The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need all the help they can get as they prepare to take on the Atlanta Falcons in a must-win game in Week 15.
They got some very helpful news In the lead up to kickoff, as Atlanta’s top wide receiver, Drake London, will miss Thursday night’s game with a knee injury. For a defensive unit that has struggled as much as Tampa Bay’s in recent weeks, not having to gameplan for such a dynamic weapon is a significant development.
Falcons beat writer Marc Raimondi dropped the unfortunate news for Falcons fans that doubles as a lucky break for the Bucs.
This will be the fourth straight game WR Drake London (left PCL strain) has missed. Raheem Morris said today that London just wasn’t able to get it “fired up” the way they wanted. But Morris said he does expect London back for Week 16 after the short break due to the Thursday…
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) December 10, 2025
In their first meeting this season, London led the Falcons with 8 catches for 55 yards. While that wasn’t his most impressive game statistically, London has generally been dominant this season, averaging 90 yards per game and posting 6 touchdowns in only nine games started.
Last season, when the Falcons defeated the Bucs 36-30 in a thrilling Thursday Night Football game much like this one, London had his way with the Tampa Bay defense with 12 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown. The Bucs had no answers for London, which ultimately played a big role in the loss.
His absence should make Atlanta’s offense a lot less threatening, and allow the Buccaneers to adjust their gameplan accordingly.
Drake London’s absence allows Buccaneers to zero-in on Falcons’ rushing attack
Without having to account for London, Tampa Bay can sell out to stop one of the league’s best rushing offenses.
Atlanta currently ranks twelfth in the NFL, averaging 123 rush yards per game. Tampa Bay has a stout run defense and has only allowed over 100 yards four times this season, but they are 1-3 in those games. Something’s got to give.
Now, the Buccaneers can stack the box and devote their attention toward slowing down the Falcons’ dynamic backfield duo of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
The Bucs narrowly escaped with a victory in the season opener, defeating the Falcons 23-20. Perhaps the biggest reason for that win was their ability to contain the Falcons’ run game. Tampa Bay held Atlanta to one of their most inefficient games of the year with only 69 yards on 28 carries. Both Robinson and Allgeier were held in check with about 2 yards per carry.
If they can shut down the Atlanta run game once again, it would go a long way toward escaping with a victory — and London’s absence will allow them to focus on doing just that.
