Falcons Watch: 14 Days
August 24th, 2025
Real Bucs football begins in Atlanta in exactly two short weeks, against a team the Bucs absolutely must beat to be taken very seriously early this season.
If the Bucs dare to lose, the national media will slap them with an overrated tag and the Bucs will be an underdog heading into Houston in Week 2.
So what’s going on in Atlanta?
Well, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, the man who captained an epic meltdown last season, has been channeling one of his mentors, Rams head coach Sean McVay. Morris has kept his starters out of the preseason, and their only big-boy work came in two joint practices with arguably the worst team in the NFL: the Tennessee Titans.
Lots of Falcons fans have been outraged.
Starting quarterback Michael Penix has three career starts but Raheem, the former Bucs head coach, doesn’t think Penix needs a lick of preseason to be ready for Todd Bowles’ defense.
Joe sure hopes Raheem has been wrong.
In contrast, the Bucs had starters practice against the Titans and the Steelers this month, and most starters played under the preseason lights eight days ago.
Joe comes back to the critical nature of this opening day after the Falcons slapped the Bucs twice last season and made their defense look foolish. But that was with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, not encroaching Penix.
Todd Bowles, barring a disaster between now and Sept. 7, has a full stable of healthy defensive players ready for opening day.
The Falcons have lost their right tackle to an injury and their backup tackle was lost to surgery. Their stud 2024 center, Drew Dalman, signed a massive contract with the Bears in the offseason. However, Atlanta beat the Bucs last year twice without Dalman — with backup center Ryan Neuzil in his place. Neuzil, the pride of Bradenton, now owns the starting center gig.
On paper, Joe thinks the Bucs should win this game, especially given Bowles’ 3-0 record leading Tampa Bay on opening days.
What’s it going to be, Coach?
August 24th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
We gonna be Atlanta Ready?
August 24th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Thanks for the update on ATL Joe. I knew about the OL injuries and C loss (didn’t realize Neuzil played both last year) but did not know that Raheem didn’t play starters.
That bodes very well for us in week 1 I would say. Bucs are presenting a very different challenge than the Titans. The mostly full D health and Bowles opening record make me very confident.
Confidence had waned with Wirfs injury but it’s back. I have maintained all offseason that this is a great 1st game and the Bucs should be hard out for revenge and to make a statement!
August 24th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
The Falcons gonna do exactly what they did last season. They’re going to attack this (Soft Zone) defense with quick slants, and RB screens. The Bucs will have to play a turnover free game to win.
This won’t be a easy game for the Bucs, they better bring it
August 24th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Saskbucs Says:
August 24th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Thanks for the update on ATL Joe. I knew about the OL injuries and C loss (didn’t realize Neuzil played both last year) but did not know that Raheem didn’t play starters.
———
I watched some of their game vs the Titans, and man did the Falcons backups not look good. But the main thing I took away from that game is how bad the Titans are. Both teams looked terrible, but it’s hard to take much from it in any case. Poor Cam Ward, I thought he looked pretty good, but got zero help as guys were dropping passes, blowing blocks, he’s going to have a rough season I suspect and people are going to say he’s a bust – but if he struggles, from what I’ve seen, it’s more about the lack of a team around him.
But the Falcons, their backup threw I think 3 first half INTs but one or two got called back for various reasons, he looked really bad – but he was also their 3rd string QB going against a starting Titans defense, so again, I wouldn’t take much from it. But what an awful game.
August 24th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
If Bowles keeps dropping his rushers in coverage like he did last night on third and long making Buscelle look like an all pro won’t matter who’s on their O line.
August 24th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
The team that wants the W more will win! I have faith, after last season’s embarrassing losses to the Falcons, that the Buc’s will prevail! Time for the defense to make some plays! LFG!
August 24th, 2025 at 3:44 pm
I’m not to sure about a win against ATL. A lot of hype going around on the rookies. The biggest detriment on the BUCS is the head coach. Quite a bit of talent on the team, but questionable decisions by head coach. Lucky to be 9-8, at end of season
August 24th, 2025 at 4:01 pm
We should take care of business against Atlanta. The Houston game will be a different animal especially without Wirfs.
