Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Full game preview

Nov 9, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrates as the Falcons beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-17 at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Why to watch

Well this is it, December football is here. This is the time a team must get hot to secure a playoff push and be ready for a run. The Falcons had an awful November and they need to build some momentum. The losing run won’t matter if they can pick up some wins and earn a wild-card berth.

In December, we will find out who this team really is. Are the Falcons the team that started the season 5-0, or the one that went 0-4 in November? We are about to find out.

Every game on the schedule is important, and we all know the extra weight of divisional games. But with the division all but wrapped up by the Panthers, this game is important in other ways. For one, a loss to the Bucs would mean they have the head-to-head tiebreaker, which could be crucial when it comes to making the playoffs.

This game is more important than the fact it’s an NFC South game. This game could be all-or-nothing for both teams. If the Falcons lose, it would surely be too much for them to catch up in the race with four games left, two of which are against the undefeated Panthers.

Both teams need to win. It’s December football, and the drama is high. It doesn’t get any better.

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