The Falcons have plenty to play for, as we’ve indicated before, because there are jobs on the line across the coaching staff and roster. They’re not going to walk into a Week 17 matchup against the Buccaneers expecting or desiring to lose just to get the year over with.
With the Bucs electing to play starters, there’s even less incentive for the Falcons to take their foot off the gas, especially since beating Brady in this one would mean they (sadly) will have beaten him for the first time in his time in the league. But that doesn’t mean the Falcons can or should pass up the opportunity to give chances to younger players who may well be major players on next year’s squad, as futile as it might be to stump for that.