The Bucs And Their Approach To Atlanta
September 4th, 2025
More stressed over playoff loss.
So how are the Bucs looking at the Dixie Chicks, their Week 1 opponent, when the 2025 season kicks off Sunday in Atlanta?
Depends who you talk to.
Yesterday, Baker Mayfield confessed he has hardly thought about Atlanta until recently, when the Bucs kicked their Week 1 game prep into high gear.
Mayfield stewed over the offseason from the stinging memories of the playoff loss to Washington, he said, much more than he dwelled on two losses to Atlanta.
Left tackle Charlie Heck wasn’t around last year. So the sweep at the hands of the Dixie Chicks doesn’t mean much to him. He’s just worried about doing his best, likely facing a rookie on Sunday.
New multi-millionaire right tackle Luke Goedeke noted he’s still peeved at last year, getting swept by Atlanta. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t respect Atlanta. He very much does.
“We kind of gave away two games to them last year,” Goedeke said. “I think we are all coming in with a little chip on our shoulder.
“We know what we were last year. We’ve only elevated from that.”
So how can the Bucs reverse history and beat Atlanta on Sunday? Don’t turn the ball over. The Bucs had a critical turnover late in the game in Atlanta last year when Bucky Irving coughed up a ball that likely would have otherwise turned into a field goal.
With three minutes left, Irving fumbled on the Dixie Chicks-32
The Bucs lost in overtime.
Protect the ball and score and the Bucs should win. Simple.
#BeatAtlanta
September 4th, 2025 at 4:39 am
Sure, the Irving fumble didn’t help, but it was a very weak, passive Bucs defense that lost the Atlanta games last year, IMHO. Just be aggressive.
September 4th, 2025 at 5:11 am
“Protect the ball and score points and the Bucs should win this game. Simple.”
Yup, as a matter of fact that 4 game stretch bookended by both ATL games we turned the ball over a total of 9 times and went 1-3. The only game we won was the Saints game where I doubt we would’ve won had our defense not scored a TD.
September 4th, 2025 at 6:26 am
I think this is going to be a very close game. But, if our offense can match its production of last year, we WILL win!
BEAT ATLANTA!!!
September 4th, 2025 at 6:33 am
The defense should be out for blood after they were utterly embarrassed last season. Play like your lives depend on it.
September 4th, 2025 at 6:46 am
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
September 4th, 2025 at 5:11 am
“Protect the ball and score points and the Bucs should win this game. Simple.”
Yup, as a matter of fact that 4 game stretch bookended by both ATL games we turned the ball over a total of 9 times and went 1-3. The only game we won was the Saints game where I doubt we would’ve won had our defense not scored a TD.
^^^^^^^^
The offense scored 30 and 26 vs. the Falcons last year. You don’t think averaging 28 points was good enough, huh? Did you watch those games? Were you happy with how the defense played?
September 4th, 2025 at 6:53 am
Joe I agree an aggressive defense is the key, but last year there was one guy in the game in Atlanta that was aggressive and it kind of cost us.
A couple of times Zyon took a couple of chances and just missed getting a couple of picks. One ended up in a completion, the other was the last play of the game. Not grilling him, all is a chance to learn. I think this year he will have a better idea of when to go for the ball vs. the tackle.
September 4th, 2025 at 6:56 am
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
September 4th, 2025 at 5:11 am
The only game we won was the Saints game where I doubt we would’ve won had our defense not scored a TD.
^^^^^^^
Baker had 4 TD passes and the Bucs had 2 rushing TD’s in that game…Are you high this early?
September 4th, 2025 at 8:24 am
If I remember correct there was a ref non call blatant face mask on one BI7 run too. The Buc’s have to beat the Falcons and the refs in Atlanta!
September 4th, 2025 at 8:47 am
If you can’t beat Atlanta just give up. Shouldn’t even be a question. If you can’t beat Atlanta how are you going to compete with the Chiefs, Lions, Bills Eagles? One goal Superbowl or nothing.
