Thursday Night Football has received a fair amount of criticism for being too much. Too much wear on players’ bodies, too much to prepare for in three days, too much football during the week.

With the Bucs facing a quick turnaround this Thursday, coaches and players have had to game plan and recover at rapid speed. No one is complaining – after all, it’s the same for both teams – but there haven’t been any mentions of “positives” unique to Thursday night games.

“Basically this is a week with no practice,” head coach Dirk Koetter said Monday. “You’ve got to still get your game plan reps in, which we start [Monday]. Especially with the type of game we played [Sunday], we’ve got a laundry list of guys with bumps and bruises. You’re going to have that every week. The number one thing, by far, is the turnaround on the players’ bodies. Then No. 2 is the preparation by the coaches. You’re working on a couple days shorter. In that respect, it’s probably a plus – if there is a plus to it – to play a division opponent who you know well.”

Players’ have seemed to look at the short week through a more optimistic prism. Though Jameis Winston noted that physical soreness could affect mental readiness, the second-year quarterback is grateful for any opportunity to take the field.

“I like to play football,” Winston said. “Anything that gives me football, something God has blessed me to do, I’m going to enjoy it.”

After finishing 16-of-32 for 180 yards last week, with three straight three-and-outs to close, Winston is looking forward to the chance to get a bad taste out early. Not to mention this is a game against the Bucs’ first-place division rival.

For Gerald McCoy, playing the red-hot Falcons is just an added bonus. The fact that it’s another chance to pick up a home win is enough in itself to motivate the All-Pro defensive tackle.

“We haven’t won at home yet,” McCoy said. “That’s where the energy comes from. It’s added incentive that it’s Atlanta. They’re on a roll. They got their mojo back. It’s just a good team.”

So while not every player is particularly in favor of the short week – center Joe Hawley said TNF “is really hard on the body” – they’re all embracing the opportunity to even their record and make a strong statement against a division opponent.

“Either you’re going to complain about [the short week] or you’re going to recover and get a win. That’s how I look at it,” McCoy said.