Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers FREE LIVE STREAM (10/3/24) Time, TV channel for NFL Week 5 Thursday Night Football
The Atlanta Falcons, led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by quarterback Kirk Cousins in Week 4 of the NFL season on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 (10/3/24) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of Amazon Prime
Here’s what you need to know:
What: NFL, Week 4
Who: Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When: Oct. 3, 2024
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: N/A
LIVE STREAM: Amazon Prime
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons had big plans for their offense when they decided to invest heavily in quarterback Kirk Cousins and add new coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
The widespread belief was they only needed an established quarterback and a fresh game plan to utilize the playmakers added in the first rounds of recent drafts — tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson.
Entering Thursday night’s visit from NFC South leader Tampa Bay (3-1), the Atlanta offense has yet to find its momentum. The Falcons (2-2) have shown flashes of promise as Cousins has led two game-winning drives, but the veteran hasn’t matched the production of Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield that has led the Buccaneers to the top of the division.
The most recent evidence of mixed results came Sunday in the Falcons’ 26-24 win over New Orleans. Atlanta won despite not scoring an offensive touchdown, while Pitts was held without a catch and Bijan Robinson ran for only 28 yards.
Morris said he’ll take the win and let others fret about the numbers.
“Really for me, stats are for losers,” Morris said after the game.
Morris and Robinson acknowledge improvement must come and the offense can’t always rely on the defense and special teams to produce the points.
“Have we reached our peak of what you want to play and how you can be best?” Morris asked on Monday. “No. But I think that’s a part of what the season is. I think that’s a part of steady improvement, steady growth, and I love that about our football team. I think we know that, I think they know that, and I think we’re really comfortable being able to go out there and win football games however we can.”
Mayfield threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score in Sunday’s 33-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mayfield has passed for eight touchdowns with two interceptions. Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million deal as a free agent, has four touchdowns and four interceptions.
Wide receiver Mike Evans became the Buccaneers’ career scoring leader last week. Evans is only one part in a passing game that also features wide receiver Chris Godwin and then promoted Sterling Shepard from the practice squad as another option for Mayfield.
“I think that it really makes it difficult for the defense,” Godwin said. “It’s one thing when a guy is going off because you feed the hot hand, right? But if we’re able to spread the ball around that much, everybody gets involved. … You can mix in your quick game, your deep passing game, play actions, screens.”
Success in the South
The Bucs have won the past three NFC South titles. This is their fourth 3-1 start in the past five years. They’ve also been successful against Atlanta lately, winning six of the past eight meetings between the division rivals, outscoring the Falcons by 51 points in those games.
Yellow flags
The Falcons committed nine penalties for 76 yards on Sunday and already have 30 penalties for the season.
“We can’t have those,” Zac Robinson said Tuesday. “There’s certain situations we’re trying to avoid, and obviously it’s at the discretion of the refs to call those. And you got to just keep playing, and so those have been tough.”
Cooking with Baker
Mayfield is off to a solid start after resurrecting a stalled career in 2023 and signing a three-year, $100 million contract to remain in Tampa Bay.
The No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 draft is coming off throwing for 347 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in last Sunday’s 33-16 rout of the Philadelphia Eagles. He also ran for a TD.
He enters Thursday night with a 106.9 passer rating that ranks fourth in the NFL. He’s second in TD passes (eight) and fourth in passing yards (984).
Falcons offense is coming
Zac Robinson says more offensive consistency is close because “there’s been games where we’ve executed really well.”
“We’re trying to find that mix to where we know we’re close to getting over the hump with some things, and guys are just — they’re eager,” Robinson said. “They want to be the most explosive offense and the best offense in the NFL.”
Comfort zone in Tampa
Godwin attributes some of Mayfield’s success to the comfort level that comes with being with the same team for a second season.
“And yes, this is our first year in this offensive system, but it’s his second year with this group of guys and I think the camaraderie that we built last year really helped,” Godwin said.
“I think the adversity that we faced when we all stuck together — I think (that) really helps this year,” Godwin added. “I think it’s just a natural maturation process, just for him as a player.”
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Atlanta, GA
Falcons Risers, Fallers: Buy Stock in Michael Penix Jr. After Win vs. Giants
ATLANTA — After falling behind by a touchdown early in the second quarter, the Atlanta Falcons (8-7) scored 34 unanswered points to close out Sunday’s 34-7 victory over the New York Giants (2-13) inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta has eclipsed seven wins for the first time since 2017, and it now enters the final two games of the regular season with a shot at the postseason — and with a jolt of energy from rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Here’s who’s rising and falling after the Falcons’ victory …
QB Michael Penix Jr.
