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Falcons at Buccaneers spread, odds, picks: Expert predictions for Week 5 NFL game with Tom Brady banged up

It will be a battle for first place on Sunday in Tampa Bay when the 2-2 Buccaneers host the 2-2 Atlanta Falcons. Despite the matching records and Tampa Bay’s two-game losing streak, the Buccaneers are still seen as heavy favorites and are entering the game as more than a touchdown favorite.

Kickoff is at 1 pm ET Sunday on FOX.

The big story for the Buccaneers this season has been on offense and how much that unit has struggled so far. Injuries along the offensive line and at wide receiver are decimating that group and making things difficult for quarterback Tom Brady. Their week 4 loss against Kansas City on Sunday night is the most spark the offense has shown all season, but it still wasn’t enough as the defense ran into the Patrick Mahomes buzzsaw. Atlanta’s defense has not been great this season and could provide an opportunity for Tampa Bay to get back on track.

Brady missed practice on Wednesday with shoulder and finger injuries, but said on Thursday that he will play on Sunday.

On the other side of the ball, Marcus Mariota has struggled as Atlanta’s new starting quarterback, and he is coming off a tough showing in the Falcons’ win against Cleveland on Sunday, but the Falcons’ offense has still managed to score more than 25 points per game this season. That is the eighth best mark in the league, and it is mostly driven by a ground game averaging 168 yards per game.

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