Game 1

Bucs at Dixie Chicks

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

TV: FOX (WTVT-TV Channel 13, locally) with Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Megan Olivi.

Streaming: FOX One, NFL+. (Geographic restrictions may apply; subscription may be required).

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network WXTB-FM 97.9 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region (Transmisiones de radio en español en WTMP-FM 96.1 y WMGG-AM 1470 en Tampa). Additional stations throughout Florida on the Buccaneers Radio Network can be found here. The game will also be broadcast on SiriusXM Channel 380 (Buccaneers Radio Network feed).

Weather: The roof of the Dixie Chicks’ birdcage will be closed. So fans will enjoy being in a soulless dome. For those mingling outside guzzling beers and perhaps sipping cocktails in downtown Atlanta, it will be a very nice day. Temperature will be 71 under partly sunny skies at 10 a.m., per AccuWeather.com. By the time tailgaters head inside it will have already bumped up to 77 degrees. After the game, it will still be partly sunny and a warm 84 degrees.

Odds: Per Hard Rock Bet, as of Saturday, Bucs -1 (-100); over/under 47.

Referees: Land Clark and his gang will work today’s game. Road teams in games worked by Clark’s outfit last year won at a 53 percent clip, well above the 2024 league average of road team wins, which was 46 percent. This didn’t help the Bucs last year as the lone Bucs game Clark’s posse worked was a Bucs loss at Dallas.

Injuries: Bucs — Out WR Chris Godwin (ankle), S Christian Izien (oblique), LT Tristan Wirfs (knee), CB Benjamin Morrison (quad). Questionable: NT Vita Vea (foot). Dixie Chicks– Out: S DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring), OL Jack Nelson (calf). Doubtful: WR Darnell Mooney (shoulder).

Outlook: “This Joe” thinks this game being labeled a “must-win” is nonsense. A “must-win” means necessary to make the playoffs; win the division or you don’t. You get home-field advantage or you don’t. This game is not that and it’s irresponsible to call this a must-win game. However, if the Bucs want to take early control of the division, then win this game. No one believes the Stinking Panthers or the slimy Saints have a prayer of winning the division. The Dixie Chicks are the lone real threat for the Bucs. So win this game and the Bucs have early control of the division race. To beat the Dixie Chicks the Bucs must play better defensively. It’s getting old to have a defensive-minded coach who annually has a lousy pass defense. In all but one season since Todd Bowles arrived in 2019, the Bucs have had a pass defense for yards allowed ranked in the 20s. The lone season the Bucs had a top-five pass defense was the only time Bowles had a losing record. This defense must improve if the Bucs want to play multiple meaningful games in January (or beyond). On offense, don’t turn the ball over. Plenty of touches for Bucky Irving (but not too many) and get rookie Emeka Egbuka involved early to get past his first-game butterflies.

Fun facts: Last year Baker Mayfield became one of the better quarterbacks in the league. In 2024, he ranked tied for second in the NFL with touchdown passes (career-high 41) and third in passing yards among qualified quarterbacks. Mayfield has 13 touchdowns (12 pass, 1 rush) and just three picks in five career starts against Atlanta. … RB Bucky Irving led all rookies last season in scrimmage yards (1,514), rushing yards (1,122) and rushing touchdowns (8). … WR Mike Evans can become the first player ever with at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 12 seasons. Evans leads all active players with 105 career touchdown catches, which is ninth-most in NFL history. … NT Vita Vea set career highs in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (7) last year. Vea aims for his fourth consecutive season with a sack on the road against Atlanta. … ILB Lavonte David had 122 tackles in 2024, his 11th-career 100-tackles season. Davis ranks second among active players with 1,600 career tackles. … S Antoine Winfield leads all NFL defensive backs with 17 sacks this century. Winfield also has a forced fumble in three of his past five games against Atlanta. Robbed last year in Tampa of a fourth because multi-billion dollar companies like the NFL and FOX broadcasting were too cheap to put a camera on the goal line. … Dixie Chicks QB Michael Penix had four touchdowns in three games last season. … RB Bijon Robinson ranked third 3rd in rushing yards (1,456) last season, fourth in scrimmage yards (1,887) and was tied for fifth-most rushing touchdowns (14). Those were all career-highs for Robinson. He had at least 50 scrimmage yards in every game last season. In his last game against the Bucs, Robinson had 7 catches for 43 yards and ran for 63 yards, including a touchdown. … Edge Leonard Floyd is one of only four pass rushers (along with Brian Burns, Myles Garrett and  Trey Hendrickson) who have had at least eight sacks in each of the past five seasons. … S Jessie Bates killed the Bucs last year, forcing a critical Bucky Irving fumble late in a game and in a rematch in Tampa, Bates had key pick of Baker Mayfield to halt a potential scoring drive. In two games against the Bucs last year, Bates had three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pick.

.@GregCosell discusses the Buccaneers use of 12 personnel within their 2×2 sets to trick defenses#WeAreTheKrewe

Live on ESPN2 & Streaming on ESPN+@GregCosell | @DariusJButler | Sal Paolantonio! pic.twitter.com/fn0HFoW8i8

— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) September 6, 2025