The Atlanta Falcons are preparing for their 2025 NFL season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the reigning NFC South champions. The matchup, scheduled for Sunday, marks a key divisional contest and is expected to set the tone for the rest of Atlanta’s season.
“We’ve got to go find a way to win this football game, whatever that takes,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Monday.
The Falcons enter the season with a sense of urgency and an opportunity to make a statement. The Buccaneers have won the division title for four consecutive years and are widely predicted to repeat. However, Atlanta has shown recent success against Tampa Bay, having swept last year’s season series for the first time since 2018 and holding a 6-3 record in home division games since 2022.
Atlanta will debut several new faces on defense and see Michael Penix Jr. take over on offense. Their previous meetings with Tampa Bay have been close; each of the last four games between these teams was decided by six points or fewer—a first in their rivalry’s history. In 2024, Atlanta secured one win with an overtime touchdown and another by holding off a late-game rally from Tampa Bay.
“We are playing a big-time opponent,” Morris said. “They have owned the division over the last couple of years. We played two great games last year against them, and not because we won the game, because they were really good games. They were fun games to watch. They were fun games to be a part of.”
Both teams face injury challenges ahead of Sunday’s game. Tampa Bay will be without tackle Tristen Wirfs and receivers Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan. Atlanta is missing tackle Kaleb McGary while receiver Darnell Mooney’s status remains day-to-day.
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield returns as starter after taking over from Tom Brady in 2023. Despite working under his third offensive coordinator in as many seasons, Mayfield has remained effective at leading his team, which includes standout receiver Mike Evans—who has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his eleven NFL seasons—and running backs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White.
The Buccaneers’ defense is notable for its aggressive approach; last season they had one of the league’s highest blitz rates at nearly 39% and ranked among NFL leaders in both sacks (46) and rushing yards allowed per game.
Rookie Emeka Egbuka is expected to start alongside Evans at receiver for Tampa Bay after earning positive reviews during training camp.
There is no official must-win label attached to Week 1 matchups, but Sunday presents an early chance for Atlanta to assert itself within the division.
“We’ve got to come in with that right mindset,” Penix said. “To come in to make sure that we dominate from the start of the game all the way to the finish and do whatever it takes to make sure that we come out on top.”
