5 things to know before tonight's Falcons at Buccaneers' kickoff

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Watch the AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter and Noah Coslov discuss the Falcons feelings about playing on Thursday night, getting Julio Jones ready and the defensive plan for Bucs QB Jameis Winston.

Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter

Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter

Here are 5 things to mull over before tonight's 8:25 p.m. kickoff between the Atlanta Falcons (5-3) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4) at Raymond James Stadium.

1. Tale of the tape. Here's how the Falcons and Buccaneers stack up statistically:

2016 Regular Season Statistics Rankings

Falcons Bucs

32.8 (1) Points/Game 21.7 (19)

425.3 (1) Total Offense 351.7 (16)

111.5 (14t) Net Rushing Yards/Game 113.4 (12)

313.8 (2) Net Passing Yards/Game 238.3 (20)

29:29 (23) Possession Average 30:10 (19)

28.9 (29) Opponent Points/Game 27.0 (25)

379.3 (25) Opponent Total Offense 390.0 (26)

93.9 (11) Opp. Rushing Yards/Game 115.3 (22)

285.4 (27t) Opp. Passing Yards/Game 274.7 (23)

+2 (10t) Turnover Differential -2 (19t)

2. Series Record. 47th regular-season meeting. The Buccaneers lead the series 24-22. The Bucs have on the last three meetings including the season opener, 31-24, at the Georgia Dome. They won the last meeting in Tampa, 23-19, on Dec. 6, 2015.

3. Key matchup. Falcons FB Patrick DiMarco and guards Andy Levitre and Chris Chester vs. Bucs LB Kwon Alexander: Alexander shut down the Falcons' rushing attack in the opener and helped to make the offense one-dimensional. He finished the game with 17 tackles. Levitre and Chester, when they have to move beyond the defensive linemen, must get their blocks on Alexander. When DiMarco is in the game as the lead blocker, he must win at the point of attack. Falcons running backs had only 42 yards on 19 carries in the opener.

4. Mid-season grades. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has tossed a league-high 19 touchdown passes this season. Check out his grade and the rest of the team over the first eight games.

5. Stopping Jameis Winston. The Falcons are 0-3 vs. Tampa Bay second-year quarterback Jameis Winston. He is 6-14 in his other 22 starts in the NFL. Here's how the Falcons plan to finally stop Winston.

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