Keys To Cannon Fire: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons

In this weekly article, we break down what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to do to secure a victory on game day.

It's Do or Die for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they face off against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Win and you're first in the NFC South with a 52% chance of making the playoffs. Lose and that percentage drops down to eight percent. It's all on the line in this Week 14 matchup. 

Get Back To Basics On Defense

If you're the Bucs getting back to what made this defense so successful for the last four years is where you should start. We saw how the Falcons' offense took advantage of the Bucs' coverages in Week 8. Playing smart disciplined football is on the players but putting them in the right spots and scheme is on coach Bowles and getting back to what works should be paramount. Press-man coverage, simulated pressures, and attacking the edge should be the main priorities against Atlanta, especially with Vita Vea out with a foot injury.

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Attack The Falcons Weakend Defense

I know this sounds crazy but, the Buccaneers should run the ball more on Sunday. The Falcons are down their top three defensive linemen and starting linebacker and the opportunities will be there. The Bucs' running game behind Rachaad White and the offensive line has finally clicked over the last two games and if there ever was a game to keep that momentum going it would be this one against a banged-up Atlanta defensive front. 

Play Disciplined Football

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is going to be rocking on Sunday. The Buccaneers aren't going to be entering a half-full stadium this late in the season like previous years. With the NFC South lead and a realistic shot at the playoffs, Falcons fans are firmly behind their team this season. In other words, it's going to be loud. Communication up front on the offensive line will be key and false start penalties, alignment penalties and such will be drive killers for the Bucs offense.

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On defense knowing the call will be paramount to put themselves in the right position to make plays. staying disciplined in coverages and tackling technique will be vital to not allowing the big plays they let up in Week 8.

You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.

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