The Bucs came out of their bye week with a “clunker,” as head coach Todd Bowles called it. The offense never got anything going and the defense allowed too many third-down conversions, and the result was a 20-6 home loss to the Lions.

But the Bucs don’t have any time to dwell on that Week 6 loss. Because in Week 7, they’re hosting the Falcons in what could be a pivotal game for their season. And there are a few reasons for that.

Bucs Need A Bounce-Back Game

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Week 6 was ugly for Tampa Bay (except for the creamsicle uniforms, at least). Bowles is right to call it a clunker, and there are going to be some of those in a season for almost any team. But after such a poor performance, the Bucs need to rebound.

The offense can’t let its showing against Detroit become the start of a string of struggles. Baker Mayfield needs to be better, the run game needs to show some semblance of life, the receivers need to help out their quarterback and it would be nice if the tight ends decided to show up to the 2023 season.

On defense, Tampa Bay needs to rediscover its ability to create takeaways. The season started strong in that area of the game, with the Bucs forcing 10 over the first four games. But they followed that up with zero against the Lions and need to avoid a repeat of 2022, as they went from 11 takeaways through four games last year to finishing with just 20 on the year.

Todd Bowles’ team is still 3-2 after Sunday’s frustrating loss to the Lions. But that’s just one game, and they can’t let one loss turn into two. Sitting at 4-2 by the end of Sunday would feel much different than 3-3.

Bucs Have A Chance To Create Separation In NFC South

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

One of the main factors that makes this Sunday’s game so impactful is what it could do in terms of the NFC South standings. Each team in the division lost last week, so this is how things stand right now:

Bucs 3-2 (1-0 divisional record)
Falcons 3-3 (1-0 divisional record)
Saints 3-3 (1-1 divisional record)
Panthers 0-6 (0-2 divisional record)

Based on records within NFC South play, Atlanta sits in second place behind Tampa Bay and ahead of New Orleans. The Bucs’ lead in the division is a half-game, so it goes without saying that a win on Sunday would give them some breathing room in the form of a 1.5-game lead. It would also make them 2-0 in divisional play, which could come into focus down the line.

Add in the fact that the Saints play a good 4-2 Jaguars team on a short week — the two square off on Thursday night — and this week could give Tampa Bay an opportunity to build its lead atop the South. There was an opportunity to do that in Week 6, but the Bucs didn’t take advantage. This time around, they can’t let that shot pass them by.

Following Week 7, Schedule Doesn’t Get Any Lighter For Bucs

Bucs ILB Devin White and Bills QB Josh Allen – Photo by: USA Today

Last week, Scott Reynolds wrote about the Bucs’ schedule getting tougher after the bye week, starting with the game against the Lions. Tampa Bay failed its first test, but it can’t afford to drop this game against Atlanta on Sunday — especially with it being at home.

After this Week 7 game, the Bucs will have a short week before heading up to Buffalo for Thursday Night Football in Week 8. The Bills have been suspect this year, but they’re still 4-2 and always capable of coming out and absolutely lighting up their opponents.

Should Tampa Bay win on Sunday, it would be 4-2 going into that Buffalo game. A loss to the Bills would only drop them to 4-3 before a mini bye ahead of a Week 9 game at Houston against the surprisingly 3-3 Texans. Should the Bucs go into that Nov. 5 game at 4-3 rather than 3-4, you’d like their chances to win it, wouldn’t you?

On the other hand, a loss to the Falcons would set up the potential for a downward spiral for this Bucs team. Because then a loss to the Bills would mark three in a row, drop them below .500 and make the ensuing stretch that much more high-pressure.

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III and 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey – Photo by: USA Today

That game against the Texans is followed by a return home to host the Titans, who are beatable, but then there’s a trip to San Francisco. That will not be friendly to the Bucs both because of how good the 49ers are and due to their lack of success on the West Coast. Tampa Bay lost a brutal game last year at San Francisco, as it was thoroughly outclassed in a 35-7 loss to the 49ers.

It’ll be a much different feeling if the team goes into that game at 6-3 – with wins over the Falcons, Texans and Titans – rather than going into it at 4-5 or 5-4.

Long story short, the Bucs need this one against the Falcons. It may only be Week 7, but a victory over their divisional foe could go a long way in setting them on a path toward their third straight NFC South title and fourth consecutive playoff appearance.