Three key matchups
Falcons WR Roddy White vs. Buccaneers CB Aqib Talib: The Bucs lead the NFL in interceptions with 14, and Talib has five. He had two Sunday and returned one 45 yards for a touchdown. White was named the NFC player of the month after his 11-catch, 201-yard, two-touchdown effort against the Bengals. Talib, one of the top young cornerbacks in the NFL, will try to hold up in man-to-man coverage on White at times. No one has stopped White this season. He leads the league in receptions with 54 and has 747 yards receiving and five touchdowns. He's on a pace to catch 123 passes.
Falcons CB Dunta Robinson vs. Bucs WR Mike Williams: Robinson returns to the lineup after missing the last game against the Bengals with a concussion and knee injuries. He suffered the concussion when he put a thunderous hit on Philadelphia wide receiver DeSean Jackson on Oct. 17. He was fined $50,000 for the hit. He is appealing the fine and said he doesn't plan to change his style of play. Williams, a rookie fourth-round pick from Syracuse, has 32 catches for 470 yards (14.7 yards) and four touchdowns. The Bucs like to throw vertical routes to Williams.
Falcons LT Sam Baker vs. Bucs DE Stylez G. White: Baker was not healthy at the beginning of the season, and that's how coach Mike Smith explained his troubles against Pittsburgh's James Harrison and New Orleans' Will Smith. Smith said that Baker has been picking it up and is playing solid. White is a high-energy pass rusher who leads the Bucs with three sacks. The Bucs have not been able to muster much of a pass rush this season, but White can come off the end with force.
History lesson
- This is the 34th regular-season meeting. The Bucs lead the series 18-15.
- In the previous meeting, the Falcons won 20-10 in the regular-season finale to finish 9-7 and post the franchise's first back-to-back winning seasons.
- The Falcons have won the past three meetings.
- Falcons president Rich McKay served as Tampa Bay's general manager for nine seasons and built the Buccaneers' Super Bowl XXXVII championship team.
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