Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers vs Falcons: Five Game-Changing Players

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Just four days after a crushing overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders, the Buccaneers (3-4) will have to take the field again against another tough foe in the division-leading Atlanta Falcons (5-3). Here, we break down five players that can have a big impact on the outcome of the game.

The Buccaneers blew a big opportunity on Sunday afternoon when they could not turn 200 yards of Oakland penalties into a win. Instead of picking up a third straight win to get over .500, they fell back below that mark right before a crucial matchup with the division-leading Falcons.

Tampa Bay’s offense was very bad on Sunday, which led to a lot of possession time for Oakland. The Buccaneer defense wore down quickly, which allowed the Raiders to put up 30 points and 626 total yards of offense. While there’s certainly a lot left to be desired for Mike Smith’s defensive unit, Dirk Koetter’s offense didn’t give the Bucs much of a chance on Sunday. They needed all 23 of those Raider penalties just to hang around.

After playing almost five quarters on Sunday, Tampa Bay doesn’t have much time to regroup. Atlanta comes to Raymond James Stadium on Thursday night, fresh off of a 33-32 victory over Green Bay. Ever since their week one loss to the Bucs, the Falcons have turned things around in a big way. They went on to win four straight, which included wins over the Raiders, Panthers and Broncos. After last week’s win, Atlanta is even further entrenched in the driver’s seat of the NFC South race, leading Tampa Bay and New Orleans by a game and a half.

When these two teams squared off in week one, the Bucs picked up a huge win on the road, hanging on by a score of 31-24. Jameis Winston threw for four touchdowns, while Kwon Alexander dominated the day on defense with 17 tackles (15 solo) and a sack. Tampa Bay is currently on a three-game winning streak against Atlanta.

Both teams have a lot to play for on Thursday night, but which players have the ability to change the game?

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) rolls out of the pocket in the third quarter of their game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Jameis Winston

Thursday night be the biggest game of Jameis Winston’s young career. No, another below average performance won’t mean he’s out the door, but the fans are growing restless. He completed just 50 percent of his passes last week for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t turn the ball over, which really was a big step forward. However, he missed wide-open receivers on countless occasions, which definitely gives credibility to the idea that his accuracy is, at best, questionable.

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Of course, the 2015 No. 1 overall pick doesn’t really have a lot to work with at the moment. Vincent Jackson is out, the Bucs are going to have to rely on their fourth and fifth running backs this week and the offensive line hasn’t been able to protect him on a consistent basis. But, the fact remains that Winston has to be better. That doesn’t mean he needs to try to do too much. He just needs to make the easy throws that he is certainly capable of making, and things will look better for the Tampa Bay offense.

It may sound overly simplified, but the offense just needs to hold its own this week. The Falcons have a powerful offense that will undoubtedly put up a lot of points on the Buccaneer defense. But, Winston can change the game this Sunday by leading a turnaround. He needs to help the offense sustain its drives and keep possessions alive with big plays. If he can replicate what he did against Atlanta in week one, then it could go a long way in getting Tampa Bay the big bounce-back week that it desperately needs.

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) passes the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Ryan

If Jameis Winston can change the game for his team, obviously Matt Ryan can change it for his. Leading up to the week one matchup between the Bucs and Falcons, there was some talk about how Ryan had regressed. Well, that talk now seems to be a crazy thing of the past. Through eight games, he leads the league in passing yards (2,636) and passing touchdowns (19). His tendency to throw picks at crucial times hasn’t been much of a concern this year, as he has thrown just four.

Tampa Bay’s defense once again proved last week that it can’t defend a top quarterback. Derek Carr threw all over the Bucs (513 yards, four touchdowns), whose only victories on the season have come over Derek Anderson, Colin Kaepernick and Ryan. It’s not fair to pin Atlanta’s week one loss on the quarterback. Ryan completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He has a strong set of weapons at wide receiver, including a top-flight guy in Julio Jones.