September 4th, 2025 at 8:49 am
With these people not playing this week it’s gonna be a tough game;
Vita Vea
Chris Godwin
Jalen McMillin
Cade Otton
Tristan Wirfs
Benjamin Morrison
I hope the injury report gets better.
September 4th, 2025 at 8:54 am
You remember well.
September 4th, 2025 at 9:00 am
Might have hell d if Lavonte had just knocked down his interception too…
September 4th, 2025 at 9:03 am
Maybe the head coach should lock the defensive coordinator in a closet with an iPad between now and 1pm Sunday and force him to watch every defensive snap of both games on an infinite loop. With his eyelids glued open, like Clockwork Orange. It wouldn’t change anything but at least he would maybe suffer some agita, as Aqualung has.
September 4th, 2025 at 9:13 am
“The offense scored 30 and 26 vs. the Falcons last year. You don’t think averaging 28 points was good enough, huh? Did you watch those games? Were you happy with how the defense played?”
Could’ve scored more without the 4 turnovers and you should properly credit the defense with it’s 2 points it contributed in the second game the very drive AFTER an offensive turnover in the 2nd half. See how that works?
Let me guess, you wash you right and left hands without help from the off hand?
September 4th, 2025 at 9:17 am
“Baker had 4 TD passes and the Bucs had 2 rushing TD’s in that game…Are you high this early?”
Did you see where I said we coughed the ball up 9 times in 4 games, you know how many of those were on Baker? LMAO or do you just pay attention to what you want? Also, the game was 31-27 going into the 4th quarter, Thank the LORD for Bucky & Tucker, you know the guy that won offensive player of the game the first time he had >10 carries in a regular season game.
September 4th, 2025 at 9:30 am
Not turning the ball over would be great. Also, I would imagine week one is very close in the 4th quarter. Todd has to be aggressive on offense. If the chance presents itself to go for it and keep the offense on the field – he needs to take it.
September 4th, 2025 at 9:34 am
There were SEVERAL missed facemask calls last year on the Bucs offense as a whole. BI7 had a couple of them, and so did Mayfield.
The officiating last year was utterly ATROCIOUS !!!
The league should have incorporated challenges by coaching staff to fix those types of plays with missed facemask penalties…15-yard missed calls sure as hell add up!!
I wonder if we’re gonna see that type of a crap-show this year??
Inquiring minds wanna know..:
September 4th, 2025 at 10:06 am
Aqualung realizes it’s unfortunate when someone is arrogant enough to think they are smart, and ignorant enough to prove otherwise.
September 4th, 2025 at 10:09 am
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
September 4th, 2025 at 9:17 am
“Baker had 4 TD passes and the Bucs had 2 rushing TD’s in that game…Are you high this early?”
Did you see where I said we coughed the ball up 9 times in 4 games, you know how many of those were on Baker? LMAO or do you just pay attention to what you want? Also, the game was 31-27 going into the 4th quarter, Thank the LORD for Bucky & Tucker, you know the guy that won offensive player of the game the first time he had >10 carries in a regular season game.
^^^^^^^^
Thank you for admitting the offense was good. Too bad you contradicted yourself by doing so, though. Hahaha
September 4th, 2025 at 10:32 am
it’s a new year and both teams are different that they were in 2024. Did they improve and by how much remains to be seem and will soon enough.
At the beginning both offense were very good and the defenses had obvious short comings. Once Cousins wore down from the sear an tear of his injury that had not fully recovered the Bucs offense was superior and both defenses still had the same issue.
Bucs got Riddick and Falcon got Hasson. That’s a wash as far as improvement.
Bucs got Egbuka which is a definite improvement and will take the sting out of not having Godwin. Each team has only so many possessions in a game and if you were scoring on many of them already the benefit will be minute. Running up the score and yardage on some of the worse defenses in the league had the 29 points a game a bit inflated. If Bucs Offense is improved over last year 29 points might be a bit more legitimate.
