Falcons vs. Buccaneers Point Spread: NFL Predictions, Week 17 Odds
This likely will be the last game as Falcons head coach for Dan Quinn. He had this team in the Super Bowl following the 2016 season, a game Atlanta should have won, but the club has gone downhill a bit more each year since. Too much talent on the roster, led by quarterback and former league MVP Matt Ryan, to have back-to-back losing seasons.
Bruce Arians will be back as Tampa Bay’s coach next year, but will quarterback Jameis Winston be there? The No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and former Heisman winner from Florida State can hit free agency, although the team also could slap the franchise tag on him. Interesting decision because Winston is hugely talented but also keeps turning the ball over with regularity. Most believe Winston will get the franchise tag.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Tampa Bay goes for the season sweep of the Falcons, winning 35-22 in Atlanta in Week 12. Winston threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns but also had two interceptions. So, a typical game for him. Chris Godwin, who has been a breakout star in 2019, caught seven balls for 184 yards and two scores. Ryan threw for 271 yards with a pick, leaving late due to injury.
The home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings. The total has gone over in six of the previous seven.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are 6-2 (& ATS) since a 1-7 start, which might give owner Arthur Blank some pause on firing Quinn, but it still would be a surprise if the coach is retained. They won a third in a row Sunday, 24-12 over Jacksonville.
Devonta Freeman scored two touchdowns before Jacksonville took a snap, Ryan threw for 384 yards and a score, and Julio Jones caught 10 passes for 166 yards. He is 84 yards shy of his sixth straight 1,400-yard campaign. If Jones gets to 1,400 yards, it would tie the GOAT Jerry Rice for the most 1,400-yard receiving seasons of all-time.
On Sunday, Jones passed Rice (142 games) as the fastest player to reach 12,000 career receiving yards in NFL history. Atlanta outgained Jacksonville 518-288.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winston’s season was summarized in last Saturday’s 23-20 home loss to Houston that ended Tampa Bay’s four-game winning streak. Winston’s first pass of the game was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by the Texans. It was the sixth pick-six by Winston this season, tying the NFL record. He ended up with four interceptions and has 28, the most by any NFL player since Brett Favre had 29 in 2005.
Winston now has 24 multi-interception games since entering the league in 2015, most in the NFL over that span by far, and is the first player in league history with at least 30 passing TDs and 25 picks in the same season. Winston probably will win the passing yardage title. He did play without his top two receivers last Saturday in injured Pro Bowlers Mike Evans (done for year) and Godwin.
The Bucs dominated the Texans otherwise, outgaining them 435 to 229. Tampa is 0-5-2 ATS in its past seven at home.
ATL
TB