The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first primetime game of the season is on Thursday. The team travels to Atlanta to kick off divisional play. The Bucs will be playing their former head coach, Raheem Morris, for the first time since he left the team in 2012.
Twelve years later, the defensive-minded coach has brought a defense for the Falcons that is a unique challenge for the Bucs. Quarterback Baker Mayfield isn’t overlooking that challenge either.
When speaking with Bucs media, Mayfield recognized that the Falcons’ safety duo would be an exciting challenge for him and the offense. The team boasts two of the best safeties in the NFL, Justin Simmons and Jessie Bates. Both men have complementing styles and have proven to be difference-makers for the Falcons’ defense.
Mayfield points out that their veteran status also means they have seen it all, but he has ways to look off their coverages. Seeing how that chess match unfolds for both parties will be interesting.