August 24th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Tampa’s edge rushers are on the first team, not the backups. There won’t be nearly the same edge rushers dropping in coverage like we saw in preseason
.
With our first team rushers, they will apply real pressure forcing Penis to throw sooner and inaccurately.
The outcome will be a win unlike last year’s lost. Go Bucs
August 24th, 2025 at 4:20 pm
Raheem is a joke Coach #1
Bucs need to stomp a mud hole and walk through it a couple times
August 24th, 2025 at 4:37 pm
If they play that much heralded tighter coverage there won’t be any openings to throw the ball before Penix is sacked. I like our chances.
August 24th, 2025 at 4:38 pm
My prediction: Bucs win by 10 points! (30 – 20)
August 24th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Healthy defense = Bucs win!!!!
Player of the game Bucky
LFG!!!!!!!
August 24th, 2025 at 4:52 pm
Baker’s gonna bake. The question is whether the Defense is gonna bring the shake. If they do. Then it’s Ricky Bobby time and the Bucs win!
August 24th, 2025 at 5:03 pm
Who cares about the national media? 1 out of 17. The 2002 Super Bowl team lost week 1 to New Orleans.
August 24th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Idk what you’re talking about, Joe.
Penix beat our a$$es last year too and made clutch plays against our crappy pass defense to win.
Right now, Atlanta has our number until we prove otherwise.
August 24th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
Joe,
You also need to start proofreading your articles again before posting because there are always spelling errors and/or typos in each article recently.
Joe needs to do better. You are correct. Saying there are “always spelling errors” is inaccurate (and unprofessional 🙂 .–Joe
It looks lazy and unprofessional, in my opinion.
August 24th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
Can’t fault Raheem’s reasoning. Seems like the less experience a quarterback has the better he does against us.
August 24th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
BUCS FAN since 1999 here. Here is MY OPINION / 2 CENTS.
1. Is TODD BOWELS and JASON LITCH going to be held ACCOUNTABLE for TAMPA BAYs AWFUL DEFENSE this season???
2. WARREN SAPP, JOHN LYNCH, DERRICK BROOKS, SIMONE RICE etc….we’re STRONG and POWERFUL players. Why BUCS DEFENSE TERRIBLE and soft????
3. WHY does NFL allow FAKE fans to support ORANGE Uniforms????
4. Shiloh Sanders got held by face mask (NO PENALTY) on BUFFALO TE?????
5. WILL the GLAZER FAMILY see this post comment????
August 24th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
Even if they win big vs. ATL they will be underdog vs. Texans.
August 24th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Don’t count your chickens yet Joe. Remember this is a division game on the road. I think Penix I believe is the real deal. He played well last year I can see the Bucs losing this game given All the hype. This is a division game and the Bucs are missing some prime players.
The media might jump all over them for losing, however ,I see them getting stronger as the season goes on as they get some key players back.
We will see but don’t under estimate Atl. This game is likely to be a real dog fight.
August 24th, 2025 at 5:49 pm
The Falcons are youngry. sorry
August 24th, 2025 at 5:56 pm
Preseason games are vanilla in nature. Teams aren’t going to expose their new offensive and defensive schemes. And considering that starters get limited if any action in the preseason, I wouldn’t put too much stock in how a team will perform based on preseason observations. Atlanta has a very good team. So do the Bucs. It’s all about preparation and game planning. The Falcons will miss a couple of key linemen, but we’re also without 3 offensive starters. Also, the Falcons have homefield advantage. So it should be a close game. I just hope Baker’s on his game to get us rolling. A win would really start the season off right!
BEAT ATLANTA!!!
