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BUCCANEERS at FALCONS

WHEN: Sunday, September 7, 2025 | WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium | KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m. ET | TV: FOX

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Kenny Albert | ANALYST: Jonathan Vilma | SIDELINE: Megan Olivi

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Buccaneers Defense Gets Revenge On Falcons In Week 1

By the time the 2025 season opener is over, Falcons coach Raheem Morris might wish he would’ve started Kirk Cousins against the Buccaneers instead of Michael Penix Jr., last year’s first-round pick. Cousins was 2-0 versus Tampa Bay last year and threw for eight touchdowns and just one interception, in addition to a franchise record 509 yards in Atlanta last year. Penix, who is making just his fourth start of his Falcons career and his first against Todd Bowles’ defense, won’t be so fortunate in Week 1.

Bucs OLB Haason Reddick – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs’ retooled defense should get after Penix, who will be under pressure from Haason Reddick and the defensive front. Reddick will be going against third-string right tackle Elijah Wilkinson with the Falcons being without starter Kaleb McGary and backup Storm Norton and could have a big day applying pressure from Penix’s blindside. Tampa Bay’s defense is out for revenge after giving up 36 and 31 points in two losses last year to an Atlanta team that only averaged 23 points per game.

Offensively, Baker Mayfield spreads the ball around to a myriad of receivers, including Mike Evans, who catches his first touchdown of the season and continues his hot streak against the Falcons. Bucky Irving’s legs provide a balanced attack as Josh Grizzard gets his feet wet as an NFL play-caller. Special teams comes into play as Tampa Bay gets some big returns from Sean Tucker in the kick return game and from Tez Johnson on punt returns that aid the offense. And of course Chase McLaughlin starts the season perfect as the Buccaneers remain undefeated in season openers under Bowles.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 26, Falcons 20

Matt Matera: Tampa Bay Put On A Defensive Showcase To Win

While both of these teams still have many holdovers from the previous season and are used to playing against each other in the same division, Atlanta and Tampa Bay are also night and day different. The Buccaneers have attempted to revamp the defense and their overall psyche with aggressive play and I think they’ll put that on display for the first game. Some of the new looks for the Tampa Bay defense include Haason Reddick as its top edge rusher, SirVocea Dennis becoming a full-time starter at middle linebacker, rookie Jacob Parrish playing in the slot and Tykee Smith moving to strong safety.

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay is going against an inexperienced quarterback with Michael Penix Jr. I expect to see the team to give him several different looks that he’s never seen before with aggressive blitzes.Plus Atlanta is down to their third string tackle, which is music to the ears of Reddick and Yaya Diaby as well. The talent of the Falcons’ skill players means it’s no cakewalk for the Buccaneers, but if they disrupt the quarterback they should be able to shut the whole unit down.

It’s also the debut of Josh Grizzard as the Bucs’ offensive coordinator. No Tristan Wirfs means Charlie Heck is in at left tackle, so expect the Bucs to run the football often with Bucky Irving and Co. to keep Heck from too much one-on-one pass blocking. There will be some growing pains with Grizzard, but when Mike Evans is your star wide receiver and rookie Emeka Egbuka looks like a stud, he should be fine for Week 1.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 28, Falcons 14

Adam Slivon: Buccaneers Take Care Of Business Against Falcons

Finally, Buccaneers football is back. To kick off the season, Tampa Bay is set to have an entertaining matchup against the Falcons. Just like last year, both squads are expected to finish 1-2 in the NFC South. Still, that doesn’t mean things won’t look different on each side. The Dirty Birds swept the season series in 2024, but this isn’t the same Bucs squad that fell short due to defensive issues. The Falcons swapping Kirk Cousins for Michael Penix Jr. is something Todd Bowles surely welcomes after Cousins absolutely picked them apart.

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Facing a young quarterback gives Bowles a favorable opportunity implementing defensive changes, even if it means the pass rush has to account for the fact they are facing a left-handed signal-caller. There’s no denying Atlanta’s skill position talent, but Zyon McCollum will likely be mirroring Drake London throughout the game. SirVocea Dennis is back and will be better suited to neutralize Kyle Pitts. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier form one of the best rushing duos in the NFL, but Tampa Bay’s run defense remains stout. Seeing Vita Vea at practice makes it all but certain he’ll play and do his part in shutting them down.

The Tampa Bay offense has also undergone its share of changes and will be without Tristan Wirfs, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan. That will make life difficult for Josh Grizzard, but the first-year playcaller has a lot of weapons at his disposal, even without them. What will be key is getting off to a fast start and finding creative ways to get Mike Evans and rookie Emeka Egbuka involved. There should be a heavy dose of runs to control the time of possession, meaning Bucky Irving is primed for a big workload. Overall, the Buccaneers are the more talented team, and although they are on the road, I predict they take care of business and start the season off 1-0.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Falcons 17

Bailey Adams: Bucs Remain Perfect In Openers Under Todd Bowles

There’s been a pretty established formula for the Buccaneers in Todd Bowles’ tenure as head coach, and that’s been to start 2-0, hit a midseason slump and ultimately get hot down the stretch in December to come back and win the NFC South. Of course, Tampa Bay will be looking to avoid that kind of midseason slide this year, but first things first, the team needs to remain undefeated in season openers under Bowles. And I think they do that Sunday afternoon in Atlanta.

While the Bucs did win the NFC South in Week 18 last year and the Falcons did collapse on their way to yet another sub-.500 season, there’s some revenge to be had at Mercedes-Benz Stadium come Sunday afternoon. Baker Mayfield and Co. have had all offseason to think about getting swept by Atlanta last season, and you know they’re going to come out fired up in this one. Nothing ever really comes easy in these divisional games for the Buccaneers, but I think they’re simply a better team than the Falcons are and will get the job done.

Bucs OLB Haason Reddick – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The absence of right tackle Kaleb McGary and backup tackle Storm Norton will give Haason Reddick a favorable matchup throughout the afternoon, plus I like Bowles to send a lot of unique pressures the way of Michael Penix Jr. in his fourth start. Bowles has had all offseason to put together a game plan for Atlanta, and I think that pays off. Offensively, Tampa Bay has to deal with the absences of Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin Jr. while new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard finds his groove. Bucky Irving, leads the way and opens things up for Mayfield and the passing game as the offense does enough to complement the defense’s effort for a 1-0 start.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 23, Falcons 17

Josh Queipo: Bucs Get Revenge In The ATL

The Bucs start strong in 2025 with an offense that hums for the most part and a defense that finally figures out Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. Despite fill-in left tackle Charlie Heck struggling to keep up with Atlanta’s young pass rushers, Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., the offense is able to score five times – three touchdowns and two field goals. The field goals come as the offense still tries to find their rhythm under a new play-caller in Josh Grizzard. Emeka Egbuka will be the star of the game with over six catches and 80 yards – plus his first NFL touchdown.

On defense, SirVocea Dennis leads the charge in coverage in his first start at middle linebacker, securing an interception after the Bucs pass rush takes advantage of reserve right tackle Elijah Wilkinson, getting after Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for three sacks. The back end of the defense still has two busts leading to two Atlanta touchdowns, but by the time those happen, Tampa Bay is comfortably out in front and Bucky Irving runs out the clock to end the game.

This is a statement win on the road against a division opponent that helps put Tampa Bay in the driver’s seat in the NFC South – early.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 27, Falcons 20