Matt Ryan and Tom Brady meet again, this time in Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season, with the Atlanta Falcons visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Check out our preview of prediction for this game below.
It was forgettable Week 1 for the Falcons. With Matt Ryan unable to get anything going on offense, the Falcons got destroyed by the Philadelphia Eagles at home, 32-6. Ryan went just 21/35 for 164 passing yards with zero touchdowns. The ground attack of Atlanta mustered 124 yards, but a bulk of that came in the first quarter. There was barely anything that went right for Atlanta in Week 1, but it can’t be that bad always for the team. Ryan is still a decent quarterback, at the very least, and another week of preparation could result in a much better performance from the Falcons’ offense that has the dangerous pair of Calvin Ridley and rookie Kyle Pitts downfield. Tampa Bay gave up close to 400 passing yards to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Ryan is capable enough and has the weapons to challenge the Bucs’ pass defense that way Dak Prescott did.
The Falcons are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games after surrendering over 350 total yards in their previous game.
The reigning Super Bowl champions opened their title defense with a loud 31-29 victory at home over the Cowboys. Tom Brady passed for 379 yards and four touchdowns on 32/50 completions. He had a couple of interceptions, but the Bucs will always take some of the bad with all the good Brady can offer the team. Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski played like their old selves. Brown had 121 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches, while Gronk tallied 90 receiving yards and a pair of TDs on eight receptions. Given how bad Atlanta’s defense fared in Week 1 against Jalen Hurts and a young receiving corps, it’s hard to imagine the Falcons surviving this Brady-led offense that also features Leonard Fournette in the backfield. Fournette only had 32 rushing yards against Dallas, but he’ll be facing next Atlanta’s run defense that got trampled on by the Eagles.
The Buccaneers are 6-0 against the spread in their last six games after allowing fewer than 90 rushing yards in their previous contest.