August 24th, 2025 at 5:58 pm
Hey 1999
X-A-N-A-X
August 24th, 2025 at 6:00 pm
I’d be very concerned about the team’s lack of any semblance of a run game the past 2 games. I know it’s preseason and Bucky hasn’t played but 45 yards as a team yesterday and 41 yards last week I’d be a little worried. Instead we spend hours here debating the greatness of Kyle Trask… SMH
August 24th, 2025 at 6:01 pm
St. Pete native who recently moved outside of ATL. Went to the Thursday night game last year and knew we would blow that one even as ATL fans bailed early.
Soo were going week one this year. I’ll be cheering for you Buc fans that can’t make it.
Heck will need some help as I see him being blitzed or schemed against. Also some rollouts away from him and three step drops.
August 24th, 2025 at 6:10 pm
@ View from 132
The 2020 Super Bowl also lost week 1 to New Orleans.
August 24th, 2025 at 6:18 pm
By the time we saw Atlanta last year we were had KJ Britt on pass coverage, and AWJ was hurt, mebbe Whitehead too, cant remember. Aggressive pass coverage would have just resulted in long touchdowns
August 24th, 2025 at 6:22 pm
Supposedly Heck is a much stronger run blocker than pass protector so let’s run the heck out of the ball! (Pun intended)
Seriously- our O-lime is really, really strong. If we block and tackle and execute we will certainly win. Oh, and **wrap up** Bijan Robinson!
August 24th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
It will be close.
August 24th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
Offensively, the Falcons create a lot of mismatches against us
And the main three are Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson. But they also get Darnell Mooney, Ray Ray McCloud involved. They have a strong offense with lots of depth at every offensive position. But last season, they’re defense, and Kirk Cousins held them back. But this season, they have added pieces to their defense. And Kirk Cousins is no longer in play. This will be a good game to watch, but by no means, will the Falcons be a easy victim.
August 24th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
Raheem captained an epic meltdown last season? Hmmm… why does that sound familiar?
August 24th, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Bowels is what he is…can’t change his stripes…watch…my proof?
Every other year Bowles has been a head coach. The light didn’t suddenly go off this spring.
Mediocrity incoming…on DEFENSE.
Bowles coaches scared. It will be there again.
August 24th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
@st Pete Matt
You’re right bro.
Pound the rock!
Let’s let Baker get warmed up in game 1.
Let Bucky carry us the weak.
The Falcons edge guys are small. Floyd is skinny. Their 2 draft picks are divas
Let’s run the ball down their throat.
Penix is not very accurate.
I say we blitz him all day.
Turnovers and running the ball.
And the Falcons let Grady Jarrett walk. He was their best defender.
I wish we had signed Grady Jarrett. He would have loved to play against the Falcons who let him walk
Run the ball
Give Baker the week off
August 24th, 2025 at 6:39 pm
“”Mooney might not play, due to shoulder injury ”
That means KhaDarel Hodge (:The guy that beat us in overtime) will get the start.
August 24th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
ATL has our number because their O line destroys our Dline . They can run against us and Penix is highly mobile and can extend plays and find secondary receivers against Bowles weak zone. Not looking forward to this game. I’m not sure we can make them punt.
August 24th, 2025 at 6:59 pm
This is a team that had 944 yards of offense against us last season in two games. And they scored 67 points, averaging 33.5 PPG against us. In my opinion, Michael Penix Jr is a upgrade over Kirk Cousins. Penix is a Gunslinger, he was a Gunslinger at Tampa Bay Tech. At Washington, he was one of the best gunslingers l ever seen. I want the Falcons to win this game. But, with Atlanta high powered offense, and our SOFT Zone defense. They’re going to do exactly what they did last season. And the results may be worse for us, with Penix slinging the rock. I’m not sure if our defense can hold the in check, on their Turf. But we will see, come September 7.
I can’t wait
August 24th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
the main prob last years was not much pass rush and turnovers
the new upgraded bucs has to step up and pressure penix
offense control the clock and dont turn it over
August 24th, 2025 at 8:18 pm
The Bucs floor is 7-10. Their ceiling is 10-7 or 11-6.
