The anticipation is only building for Week 1 of the NFL season, and the Atlanta Falcons’ Sunday clash with the Buccaneers has fans buzzing. The Dirty Birds swept their NFC South rivals in 2024, and are hoping for that trend to continue with Michael Penix Jr now under center.
But the Bucs are in pursuit of their fifth straight playoff appearance and fourth consecutive division championship. Raymond James Stadium is home to one of the league’s most potent offenses, and NFL Spin Zone’s Ryan Heckman thinks that Atlanta’s younger defense could struggle in containing Baker Mayfield—and first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka— in what he expects to be a Falcons’ loss.