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The first month of the 2024 NFL season is wrapped up and we're starting to get a good grasp of how the NFL is starting to shape up. Multiple surprises have shown up, while multiple teams are also proving us correctly based on preseason prognostications.
Week 5 offers a spicy NFC South matchup with first place in the division on the line as the 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to Georgia to play the 2-2 Atlanta Falcons.
This piece will highlight the critical matchups and start time for Thursday night's game this week.
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Who is Playing on Thursday Night Football?
Atlanta and Tampa Bay both top the NFC South, with the Bucs holding a one-game lead a month into the season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons picks, predictions: Who wins NFL Week 5 game? https://t.co/WJKJVvsCbs
— azcentral (@azcentral) September 30, 2024
Tampa Bay is the reigning division champ and started hot, averaging 30 points per game in its three victories so far. All three of the Buccaneers' victories came against potential NFC playoff teams as well, granting tiebreakers over the Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Meanwhile, Atlanta split its first four games this season, each decided by one possession. The Falcons narrowly lost to their two AFC opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs, by a total of 13 points, while having two game-winning drives under their belts against their NFC opponents in the Eagles and New Orleans Saints.
When and How Can I Watch The Game?
Week 5's Thursday Night Football game is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. EDT.
The game will be streamed through Amazon Prime Video. If you are not already a Prime Video subscriber, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial. If you are only interested in the streaming options, the going rate is $8.99/month for Amazon Prime Video, with a rate of $14.99/month if you want all services offered through Amazon Prime beyond video streaming.
Additionally, you can watch the game through the NFL+ app for $6.99/month. The downside of this option is that you'd only be able to watch it on a computer, phone, or tablet. If that is how you prefer consuming media, it is cheaper unless you opt for the 30-day trial of Amazon Prime Video.
Who is Going to Win?
The Atlanta Falcons will be a slight favorite on Thursday Night Football. The home team is a 1.5-point favorite against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bijan Robinson is questionable for the TNF Bucs game.
If the Bucs can replicate their offensive game plan from the Eagles game they can dominate the Falcons.
— JC Cornell (@CornellNFL) September 30, 2024
This should be an interesting game of styles. On one hand, Atlanta has been an efficient rushing team, and with quarterback Kirk Cousins starting to shake off his rust, cares a lot about ball control.
Tampa Bay has been ineffective against the run so far this season, so I'd anticipate a heavy dose of Bijan Robinson (if he plays given his status as Questionable), Tyler Allgeier, and the play-action game on Thursday Night Football.
#buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield on #falcons safeties Jessie Bates + Justin Simmons pic.twitter.com/mqlbZseTuA
— Maura (@mauracareyNFL) October 1, 2024
Tampa Bay, however, has been much more efficient passing the ball, with Baker Mayfield putting up solid passing numbers through four games. Atlanta is only middle-of-the-pack against the pass on defense, meaning that the Bucs may light up the stat sheet through the air.
The team that wins will be the team that can neutralize the other's offensive strengths and force a change of pace for their offenses. Should be good watching at a bare minimum.
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