The Bucs’ first meeting with the Falcons this season came back in Week 7, when Atlanta came into Raymond James Stadium and pulled out a 16-13 win thanks to a last-second 51-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo. The score line will tell you this was a failure on the offense’s part, having scored only 13 points. But while that’s true, the defense will need to be much better when the two teams meet again on Sunday in Atlanta.

How can the defense, which allowed only 16 points in that Week 7 loss, really step up and improve over that effort? Well, just consider that those 16 points could’ve been much more. Tampa Bay’s defense came up with three fumbles inside the red zone, killing Atlanta drives that looked certain to end in points.

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and Falcons QB Desmond Ridder – Photo by: USA Today

Shaq Barrett and Calijah Kancey teamed up to force a sack-fumble on Desmond Ridder at the 11-yard line for the first takeaway. The second was a fumbled snap at the goal line by Ridder that was recovered by Yaya Diaby. And the third was an incredible individual effort by Antoine Winfield Jr., who chased down Ridder to knock the ball into the end zone for a touchback.

You can’t eliminate those takeaways from that game. But the fact of the matter is, the Falcons moved the ball well on the Bucs defense. Run game coordinator and defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers acknowledged as much in his Thursday press conference.

“The thing is, if we look back at it, we got some takeaways, but those takeaways, they were going in the end zone to score,” Rodgers said. “So you could look at it like that could’ve been another 14 points.”

That’s only the takeaways, too. Another 62-yard drive ended with a field goal from the 5-yard line. A 40-yard drive later in the game ended with a field goal just outside the red zone at the 23. Atlanta put up 401 yards of offense on Tampa Bay, but only managed 16 points. The Falcons were 1-of-5 on scoring touchdowns in the red zone.

So, How Can The Bucs Defense Control The Falcons Offense Better This Time Around?

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and co-DC Kacy Rodgers – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs will never apologize for coming through with takeaways. In fact, it’s something they need to do more of. But they will need to control the game better if they’re going to beat the Falcons on Sunday and wrestle away the lead in the NFC South. That’s partly on the offense, but it’s also on Todd Bowles’ defense to get off the field and avoid extended drives by the Atlanta offense.

Back in Week 7, the Falcons were 7-of-13 on third downs and had drives of 58, 62, 59 and 92 yards. They also had the game-winning 42-yard drive, where it took just five plays and 41 seconds to set up the game-winning field goal.

Getting off the field on third downs is a start for the Bucs defense, but the biggest keys, according to Bucs co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers, is to handle the Atlanta run game. From there, it’s about avoiding explosive plays, which can come from almost anywhere, whether it’s wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts or rookie running back Bijan Robinson.

“One, we’re gonna need to try to take the ball away. We need to try to take care of the run game.” Rodgers said. “And then we’ve got to survive the explosive plays. Because with London out there, Pitts out there, those could be some major matchup problems. Now, you’ve got [Robinson], who’s covering him? They create a lot of problems.”

Bucs Will Get Their First Real Look At Bijan Robinson In Week 14

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson – Photo by: USA Today

The added wrinkle to this Sunday’s game for the Bucs is that they’re going to be facing a Falcons offense that features a healthy Bijan Robinson. The No. 8 pick in this year’s draft was limited to just one carry in the Week 7 win over Tampa Bay as he was dealing with an illness. That means Atlanta put up those 401 yards, five red zone trips and 54% third down success rate without one of its most dynamic playmakers.

“Well, it’s just another explosive player they’re putting on the field,” Bucs co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said. “They do a great job in the running game, but he adds another additional element to it because his speed and explosiveness now… It’s just like, if you misfit a run here, it goes 75 [yards], not 25. So it’ll be critical that we’ll be on point about that.”

The Falcons have the No. 6 rushing offense in the NFL, posting 135.2 yards on the ground per game. A lot of that is the emergence of Robinson. After a career at Texas that saw him run for 3,410 yards, 33 touchdowns and 6.3 yards per carry over three seasons, the rookie has 159 carries for 756 yards (4.8 avg.) and three touchdowns this year. He also has proven to be an impressive pass-catcher, with 266 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver as well.

It’s not just Robinson, of course, as there’s also Tyler Allgeier. He’s no stranger to the Bucs, as he ran for 135 yards on 24 carries the last time these two teams met in Atlanta. Granted, Tampa Bay’s defense was down several starters as they were resting for the playoffs. But between Robinson, Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson, the Falcons’ run game is absolutely a threat to the Bucs on Sunday.