Not quite a SB team, but maybe a team that can get to the NFC Title game.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:18 pm
The Bucs floor is 7-10. Their ceiling is 10-7 or 11-6.
Not quite a SB team, but maybe a team that can get to the NFC Title game.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:28 pm
Interesting analysis Rusty. Gonna take awhile to think about that one. Some good points you’ve make. Defense Rules! Come Back!!
August 24th, 2025 at 8:30 pm
replace made with make.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:33 pm
make with made. Jeez. That’s what I get for trying to be a smarta$$.
August 24th, 2025 at 8:40 pm
I think we’re about to absolutely wreck these guys. The Bucs are pissed off. If they play like it they’ll smoke the Falcons. I’m excited to see the new OC. Hoping for some early fireworks from the Dline too. Man it’s gonna be a long two weeks.
August 24th, 2025 at 9:05 pm
If Bucs lose this game with Bowles and Bakers track record in prime time games we very well may be 0-2 to start the season. This game is massively important to take imho. Teams that start 0-2 in the NFL have a really hard time making the playoffs. Also only 3 teams that started 0-2 ever won the Super Bowl and hasn’t been done since the Giants nearly 20 years ago. This game is yuuuuuuge.
August 24th, 2025 at 9:26 pm
Atl has Bowles defense figured out. They have been able to run on us and their QB can find open receivers in the soft zone. The Blitzes don’t confuse them at all and with Penix being mobile he will just outrun our LBs if WR are not open. Bowles is not going to change his defense…..
August 24th, 2025 at 9:33 pm
Division games can be tough no matter the opponent. The Bucs players have to forget the hype about the team and play to their own high standards. Cousins beat us up last year, and I think Penix could be better. Put Penix on his back and the Bucs will win. LFG!
August 24th, 2025 at 9:36 pm
They not ready. But I still have some questions about this new OC and if the run game falters and Baker turns into the old Baker, it could be a disaster. And the injuries are already creeping up early, like the old days. But hope springs eternal this time of year, so nobody wants to think in those terms. Either way, I think the Bucs can win this division again, because it is still a very weak one. In a couple of seasons, that could change and the Falcons have a lot of young talent that could mature into something to worry about, but they are still a couple of seasons off of that.
August 24th, 2025 at 10:10 pm
Falcons Week 1 is must win. Texans on the road will be tough and Jets will be hungry with new coach and then the Eagles who we’ve owned, but they owe us. We need to beat the Falcons so that 2-2 is our floor record. Ceiling, of course is 4-0.
August 24th, 2025 at 10:27 pm
Joe says…”Real Bucs football begins in Atlanta in exactly two short weeks, against a team the Bucs absolutely must beat to be taken very seriously early this season.
If the Bucs dare to lose, the national media will slap them with an overrated tag and the Bucs will be an underdog heading into Houston in Week 2.”
BIG FN deal, screw any thinking about that.
Could care less what others say.
Either beat them or not.
Bucs are either better or they are not.
NO EXCUSES!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!
August 24th, 2025 at 10:41 pm
I sure hope we kick their butts and get the W, and on paper, we definitely should. I worry only because ATL has given us issues even when they weren’t very good, but I feel like we’re putting all that kind of stuff behind us this season and sailing to the Superbowl!
August 24th, 2025 at 11:20 pm
Losers lose.
Bowles is a loser.
August 24th, 2025 at 11:47 pm
Lotta losers in the comments too.
Gotta get the win. Figure it out boys.
Go Bucs.
August 25th, 2025 at 12:42 am
falcons 2nd.year guys lookin good on D
August 25th, 2025 at 6:53 am
I believe this season will tell the full story on how good ….or bad coach Bowles is. Major injuries to some of our best players on offense with no clear dates for return. His defense MUST dictate and dominate to compensate for the missing offensive weapons. Time to shine Todd.
August 25th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Joe, Game 1 is never a must win. I’m surprised at you. We are down two receivers and our left tackle. Injuries matter.