The Falcons now need a win over the Buccaneers to stay close to the Saints and Panthers in the tight NFC South division race.
The Panthers and Saints both won on Sunday to improve to 10-4. The 8-5 Falcons play the 4-9 Buccaneers at 8:30 p.m. Monday at Raymond James Stadium. The Falcons need a victory to stay a game behind with two games to play.
The Falcons are looking forward to playing on Monday Night Football with so much at stake.
“We always prepare to play championship football,” All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones said. “It’s another stage where we have to go out there and play Falcons football. We just try to jump off the screen at people.”
The Falcons close out with games at the Saints on Dec. 24 and at home against the Panthers on Dec. 31. The game against the Panthers is currently scheduled for 1 p.m. but could be flexed to a night game. Week 17 start time changes could be decided on six days notice to ensure a game with playoff implications, according to the league’s flex scheduling plan.
The Falcons defeated the Bucs 34-20 on Nov. 26 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium behind a spectacular performance from Jones. He had 12 catches for 253 yards and two touchdowns. Jones isn’t expecting the Bucs to leave him in single coverage this game.
“They might make some changes, we’ll see,” Jones said.
The Bucs could use cornerback Brent Grimes on Jones. The two battled in practices when Grimes was with the Falcons from 2011-12.
“There is no trash talking,” said Jones about going against Grimes. “We just go out there and compete and we’ll see each other after the game.”
Falcons running back Tevin Coleman, who’s in the NFL concussion protocol, and left guard Andy Levitre (triceps injury), were declared out. With Coleman out, Devonta Freeman will carry the bulk of the load. He’ll be backed up by Terron Ward.
Freeman rushed 24 times for 91 yards and a touchdown in the 20-17 victory over the Saints on Dec. 7. He has rushed 152 times for 680 yards and six touchdowns this season. Coleman has rushed 139 times for 593 yards and five touchdowns.
Coleman has not missed a game this season. He was knocked out of the Saints game when defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins slipped a block and pummeled Coleman in the backfield.
Coleman took over earlier in the season when Freeman was out with a concussion. Freeman suffered a concussion on the second play of the game against Dallas. He missed the rest of that game and games against the Seahawks and Buccaneers. While Freeman was out, Coleman thrived. He had 59 carries for 223 yards and four touchdowns.
The Falcons offense won’t change much with Coleman out.
“We feature them a lot in the same way,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “We are fortunate that both of them (are featured) in the pass game as well. Both are good protectors in the blitz game. Both can either align outside and it’s not just underneath routes, but routes (Matt Ryan) can throw down the field.”
Coleman has 21 catches for 245 yards (11.2 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. Freeman has 20 catches for 144 yards (7.2 yards per catch) and no touchdowns.
“That’s a big advantage when a running back can have routes down the field as opposed to a quick throw or an underneath throw,” Quinn said. “When you have guys who can run routes as a receiver, legitimate receiving routes, that makes a big difference. We are real fortunate in that way in that both of them are able to handle that.”
Freeman has continued to run hard and with abandon after suffering from his second concussion of the season. He also missed two weeks during the exhibition season with a concussion.
“It’s just something that you’ve been doing your whole life,” Freeman said. “(I) don’t know how to play any other way. I’m going to approach it the same way. I’m just going to go out and play football. Nothing has changed.”
Ben Garland, who will make his second NFL start, will replace Levitre.
The Falcons will wear a No. 60 tribute sticker on their helmets in honor of former linebacker Tommy Nobis for the game. Nobis, 74, passed away of natural causes on Wednesday. The five-time Pro Bowler was the first player drafted by the franchise in 1966.
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