Tuesday 19 December 2017 10:37, UK
The Atlanta Falcons travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers in Week 15's Monday Night Football action, live on Sky Sports Main Event from 1.15am.
Matt Ryan and company are coming off a huge division win against the New Orleans Saints and need another victory here to stay in a tough NFC playoff hunt. On the other side, the Buccaneers are propping up the bottom of the NFC South and reeling from a three-game losing streak.
So, what can we expect when the two meet under the Monday night lights?
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Last year's NFC champion Falcons are fighting for a place in the NFC playoffs. Can the division rival Buccaneers ruin their chances?
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The Atlanta running game will be the focus in this match-up, as both teams are missing crucial pieces. For the Falcons, starting guard Andy Levitre and speedy runner Tevin Coleman are out.
However, more importantly, Tampa Bay will be without three of their top defenders. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, linebacker Lavonte David and corner Vernon Hargreaves won't be suiting up. The Bucs have perhaps the worst defense in the league, and it could get even worse on Monday.
Stat attack
The 'Kyle Shanahan effect' has been in full flow, as the Falcons' offense has dropped considerably in performance since their offensive coordinator left for the San Francisco 49ers head coaching job in the offseason. Last season, Atlanta averaged 415.8 yards and 33.8 points per game. This season, they average 363.5 and 22.6.
Under Shanahan, Matt Ryan threw 38 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. With Steve Sarkisian at the helm, the QB has already thrown 11 picks, compared to just 17 scores.
Key battle
Just a few weeks ago, Julio Jones torched the Buccaneers with an absurd 12-catch, 253-yard and two-touchdown performance. He simply couldn't be stopped, with possibly the receiving performance of the season.
Without Hargreaves, what will Tampa do to keep Jones in check? Double coverage? Triple coverage? It'll be an extremely tough task for this defense to account for all of Atlanta's playmakers, but they will make more of a concerted effort to prevent a repeat of last time.
Game-changer
Devonta Freeman. Gerald McCoy is a five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle for the Bucs, Lavonte David leads the team in tackles - both will be absent, and so Falcons back Freeman could run wild. The Bucs rank dead last in yards per play given up (6.1); Freeman should see plenty of action.
Freeman has 680 yards and six touchdowns on 152 carries this season, and had a strong performance last Thursday night in a crucial victory against the Saints - 24 carries, 91 yards and a TD. In his past seven games against NFC South opponents, he has managed 796 scrimmage yards, at 113.7 per game.
Watch the Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports Main Event (401) from 1.15am on Tuesday.
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