Falcons can bury the Bucs. What to know about Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is back after missing three games because of a dislocated thumb in his throwing hand. (Scott Kinser/AP)

The Falcons, having beaten New Orleans but losing to Carolina, will see their next division opponent Sunday in Tampa Bay. A victory would get the Falcons back to .500, at 4-4, and likely force the Buccaneers into some tough trade deadline conversations at 2-6.

Of course, if the Bucs win, it would be par for the course in the NFC South, where it always seems no one is contending but no one is hopeless, either.

Here’s what to know about the Bucs before Sunday’s massive matchup that could spark the Falcons on a division-title run:

The Bucs are fresh off a 30-point victory in Charlotte, their first win by more than one score in nearly a full year and the first game that wasn’t determined by one score this season. The Bucs started 0-4 and have lost all four of their home games, yet they’re the only team in the NFC South with a positive point differential (plus-11).

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Gabriel Burns is a general assignment reporter and features writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After four years on the Braves beat, he's expanded his horizons and covers all sports. You'll find him writing about MLB, NFL, NBA, college football and other Atlanta-centric happenings.