Buccaneers wary of freefalling Falcons

Over the last four seasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have taken advantage of a consistently below-average NFC South.

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Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield passes the ball against the Saints on Sunday.

(AFP)

In search of their fifth straight division title, Tampa Bay (7-6) will strive to avoid dropping their second consecutive game to a woeful rivals when they host the reeling Atlanta Falcons (4-9) tomorrow morning (Thai time).

The Buccaneers, who sit tied atop the division with the Carolina Panthers, are coming off a head-scratching home loss to the previously two-win New Orleans Saints. With another sub-.500 opponents on the horizon, the team knows it can't afford an extended lull.

"We're playing divisional opponents and they would love nothing more than to beat us and screw up our chances," quarterback Baker Mayfield said. "Do the [Falcons] really have a lot on the line? Yeah, because they're trying to knock us out of the playoffs. It's a playoff mentality for us and we've got to expect to get their best."