5 Bucs to Watch Against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will travel to Atlanta in Week 18 to battle the Falcons in the 2022 regular-season finale. Neither team has anything left to play for in terms of standings, but both will want to conclude the year on a positive note. The Bucs took sole possession of the NFC South with a thrilling 30-24 comeback victory over the Panthers last weekend, but the club will strive to clean-up issues in the upcoming matchup. Tampa Bay Head Coach Todd Bowles vocalized that all starters – if healthy – should prepare to play against the divisional foe, rendering Sunday’s meeting an opportunity to build momentum heading into the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Falcons, who have been eliminated from playoff contention, will look to further evaluate the roster, and develop young players. Atlanta defeated the Cardinals in Week 17 with a 21-yard walk off field goal by Younghoe Koo, capping off an impressive 12-play drive by Desmond Ridder. For the visiting team, the Buccaneers put up an impressive 478-yard performance against the Panthers, spurred by the downfield connection between Tom Brady and Mike Evans. Tampa Bay will look to maintain that level of success in Week 18, shattering any notion that Sunday’s win was just an anomaly. How long vested veterans will play on Sunday remains to be seen but one thing is certain, the Bucs are hungry for their ninth victory of the 2022-23 slate.

Chris Lindstrom, the Falcons’ anchor up front, is headed to his first Pro Bowl. He has established himself as one of the best interior offensive linemen in the NFL, and currently has an overall grade of 95.0 per Pro Football Focus – the highest for any guard in the league. Lindstrom is the centerpiece of a line that has blocked for the third-best rushing output in football. With athletic ability, Lindstrom excels at getting to the second level, paving the way for rushers via traps and pulls. With elite awareness, Lindstrom has the lateral mobility to neutralize pass rushers. On Sunday, Lindstrom will see a heavy dose of Bucs’ Akiem Hicks. Against the Panthers, Hicks batted down two passes at the line of scrimmage and became a menace in the backfield, stuffing the run. With Vita Vea in-and-out of the lineup while recovering from a calf injury, Hicks has bolstered the unit. The former Bears’ Pro Bowler has agility off the snap to push opposing offensive linemen. He showcases rare movement skills in space and is an explosive, hard-hitter, wrapping up ball carriers. This…