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A terrible Monday evening if you were the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as not only did the Bucs lose to the visiting Baltimore Ravens, 41-31 (while surrendering 508 yards), but wide receivers Chris Godwin (dislocated ankle) and Mike Evans (reaggravated hamstring) went down, too.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Godwin won’t play again this season (surgery), while Evans is probably out a month. Pending any acquisitions, rookie Jalen McMillian is the lead wideout on a team with playoff aspirations.

Sunday, Tampa hosts the Atlanta Falcons as the 4-3 co-leaders in the NFC South have their second meeting of the season. Atlanta was a 36-30 home overtime winner three weeks ago. Quarterback Kirk Cousins (508 passing yards, four touchdowns) shredded the Buccaneers.

Atlanta lost its last game, 34-14, to the Seattle Seahawks at home, having surrendered 17 points in each half.

Wideout injuries explain in part why visiting Atlanta is a two-point favorite (total at 46), according to NFL odds.

Atlanta and Tampa Bay have played 62 times to date, series tied, 31-31. 

Who Are The Falcons?

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins – Photo by: USA Today

It wasn’t so long ago (three weeks) when Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback Kirk Cousins delivered the game of the season, at least to date. Cousins (42-of-58, 509 yards. four touchdowns) found a way to get the win in overtime against this same Tampa team.

The Falcons had been in a lot of tight games before that win. Including that game, all five of Atlanta’s games to start the season were one-possession outcomes. Cousins (1,830 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions) has been wholly inconsistent during his first season in Dixie, including two interceptions and a fumble against the ‘Hawks last week.

Wideouts Drake London and Darnell Mooney have a combined eight touchdown receptions.  

Mayfield to …?

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: USA Today

As was mentioned, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are without their now-injured wide-receiver duo of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. They will look to the remainder of the wideouts on the roster to give them production. Tampa hasn’t considered adding a receiver off another roster, confident in what they have.

Jalen McMillian and Sterling Shepard have a combined 14 catches this season, 62 fewer than Godwin and Evans. Tight end Cade Otton, who had eight receptions (100 yards) against the Ravens this past Monday, figures to get plenty of quarterback Baker Mayfield’s (1,859 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, seven interceptions) attention in this one, as will any one of three possible options out of the backfield. 

It’s Over Here

Atlanta is the 5-8 (-160) favorite to win the NFC South, while Tampa Bay is the +155 second choice, as per NFL division odds.

In the first meeting between the two teams, 70 points in regulation and another six in overtime.

That’s ultimately what we should get again, despite Tampa Bay’s testing of the depth chart at wide receiver. Perhaps not 70 again, but Tampa’s secondary has been getting gashed regularly (see Lamar Jackson’s five touchdown passes this past Monday).

Remember, these teams allowed a combined 75 points last week, so stopping the other guy has been a completely foreign concept.

Try over 46 in this one.