Atlanta (8-6) at Tampa Bay (9-5)
VIDEO PLAYLIST 
| SCOUTING REPORT |
Falcons, Bucs battling for playoffsWith just two games left and the wild card race in the NFC extremely tight, this is a huge game for both teams and each will play to its strengths. Atlanta will run early and often in an effort to wear Tampa Bay's defense down and take pressure off QB Michael Vick on the road. When the Falcons do drop back to pass, expect them to move Vick out of the pocket in an effort to mask the fact that the offensive line isn't holding up in pass protection.
The Buccaneers will also show a strong commitment to the run. RB Cadillac Williams is coming off a disappointing performance against the Patriots and has been inconsistent, but he rushed for over 100 yards when these two teams met earlier this year. The hope is giving him 20-plus carries keeps Atlanta's pass rush on its heels when QB Chris Simms drops back to pass and keeps the Tampa Bay defense well-rested.
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· Full Scouting Report 
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| Matchup |
| | W-L | PF | PA | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF |
| ATL | 8-8 | 351 | 341 | 4-4 | 4-4 | 2-4 | 5-7 |
| TAM | 11-5 | 300 | 274 | 6-2 | 5-3 | 5-1 | 9-3 |
| · Complete Standings |
| Atlanta Passing | | | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | | Ryan | 59.3 | 2276 | 16 | 12 |
| |
| TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS |
| TEAM OFFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Total Yards | ATL | 327.0 |
| TAM | 295.0 |
| Yards Passing | ATL | 167.4 |
| TAM | 180.6 |
| Yards Rushing | ATL | 159.1 |
| TAM | 114.1 |
| TEAM DEFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Yards Allowed | ATL | 325.0 |
| TAM | 277.8 |
| Pass Yds Allowed | ATL | 196.1 |
| TAM | 183.1 |
| Rush Yds Allowed | ATL | 128.9 |
| TAM | 94.7 |
| HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001) |
| Tampa Bay leads 6-2 |
| Nov 20, 2005 | ATL 27, @TAM 30 |
| Dec 5, 2004 | ATL 0, TAM 27 |
| Nov 14, 2004 | ATL 24, @TAM 14 |
| Dec 20, 2003 | ATL 30, TAM 28 |
| Sep 21, 2003 | ATL 10, @TAM 31 |
| Dec 8, 2002 | ATL 10, TAM 34 |
| Oct 6, 2002 | ATL 6, @TAM 20 |
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Atlanta (8-6) at Tampa Bay (9-5) Saturday 1:00 pm EST
TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Michael Vick didn't want to be in
this predicament. Coach Jon Gruden likes his situation.
A year after reaching the NFC championship game, Vick and the
Atlanta Falcons are in danger of missing the postseason. Gruden
and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in control of their playoff
destiny.
The NFC South rivals meet for the second time this season on
Saturday as the Bucs seek to complete a sweep and move closer to
their first playoff spot since winning the Super Bowl under
Gruden in 2002.
Tampa Bay is one game behind division-leading Carolina, but
occupies the first wild-card spot in the NFC, one game ahead of
Washington, Dallas, Minnesota and Atlanta.
The Falcons can tie the Bucs with a win on Saturday, but is not
in good shape in conference tiebreakers.
Vick threw for 306 yards, but the Bucs' defense got the last
laugh in a 30-27 win at Atlanta on November 20. Matt Bryant
kicked the winning 45-yard field goal with 42 seconds left
in the fourth quarter.
A turnover by Vick set up the kick. Derrick Brooks sacked
Vick and forced a fumble that fellow linebacker Shelton Quarles
recovered for the Buccaneers. Three plays later, Bryant drilled
the winning field goal.
Atlanta had a chance to force overtime, but Michael Koenen
missed wide right on a 55-yard field-goal attempt.
It was an especially heartbreaking loss for the Falcons, who
took a 27-20 lead on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Vick to
Michael Jenkins with 7:36 remaining.
But rookie Carnell "Cadillac" Williams scored on a nine-yard run
with 1:55 left to tie the game. Williams finished with 116
yards on 19 carries.
Vick would rather forget his visit here last December when he
threw for just 115 yards and committed a career-high four
turnovers in a 27-0 loss. Brooks had two sacks, an interception,
a deflection that resulted in an interception and also forced a
fumble by Vick. Simeon Rice had two sacks, a forced fumble and
batted down a pass and fellow defensive end Greg Spires
recovered two fumbles - both by Vick.
Playing against the Buccaneers always has extra significance for
Warrick Dunn, who spent his first five years with Tampa Bay and
rushed for more than 1,000 yards twice before signing as a free
agent with Atlanta in 2002. This season, Dunn has rushed for a
career-high 1,328 yards.
The Buccaneers rank fifth in the NFL against the run, but
yielded 82 yards on 18 carries to Dunn in the first meeting this
season.
Atlanta is ranked 21st in the league against the run and allowed
128 yards on the ground in last week's 16-3 loss at Chicago.
The Buccaneers were limited to 138 total yards in a 28-0 loss at
New England last week. Chris Simms was sacked seven times and
Williams managed just 23 yards on 14 carries.
Falcons general manager Rich McKay held the same position with
Tampa Bay for nearly nine seasons and built the 2002 Super Bowl
championship team. However, McKay was lured away by the Falcons
in December 2003 and hired Jim Mora Jr. as coach. The move
paid immediate dividends as the Falcons won the division last
season and reached the NFC championship game.
Matchup to watch: Rice, who recorded his 10th sack of the season
last week to reach double figures for the fifth consecutive
year, matches up against Falcons left tackle Kevin Shaffer, who
is in his second full year as a starter.
Series: The Buccaneers lead, 14-10.
Next week: Atlanta hosts Carolina, January 1
Tampa Bay hosts New Orleans, January 1
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Atlanta 24, 
Tampa Bay 27