The Bucs can only hope to keep Ryan in check this Thursday. He will surely have his chances to find Jones and Mohamed Sanu, along with Devonta Freeman out of the backfield. Vernon Hargreaves will be looking to rebound from a tough week eight, as will the rest of the Tampa Bay defense. If Ryan can avoid turning the ball over, he will have a good chance of keeping things rolling for a hot Falcons team.

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) carries the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker Kwon Alexander (58) and outside linebacker Lavonte David (54) tackle in the third quarter at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Kwon Alexander

It definitely seems like Kwon Alexander’s name ends up on the list of game-changers every other week, but that’s because week in and week out, he has the ability to take over and lead the defense. He is second in the league in solo tackles (58), and has shown consistency throughout the year. Especially against an offense like Atlanta’s, Tampa Bay needs Alexander to show up and produce on Thursday night.

The Falcons have a solid backfield, with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman alternating. Coleman will likely be out on Thursday, but Alexander will need to anchor the Tampa Bay run defense regardless. Freeman is solid as a receiver out of the backfield as well. That may mean a bigger emphasis on coverage, but Alexander should be up to the task.

The 2015 second rounder made a huge impact in week one, racking up 17 tackles (15 solo) and a sack. Last week, he totaled 14 solo tackles, with one for a loss. Whether he’s getting after Matt Ryan or stopping the Falcons’ backfield, Alexander can be a difference-maker this week. He has to produce at a high level if the Bucs are to have any chance of winning.

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) rolls out of the pocket as Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn (99) applies pressure in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Clayborn

There’s a lot to be said about ex-Bucs coming back to bite Tampa Bay. Matt Bryant (10 points), D.J. Swearinger (interception), Mark Barron (nine tackles, interception), Aqib Talib (two interceptions) and Donald Penn (touchdown) have all come up big against the Bucs this year. That’s five players in seven games that have shown up their former teams. If that’s any indication, Adrian Clayborn will likely make a big impact on Thursday night.

Back in September, Clayborn came up with just two tackles (one for loss) against the Bucs. But, since then, he has put together a fairly solid year. Last week, he had his biggest game of 2016. He picked up two sacks in Atlanta’s 33-32 win over Green Bay, which brought his total to 3.5 for the year. He will likely be a threat on Thursday off the edge, especially against a struggling offensive line for Tampa Bay.

Jameis Winston has been sacked 16 times in seven games. Not only that, but he has been hit 56 times this year. That means, at the current rate, he’s on pace to take 128 hits in 16 games. So, if Clayborn picks up a sack or two, it will make a big impact on the game. However, the Bucs’ 2011 first-rounder just needs to get in the backfield on a consistent basis to possibly change the game and Winston’s effectiveness.

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) catches a touchdown pass in front of Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Evans

The Bucs didn’t do anything to switch up their receiving corps in the offseason, and it’s starting to look like that was a mistake. Vincent Jackson is out, which leaves Adam Humphries, Russell Shepard and tight end Cameron Brate as the secondary options. Mike Evans has been getting the majority of targets, as expected, and is turning those targets into a big season. He has six touchdown catches, which is tied for most in the NFL. Through seven games, he has 44 catches for 595 yards.

Jameis Winston will surely turn to Evans in some crucial situations on Thursday night. Last week wasn’t a memorable one for No. 13, as he caught just four of his 11 targets for 50 yards and a touchdown. He will have to rebound on Thursday night if the Tampa Bay offense wants to keep up with Atlanta.

Back in week one, Evans changed the game against the Falcons. He had a big third quarter, which led him to finish with five catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. If he can put up similar (or better) numbers in primetime this week, he can continue to cement himself as one of the top young receivers in the game. Additionally, a big performance could swing things in the Bucs’ favor in what is a critical game.

Who do you think will change the game on Thursday night, Bucs fans? Let us know in the comments, or chime in on Twitter.

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