Bucs may have an edge at QB as Penix is still a variable although in the tree games he played in his production was not bad and two losses were in overtime where he did not see the ball. Falcons have an Edge at Running back as Robinson produced even though defenses schemed to stop him and Irving was an unknown and usually an afterthought in a defense’s planning. Rest of the offense on both side was pretty much even.
What it is going to come down to as it usually does is Defense on how much better they are. Falcons let their “Vea” go to the Bears but they have two real good Line Backers to pick up the slack. Two new additions in the draft that if they have a proportional year to Irving’s rookie season are going to give the Falcons exactly what they were missing on the front end.
Where the Falcons have an advantage by far is their 35 million dollar insurance policy. Should Penix go down be playing poorly and down two scores into the 4th they have someone that can come in and light it up. That’s what he has always done best.
It’s going to be one of the best games of the week and might just end up getting shown on the NFL Network a few times next week. Lions vs Packers and Chiefs vs Chargers will be two others games that will be equal to or better than the Bucs vs Falcons. NFL did a great job Week 1 even with the Jets vs Steelers that could have Rodgers start his bid for another MVP season.
September 4th, 2025 at 10:36 am
I think one small key to beating Atlanta would be avoiding giving up 500 passing yards on defense.
September 4th, 2025 at 10:45 am
“Thank you for admitting the offense was good. Too bad you contradicted yourself by doing so, though. Hahaha”
Goal post moved. I didn’t contradict anything just made the misfire of answering an idiot who can form some semblance of a question. My folly, you proved nothing and made no significant point or counterpoint. As
4TDs to 3INts in one game and some of you with the football IQ of a pylon wonder why Baker didn’t win MVP or think he got robbed lol
September 4th, 2025 at 11:33 am
I’ve scrolled thru all the team’s injury reports and once again the Buccaneers are leading the league. It’s absolutely pathetic.
September 4th, 2025 at 11:37 am
If Jamel Dean stay on top of Drake London for 1 seconds. The game would have been over. Dean tackle London and immediately jump of him, allowing the Falcons to reset, and spike the ball, with one second remaining. This seems like a poorly coached team, that lacks the basic fundamentals of football..
September 4th, 2025 at 11:56 am
Our D was absolutely Pityful vs the Falcons last season. I know we will score. But will we stop anybody from scoring? Thats the Key. We say we have improved on Defense. I want to see for myself. ATL says they have improved on Defense drafting 2 top DE’s. Get yer Popcorn ready.
September 4th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
September 4th, 2025 at 10:45 am
4TDs to 3INts in one game and some of you with the football IQ of a pylon wonder why Baker didn’t win MVP or think he got robbed lol
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You mean the game Bucs won 51-27? Not sure what’s your point? Dealing with people like you is insufferable.
September 4th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
September 4th, 2025 at 10:45 am
4TDs to 3INts in one game and some of you with the football IQ of a pylon wonder why Baker didn’t win MVP or think he got robbed lol
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Tom Brady threw for 3 or more interceptions in a game a total of 9 times during his career. He had 4 interceptions in a game 6 times.
September 4th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
LakelandBuc Says:
September 4th, 2025 at 11:37 am
If Jamel Dean stay on top of Drake London for 1 seconds. The game would have been over. Dean tackle London and immediately jump of him, allowing the Falcons to reset, and spike the ball, with one second remaining. This seems like a poorly coached team, that lacks the basic fundamentals of football..
And if Dean does not the flag flies for delay of game just as if Dean had thrown the ball into the stands. One untimed down. Same outcome.
September 4th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Gipper: “Warren Brooks Lynch” is more like “Swaggy Britt Conte” when it comes to commenting. Hahaha
September 4th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
It’s becoming pretty obvious that WLB actually thinks, and knows more about football than the simple minded Offense good/defense bad crowd around here. It’s a friggin team game – team wins team losses.
September 4th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
Bottom line is, when we are playing mistake free football, we are a very hard team to beat and it will be even harder in 2025.