Falcons Vs. Buccaneers: 2010 NFL Game Predictions and TV Time

The 2010 NFL regular season game between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (host) is set for Sunday December 5 (4:15 PM EST) at Raymond James Stadium. FOX channel will broadcast this NFC contest. Atlanta has the conference's best record of 9-2; Tampa Bay is third place in the NFC South, with a 7-4 record. This article provides TV time and predictions for the 2010 Falcons-Buccaneers game.

1) Falcons-Buccaneers Matchup

The much anticipated game features NFC leader Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since 2005, the two teams have played against each other 11 times with the Falcons having a 6-5 edge. Atlanta is currently enjoying a 3-game winning streak against its NFC South rival Buccaneers. The last meeting between the teams was in November of this year, with the Falcons beating Tampa Bay at home by the score of 27-21.

2) Matt Ryan vs. Josh Freeman

Sunday's game pits Atlanta's quarterback Matt Ryan against Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman. While the two quarterbacks have performed decently this year, neither player is the offensive focal point of their team. For the season, Matt Ryan has thrown for 2715 yards with 19 TDs and a QB rating of 94. Josh Freeman, for his part, has accumulated 2261 yards and 15 touchdowns. The two players have met three times, with Ryan winning all 3 contests. Based on the statistics alone, Matt Ryan has a comprehensible edge over Freeman.

3) Mike Smith vs. Raheem Morris

The Atlanta Falcons is one of the most balanced teams in the NFL. Mike Smith's crew is solid in defense as well as offense. In point of fact, the Falcons ranks seventh in both points scored and points allowed. Although the team does not lead any statistical category, it does well in the composite numbers. Moreover, Mike Smith's team has done well against the NFL's top teams. Atlanta has wins over New Orleans, Baltimore, and Green Bay in the current season. The team will be looking to solidify their lead in the NFC South with a victory at Tampa Bay.

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The Buccaneers and Falcons share many similarities. Like Atlanta, Tampa Bay does not have an offensive weapon like a Tom Brady or an Adrian Peterson. Instead, it has been relying on collective team effort to win games. As a result, the Buccaneers generally win by a small margin and lose by a big score. Cases in point, four of the team's seven victories this season were decided by 3 points or less. Tampa Bay will need to produce another strong team effort, if it were to defeat Atlanta.

My prediction for the 2010 NFL regular season game between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers: the Falcons make it four straight over the Buccaneers. Kickoff time for the game is 4:15 PM EST. The game is played at Raymond James Stadium, and will be broadcast by FOX channel.

Reference:
ESPN.COM