The Atlanta Falcons are fresh off beating the best team in the league. However, there are still a lot of doubters about this team – including a few analysts who think they can’t even beat the 2-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week.
You can count Pete Prisco at CBS Sports among them. He has Tampa shutting down Bijan Robinson and the rest of Atlanta’s run game en route to a six-point win at home.
“This is suddenly a big game in the NFC South with the Bucs upsetting Carolina last week and the Falcons upsetting the 49ers. The Tampa Bay running game has come alive, but Atlanta is stingy on the ground, giving up 3.8 per rush. That will mean this is a Baker Mayfield game. Tampa Bay gives up 3.5 per rush, which might make for tough going for Bijan Robinson. That’s a problem for the Atlanta offense. Tampa Bay wins it. Pick: Bucs 23, Falcons 17″
Tampa does have a great run defense – and rank second in the league going into Week 8, giving up just 77.3 yards per game on the ground. However, as usual we disagree with Prisco’s take. Even if the Buccaneers do manage to contain Robinson that’s no longer a guaranteed route to win against the Falcons.
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Last week the San Francisco 49ers held Robinson to little more than three yards per carry – and it didn’t matter much because MIchael Penix Jr. was so productive and quick to get the ball out. Penix threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions for the second straight game, bringing his season totals to nine TDs to go with just one pick.
This is more than just a one-dimensional offense these days, and with an opportunistic defense in the bargain it’s going to be increasingly difficult for opponents to beat this team as they get more and more confident.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: CBS Sports foresees problem for Falcons offense vs. Buccaneers
