Buccaneers vs. Falcons: Breaking Down Tampa Bay's Game Plan

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers teeter at the edge of a lost season. A loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football could spell doom for the Bucs' chances to get to the playoffs.

Last week's loss to the St. Louis Rams cost the Bucs much more than just position in the standings. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy suffered a broken hand and middle linebacker Mason Foster dislocated his shoulder per ESPN's Adam Caplan:

#Buccaneers starting MLB Mason Foster suffered a dislocated shoulder during Sunday's loss to the #Rams, source confirmed.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) September 15, 2014

The Bucs defense will likely hit the field in Atlanta without four starters. McCoy was listed as questionable for the game, but Lovie Smith said this week that "you can’t really rush the passer and can’t really play three technique with one arm" (via Sports Talk Florida's Jenna Laine).

Without McCoy, the Bucs' already meager pass rush will leave the defense that much more vulnerable to Atlanta's potent passing attack. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan may have struggled against the Cincinnati Bengals last week, throwing three interceptions, but he still leads the NFL's top passing offense.

Stopping Ryan and his top target, wide receiver Julio Jones, won't be easy, but they can be contained. It helps the Bucs that WR Roddy White is listed as "questionable" for the game, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter.

Without White, the Bucs can focus their attention on containing Jones. The Bucs will be able to key in on Jones and swing coverage his way if not simply doubling him.

The biggest issue for the Bucs defensively is their lack of pass rush. The first two games of the season proved the Bucs can't rely on their front four to apply consistent pressure. This is why the Bucs cannot run an effective Tampa 2 scheme.

Defensive end Michael Johnson should start against the Falcons and left tackle Jake Matthews. Johnson has done nothing to justify the five-year, $43 million contract he signed in March so far. If he can't take advantage of the rookie left tackle, the Bucs will have to blitz as much if not more than they did against St. Louis.

The Bucs might end up in a shootout simply by virtue of how awful the Falcons defense is. In stark contrast to Atlanta's top-ranked pass offense, the Falcons also field the league's worst defense in terms of yards allowed and sacks. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Michael Cunningham, the Falcons have "just one quarterback hit" this season.

While the Bucs offense hasn't been good, it did show improvement from Week 1 to Week 2, especially in the run game. Bucs running back Bobby Rainey gobbled up yards in place of the injured Doug Martin, rushing for 144 yards and catching three passes for 30 yards.

The Bucs' run game will be the key to winning in Atlanta. Josh McCown and the Bucs' pass offense can be potent but ultimately is not on the same level as Ryan and Jones. By focusing on Martin and Rainey, the Bucs can control the clock and the pace of the game.

Even if the Falcons key on the run, McCown can keep the defense honest as he won't be facing the same kind of pressure he's dealt with the first two weeks. Though ideally the Bucs want to win in the trenches and keep the ball on the ground, McCown could enjoy a prolific game in Atlanta.