The consensus from Atlanta’s side postgame on Penix: He played well.
Rookie quarterbacks can go either way in their debut. Penix was solid, completing 18-of-27 passes for 202 yards, no touchdowns and an interception that bounced out of tight end Kyle Pitts’ hands and into the arms of Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott.
Consider Sunday a success for Penix, who provided no reason to stop dreaming.
OLB Matt Judon
Judon’s season overall hasn’t been what many expected when Atlanta sent a third-round pick to the New England Patriots for his services in August, but he’s turned a corner lately — and played his best game of the season Sunday.
The 32-year-old Judon collected one sack, two quarterback hits, a pass deflection and returned an interception 27 yards to the endzone for his first career touchdown.
Judon wore plenty of blame when he was struggling. He deserves similarly strong credit when he plays at the level he did Sunday.
ILB Kaden Elliss
Elliss is the only player in the NFL with a sack in each of the last four consecutive weeks, according to the Falcons’ communication staff. He was excellent Sunday, logging a team-high seven tackles and two quarterback hits.
The 6’2″, 238-pound Elliss notched one sack — a forced fumble that was recovered by outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie and gave Atlanta’s offense the ball in plus-territory.
Since inserting Elliss into the pass rushing plan more frequently, the Falcons’ pass rush — and defense as a whole — has made considerable strides.
TE Kyle Pitts
Pitts was targeted only twice — one went for seven yards, and the other led to Penix’s interception on a pass that hit his hands.
After a four-catch game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15, Pitts failed to carry that production back home. He now has one or fewer receptions in four of the Falcons’ last five games and five of their last seven.
Evidently, Pitts’ minimal production since the calendar flipped to November wasn’t solely due to quarterback Kirk Cousins.
There really isn’t much to complain about regarding Atlanta’s performance. Perhaps a slow start? A missed field goal from kicker Riley Patterson, who responded by making his other two field goals and all four extra points?
For the first time this season, there’s only one faller.
The Falcons return to action at 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, against the Washington Commanders inside Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Falcons inactives for Week 16 matchup with the New York Giants
ATLANTA — After listing outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge as questionable on Friday’s game report, the Falcons made a final decision on the two prior to Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.
Both were given the all-clear after working through injuries this week. Carter was listed on the injury report as having a groin injury, while Hodge was listed as having a ribs injury.
Because of Hodge’s active status, the Falcons decided to keep practice squad receiver Dylan Drummond inactive after using a standard practice squad elevation on him Saturday. On the same day, the Falcons signed fellow receiver Chris Blair to the active roster. So, the Falcons have good depth at receiver heading into Michael Penix Jr.’s first career start.
Here is the full list of Falcons’ inactives for Week 16:
Atlanta, GA
Braves News: Season reviews, Rickey Henderson, hot stove, more
The offseason continues to move on as the Braves stay quiet for now. Today was the flurry of first base movement, which fortunately didn’t impact the Braves, who have no opening at first base or designated hitter. It is hard not to get antsy watching players move all over the place in the offseason where the Braves opened up a bunch of money to do something but have yet to do anything of note. I do maintain that something (probably multiple things) of note will happen, but it is frustrating to see options dwindle and players move. All of that said, my preference coming into the offseason was signing Ha-Seong Kim, a viable starter, and a viable outfielder. I have begun to suspect that a trade is going to be the pathway to at least one of those holes and Kim is still out there. Time will tell and all we can do is try to remain patient. Plenty of time remains before Spring Training and the season begin.
Braves News
Demetrius reviewed Austin Riley’s rollercoaster of a 2024 season, that featured underperformance, quality production, and injury at various times.
Gaurav took a look at prospect Mitch Farris’ impressive 2024 season, as the 13th round pick of the Braves’ 2023 draft.
MLB News
Baseball icon and Hall-of-Famer Rickey Henderson died of pneumonia on Saturday at the age of 65.
Cleveland traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the D-Backs for pitcher Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance round B pick.
The Guardians signed Carlos Santana, just after dumping a different first baseman in Naylor to Arizona.
Negotiations between the Dodgers and Teoscar Hernandez do not appear to be moving and the Dodgers are reportedly looking into alternatives.
The Yankees signed former MVP Paul Goldschmidt to a one year deal worth $12.5 million to fill their hole at first base.
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