The Atlanta Falcons are fighting for their playoff lives, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are potentially fighting for the job of their head coach. The NFC South rivals will face each other on Monday Night Football at 8:30 p.m. ET. ESPN (live stream) will broadcast the action live from Raymond James Stadium.
Falcons vs. Buccaneers 2017: Time, TV schedule for ‘Monday Night Football’
The Falcons and Buccaneers are the featured “Monday Night Football” matchup for Week 15.
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Atlanta is currently in the playoffs with a wildcard spot, but they’re in a precarious position. They are a game back of the New Orleans Saints, who have yet to clinch the division, but are tied with another wild card team and only one win ahead of three others right behind them.
In Week 16, the Falcons will play the Saints on the road, after beating them at home in their last outing. The Buccaneers are more of an afterthought sandwiched between two games with the division-leading Saints. Atlanta also already beat the Buccaneers once this season, just three weeks ago.
In that game, Matt Ryan threw for 317 yards and a touchdown, while Tevin Coleman rushed for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns. As a team, the Falcons rushed for 148 yards. Unfortunately, Coleman is dealing with injuries and may not be available on Monday.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was starting at quarterback for the Buccaneers in that game. Jameis Winston is back under center, though he’s coming off a rough performance against the Detroit Lions. He threw for 285 yards and a pair of touchdowns in that game, but also threw two interceptions.
Below is all you need to know to watch Monday’s game.
Time, TV channel, and streaming info
Falcons vs. Buccaneers News
- The Falcons missed Tevin Coleman and Andy Levitre from the team’s most recent practice, and both are unlikely to play in Monday’s game. Adrian Clayborn missed practice earlier in the week, but was a limited participant and could be in action.
- Gerald McCoy isn’t expected to play against the Falcons, but the Buccaneers did get some good news when they discovered he wouldn’t need surgery on his biceps.
- The biggest news for the Buccaneers? Whether or not Dirk Koetter will keep his job going into the offseason. The folks at Bucs Nation think he has a chance to save it, but he only has three weeks to do it.
- There have been reports of a strain between quarterback Jameis Winston and Koetter, but offensive coordinator Todd Monken suggested that isn’t the case. The strain, he says, is being on a team that is 4-9.
- The Falcons have tried to make Vic Beasley work at linebacker, with varying degrees of success and failure. He doesn’t seem like a good player to have dropping back, especially when he’s so good at rushing the passer. That’s why the Falcons intend to have him rush the passer over the final three games.
Falcons vs. Buccaneers prediction
Of the eight experts picking for SB Nation in Week 15, all of them, plus the OddsShark Computer, think the Falcons will beat the Buccaneers on Monday.
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