FLOWERY BRANCH — A look at the teams on the Falcons' schedule and how they have reconstructed their roster since the season's end. We're up to Game 11, when the Falcons will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20.
GAME NINE: DALLAS COWBOYS
GAME TEN: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
GAME ELEVEN: TAMPA BAY
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Falcons at 1 p.m., Sunday Nov. 26
No longer with the Bucs: PK Johns Lunsford, CB Greg Mabin, LS Dax Dellenbach, WR Vincent Jackson and CB Alterraun Verner.
Key free agent signings/pickups: WR DeSean Jackson, DT Chris Bakers, SS J.J. Wilcox, LS Garrison Sanborn, CB Robert McClain and PK Nick Folk.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2017 NFL draft
Weaknesses: The Bucs need to revive their rushing attack. They finished 29th in rushing yards per play at 3.57 yards. The pass defense was also shaky last season. The Bucs ranked 26th in yards per passing play (6.85 yards) and 22nd in overall pass defense (250.8 yards per game.) Quarterback Jameis Winston needs to cut down his 18 interceptions.
Strengths: Bucs linebacker Kwon Alexander is a budding Superstar. The addition of Jackson and Howard should bolster the passing attack.
Comment: The Bucs went 9-7 last season, their first winning season since 2010. The Bucs missed the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the NFL with Jacksonville. The teams split last season's series with Tampa Bay winning 31-24 in Atlanta on Sept. 11 and Atlanta winning in Tampa Bay 43-28 on Nov. 3.
FALCONS SCHEDULE
Exhibition season
Falcons at Miami Dolphins at 7 p.m. Aug. 10
Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers at 4 p.m. Aug. 20
Arizona Cardinals at Falcons at 7 p.m. Aug. 26
Jacksonville Jaguars at Falcons at 7 p.m. Aug. 31
Regular season
Sept. 10 at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m., Fox
Sept. 17 Green Bay Packers, 8:30 p.m. NBC
Sept. 24 at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. Fox
Oct. 1 Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m., CBS
Oct. 8 BYE
Oct. 15 Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., CBS
Oct. 22 at New England Patriots, 8:30 p.m., NBC
Oct. 29 at New York Jets, 1 p.m., Fox
Nov. 5 at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., Fox
Nov. 12 Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m., Fox
Nov. 20 at Seattle Seahawks (Mon) 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Nov. 26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m., Fox
Dec. 3 Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., Fox
Dec. 7 New Orleans Saints (Thur), 8:25 p.m., NBC/NFL Network/Amazon
Dec. 18 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Mon). 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Dec. 24 at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., Fox
Dec. 31 Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., Fox
THE FALCONS 2017 DRAFT
MUST READ PROFILE: Falcons top pick McKinley makes name for himself
2017 Falcons report card: Falcons earn a B-plus
NFC Champs add a pass rusher, quality depth
1st rounder: Meet defensive end Takkarist McKinley
3rd rounder: Meet linebacker Duke Riley
4th rounder: Meet offensive guard Sean Harlow
5th rounder: Meet defensive back Damontae Kazee
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