The Falcons are hoping for a different outcome this time around when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
The Bucs (7-8) have vastly improved under Bruce Arians as the season has gone on. Arians’ defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles, has the Buccaneers playing the best their defense has played in years.
Tampa is coming off a tough home loss to the Houston Texans in Week 16. Jameis Winston had a chance to lead his team to a game-winning drive but was picked off with 1:27 to go as the Bucs trailed by three.
Winston threw four picks in the 23-20 loss to the Texans (10-5) and his interceptions continue to be the biggest Achilles heel for the Bucs. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Tampa, which was coming off the 35-22 win over the Falcons in Week 12.
The Falcons (6-9) are on a three-game winning streak themselves. After strong performances against the Panthers, 49ers and Jaguars, Atlanta will be looking to close out the lost season on a positive note.
Here’s a look at what’s changed with the Bucs since the last meeting:
Bucs’ offense missing star receivers
After losing Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans for the season with a hamstring injury, the injury bug kept hitting the Bucs.
Chris Godwin, who also earned his first Pro Bowl nod, also suffered a hamstring injury and missed Tampa’s most recent game against the Texans.
Arians has been on record saying he “hopes” Godwin makes it back for the regular-season finale, but his status is certainly something to keep an eye as the week goes on.
Godwin and Evans have combined for 153 catches for 2,490 yards and 17 touchdowns this year for Tampa.
Without these two in the lineup against Houston, Winston relied heavily on former first-round pick Breshad Perriman who caught seven passes for 102 yards.
