Atlanta Falcons DB Jessie Bates III Talks Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Run Game

Atlanta Falcons superstar safety Jessie Bates revealed how the emergence of Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White will impact Week 14's action.

If the Atlanta Falcons (6-6) are going to win the NFC South, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7) would make the stretch run notably easier.

A win on Sunday would be a key step in locking in a division title for Atlanta, putting them two games ahead of Tampa Bay and at least one ahead of the New Orleans Saints, who haven’t won since Week 9.

As the second game of the season series between, the Falcons will unequivocally be dealing with the adjustments and refinements the Buccaneers have made since they last squared off in Week 7. In that one, Atlanta won 16-13 in a sloppy game known more for literal headaches than some impressive performance in a key contest.

This time around, the Falcons seem to be focusing on star receiver Mike Evans and Tampa Bay’s newfound love of the ground game. They, and running back Rachaad White’s fantasy managers, have taken notice.

Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III tackling New Orleans Saints star running back Alvin Kamara / USA Today Sports

Atlanta safety Jessie Bates III spoke about what he’s expecting from the Buccaneers’ offense in Week 14.

“I think No. 1 has gotten going a little bit more,” Bates said. “A lot of their runs I think when we first played them came out dot, came out of under center kind of quarterback. They’re doing a lot more gun type of runs.”

In their initial outing, White ran 13 times for 34 yards. Since then, he’s seen 20 carries in three separate games (all season-highs) and hit the century mark in a game with just 15 rushes. In all, he has 176 attempts for 643 yards and five scores on the ground this season.

In turn, Tampa has been more effective in the run game. During the first seven weeks of the season, the Bucs ranked 30th in expected points added per rush. In the weeks since, they rank 14th – and better than teams like the Falcons, Miami Dolphins, and Philadelphia Eagles.

“Like I said, they’re getting No. 1 the ball a little more which helps getting Mike the ball; mixing it up when they’re in the gun, whether they’re running the ball or trying to get the ball to 13 or 14 [receiver Chris Godwin].”

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Stopping Evans will be Atlanta’s top priority. He has locked in another 1,000-yard season and remains their best big-play threat. Shutting down White, like they did last time, could certainly help that cause. A poor showing from the running back could render Tampa Bay one-dimensional and allow the Falcons to allocate more resources to the passing game,

Banking on a bad day from Evans isn’t a strong strategy, but Atlanta can count on Bates making splash plays on the defensive side of the ball. He’s turned in an All-Pro-worthy season and been a catalyst for an offense that has seen brighter days. Expect him to show up against both the run and pass on Sunday, especially if the Falcons come away with a victory.