In the upcoming Thursday Night Football matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, all eyes will be on veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins as he looks to shake off his shaky history in primetime games.
Despite the tough schedule that the Falcons have faced compared to the Buccaneers, Cousins has managed to exceed his passing-yard total in each of his last three games. With Tampa Bay dealing with injuries on the defensive side of the ball, Cousins is expected to take advantage of the favorable passing conditions inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Cousins’ solid marks in yards per target and average depth of target, along with his room for improvement in adjusted completion percentage, all point towards a strong performance on Thursday night.
On the other side of the ball, Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield has been off to a strong start this season, ranking highly in adjusted EPA per play and expected completion percentage. The Bucs’ offense has been successful, averaging over 24 points per game and posing a challenge for the Falcons’ defense.
With both offenses expected to perform well, the game script could favor a pass-heavy approach for Cousins to reach his passing yards total. Despite some struggles in the red zone and connecting on deep passes, Cousins will have an opportunity to exploit the Buccaneers’ aggressive pass rush.
For those looking to place bets on the game, the odds for the Over 47.5 first-quarter passing yards in a same game parlay are intriguing, highlighting the potential for an exciting passing attack from the Falcons.
It will be crucial for the Falcons to establish a balanced offensive attack early in the game, especially considering the short week of preparation leading up to this divisional rivalry. As fans eagerly anticipate the showdown between these NFC South foes, all signs point to a high-flying passing game led by Kirk Cousins under the bright lights of primetime.
