NFL Preview Capsule:
TAMPA BAY (4-11) At ATLANTA (9-6)
Sunday, 4:15 p.m. Fox

OPENING LINE — Falcons by 10½

RECORD VS. SPREAD — Atlanta 7-7-1; Tampa Bay 4-11

SERIES RECORD — Buccaneers lead 19-17

LAST MEETING — Buccaneers beat Falcons 16-13, Sept. 25

LAST WEEK — Falcons lost to Saints 45-16; Buccaneers lost to Panthers 48-16

BUCS OFFENSE — OVERALL (21), RUSH (30), PASS (16)

BUCS DEFENSE — OVERALL (30), RUSH (21), PASS (24)

FALCONS OFFENSE — OVERALL (10), RUSH (20), PASS (7)

FALCONS DEFENSE — OVERALL (12), RUSH (8), PASS (19)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Falcons 25-6 at Georgia Dome since Mike Smith hired as coach in 2008. Only New England and Baltimore have won more home games during that stretch. … Atlanta in playoffs two straight years for first time in franchise history. … Tampa Bay will attempt to sweep Falcons for fourth time since NFC South created in 2002. … Bucs victory in September snapped five-game series losing streak. … Tampa Bay has lost nine straight overall. … Josh Freeman needs 82 yards passing to become first Tampa Bay QB with consecutive 3,400-yard seasons. He is 1-4 against Falcons with 56.8 passer rating that includes pair of interceptions in Week 3. … CB Ronde Barber can pass retired LB Derrick Brooks with 224th game played for Tampa Bay, a franchise record. Barber has made 199 consecutive starts, another franchise high. … Falcons have won four of last six. … QB Matt Ryan coming off season-high 373 yards passing in blowout loss at New Orleans. His 52 attempts matched season high from Nov. 13 overtime home loss to Saints. … Falcons 27-2 when RB Michael Turner has at least 21 rushing attempts. … WR Roddy White leads NFC with 96 catches and has 1,000-plus yards receiving for franchise-best five straight years. … TE Tony Gonzalez needs 53 yards receiving to reach 13,383 and pass Torry Holt for 10th place on NFL career list. … DE John Abraham needs 1 1/2 sacks for seventh season with 10 or more.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

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