MATCHUP
This division still looks to be the weakest division in all of football but it’s ultra competitive. A 10 win season here might be enough to win the division, but anything less is likely to fall well short of a WildCard especially with the NFC North teams all looking very strong. That means each of these division wins becomes like a playoff game.

Bucs (3-1) @ Falcons (2-2)

OPENING MARKETS
Head to Head > Bucs $2.07 (+107) > Falcons $1.79 (-127)
Spread Falcons -1.5
Over / Under 43.5
Team Totals > Bucs 21.5 – Falcons 22.5

BUCCANEERS
The BUCs impressed on the weekend at home and took advantage of a Philly team with a shortage in the receiving position limiting them to just 227 total yards of offence, after the Eagles had put up 460, 365 and 410 in their first 3 starts. The BUCs also limited them to 113 rushing yards, which was their season lowest. Baker Mayfield threw for 347 yards and 2 TDs, the BUCs piled up over 450 yards in total offence in a dominating performance and not only were they good on offense, but their defence played like monsters. 6 sacks on a massive 44 pressures, they got 3 fumbles and held Philly to just 16 points. Mayfield’s main targets Evans (14), Goodwin and Otton (9 each).

FALCONS
For the Falcons, they improved to 2-2 with a win at home against another division rival the New Orleans Saints. It was nothing overly impressive but whilst trailing 10-7, the defense made a huge play with a pic 6 getting them into a lead and they got the division win they needed with a late 58 yard field goal with just 2 seconds on the clock.

This TNF game at home against a hyped up BUCs team is going to be a big challenge for this outfit. It’s got the makings of a game that could have some points, last week’s game in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (indoor dome), saw the Falcons give up 366 yards in offence against and the game total hit 50 points. Falcons big challenge and the probable outcome of the game will be to limit Mayfield’s passing yards, when BUCs win he’s thrown for 334, 216 and 280 but when he was limited to 132 against the Broncos they were beaten convincingly.

Cousins’ will need to throw the ball well in this one, with his main target Drake London from last weekend (12 for 64 yards), as the Falcons have struggled establishing a run game with 3 of their 4 games they rushed for less than 90 yards.

Interesting “side note”, the Falcons are experiencing a strange start to the season with 3 of their first 5 games being prime time (Rd 2 MNF, Rd 3 SNF and now Rd 5 TNF) and Cousins prime time record is 13-20 with his MNF record a poor 4-10! Baker Mayfield 4-0 TNF!

WHAT WE EXPECT
We’d expect to see points again this weekend, but will the Falcons be able to get that much needed division win? We’ll wait and see, we feel you want to take a look at some of the team totals, and over / under options for this one. The Falcons will have to try and limit Mayfield to have a chance, and they’re also have to get the run established. Without a run game this could bring a lot of unwanted pressure on Cousins, who can turn the ball over in long down situations.

MARKETS TO FOLLOW