoff approaches at 8:15 p.m. ET, the Falcons are slight 2.5-point favorites, with the over-under for total points set at 44. Sports betting environments show that the Falcons are -138 money-line favorites, a shift from their opening -125, while the Buccaneers are +117 underdogs. According to SportsLine's proven computer model, which has a strong track record in NFL predictions, the smart money may lean towards a high-scoring affair, projecting 47 total points. Fans and bettors alike can catch the action and see which team will emerge as the contender in the NFC South.