# Falcons vs Buccaneers predictions, graded

Week 8, 2026: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Nov 1, 2026 · final: Falcons 0, Buccaneers 16 · 15 calls on record · updated Nov 1, 5:04 PM ET

Who do pundits pick in Falcons vs Buccaneers? Of 14 pundits with a call on record, 10 take the Falcons and 4 take the Buccaneers. 6 named a score; the median has the Falcons by 2.5. The Buccaneers won 16-0, so 4 of 14 had the winner. Their graded calls averaged 31 out of 100.

Picks by outlet. Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked.

- [CBS Sports](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports): Falcons 4, Buccaneers 1
- [Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/chris-simms-unbuttoned-podcast): all 2 Falcons
- [Football 301 with Nate Tice (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/football-301-with-nate-tice-podcast): Buccaneers 1, Falcons 1

The other 5 pundits write or talk elsewhere: Falcons 3, Buccaneers 2.

Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-8-falcons-at-buccaneers

Picks:

- [Connor Rogers](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/connor-rogers) took the Falcons; said Oct 30, 2026; on Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/14b3a81b-ba4d-4270-b122-8cfe7fc959b0
- [Chris Simms](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-simms) took the Falcons, Falcons 23–Buccaneers 20; said Oct 30, 2026; on Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast); scored 19.05 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 63.03) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/257149d0-81ab-4feb-a725-ef5bebba04b0
- [Jared Dubin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jared-dubin) took the Falcons, Falcons 23–Buccaneers 17; said Oct 30, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 26.19 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 63.03) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/92fae7de-6f19-49eb-9aff-7a868f74bd2f
- [Chris Long](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-long) took the Buccaneers, Buccaneers 23–Falcons 19; said Oct 30, 2026; on Green Light with Chris Long (podcast); scored 71.43 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 63.03) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f3ebfd75-678e-4e1f-9f17-dcd4b91c9bbc
- [John Middlekauff](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-middlekauff) took the Buccaneers; said Oct 30, 2026; on 3 and Out with John Middlekauff (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e63a8323-5114-4130-a580-3d44feff2698
- [Pardon My Take](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pardon-my-take) took the Falcons; said Oct 30, 2026; on Pardon My Take (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d414788e-66f3-48d9-9b22-d255c2108a2f
- [Nate Tice](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nate-tice) took the Buccaneers; said Oct 29, 2026; on Football 301 with Nate Tice (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8d5d91c8-a2b7-40a9-9110-bc60312165be
- [Matt Harmon](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/matt-harmon) took the Falcons; said Oct 29, 2026; on Football 301 with Nate Tice (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5e5fc79d-eb11-4607-a06f-180e37fb41fd
- [Tyler Sullivan](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tyler-sullivan) took the Falcons; said Oct 29, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3245a6cc-cf65-4b0a-9b4e-7b58a5f00a54
- [Jordan Dajani](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jordan-dajani) took the Falcons, Falcons 26–Buccaneers 24; said Oct 29, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 16.67 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 63.03) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1e3596d8-240a-4af6-b6cc-7eb177e9e6c7
- [Jared Dubin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jared-dubin) took the Falcons, Falcons 23–Buccaneers 17; said Oct 29, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 26.19 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 63.03) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7251a4c9-90d9-4f83-860d-331d2544d05f
- [Richard Sherman](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/richard-sherman) took the Falcons; said Oct 28, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ab6b4f5f-1083-43b1-a29c-b30795ddf69f
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Buccaneers, Buccaneers 23–Falcons 17; said Oct 28, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 76.19 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 63.03) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0e9d8078-8a3c-4465-92a9-e73302d4a67c
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Falcons, Falcons 30–Buccaneers 23; said Oct 27, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 28.57 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 63.03) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2c56260f-14b4-4708-b8e0-c7a2b156d964
- [Andrew Hughes](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/andrew-hughes) took the Falcons; said Oct 19, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 100) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dd229109-1344-4b09-b5da-370edd2654bb

## How they came in

The Falcons are 3-4; the Buccaneers are 2-5. It is a division game. On win totals, 9 pundits put the Falcons at 6.1 wins on average, and 10 pundits put the Buccaneers at 8.5 wins on average.

Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida

- Atlanta Falcons: 3-4 (171 scored, 173 allowed)
  - Last games: W 29-20 vs 49ers; L 23-31 vs Bears; L 23-30 vs Ravens
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 20th, defense 20th of 32
  - Last season: 8-9
  - Win-total calls: 9 pundits, average 6.1, 2 to 9 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 4 of 7 Falcons games
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2-5 (162 scored, 151 allowed)
  - Last games: W 43-13 at Panthers; L 19-26 vs Steelers; W 24-16 at Cowboys
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 22nd, defense 6th of 32
  - Last season: 8-9
  - Win-total calls: 10 pundits, average 8.5, 2 to 12 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 3 of 6 Buccaneers games

## Players to watch

Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard

- [Michael Penix Jr.](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-penix-jr) (Starting QB, QB): 1,444 passing yards · 10 TD, 6 INT · 62.3% completions · 7 games; 25th in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 6 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 21, 2026: Michael Penix Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Derek Brown, Oct 17, 2026: After taking a shot to the ribs late in the game last week, it sounds like Michael Penix will play this week. He opened the week with a full practice. (not settled yet)
- [Bijan Robinson](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bijan-robinson) (RB1, RB): 880 rushing yards on 169 carries · 6 TD · 31 catches for 250 · 9 games; 1st in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 2 Bryan DeArdo, Oct 10, 2026: Bijan Robinson to record 1,361 rushing yards (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Derek Brown, Sep 7, 2026: Bijan Robinson to finish top 2 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [Drake London](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/drake-london) (WR1, WR): 44 catches for 692 yards · 1 TD · 9 games; 8th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Derek Brown, Sep 26, 2026: Drake London to finish top ? at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
  - No. 37 Andrew Erickson, Sep 16, 2026: Drake London to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Kyle Pitts](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kyle-pitts) (TE1, TE): 25 catches for 220 yards · 4 TD · 9 games; 113th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 6 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 5, 2026: Kyle Pitts to be 2nd on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Za'Darius Smith](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/za-darius-smith) (Sack leader, DE): 4.5 sacks · 6 solo tackles · 6 games; 21st in the NFL in sacks
- [Kendal Daniels](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kendal-daniels) (Tackle leader, LB): 1 sack · 40 solo tackles · 1 interception · 9 games; 8th in the NFL in solo tackles
- [Baker Mayfield](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/baker-mayfield) (Starting QB, QB): 922 passing yards · 3 TD, 4 INT · 60.6% completions · 6 games; 32nd in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 19 Rich Hribar, Aug 5, 2026: Baker Mayfield to outplay his draft cost (a QB2) (not settled yet)
  - No. 21 Bucky Brooks, Aug 2, 2026: Baker Mayfield to finish top 17 at his position, by passing yards (not settled yet)
- [Bucky Irving](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bucky-irving) (RB1, RB): 825 rushing yards on 167 carries · 8 TD · 22 catches for 106 · 9 games; 4th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 6 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 6, 2026: Bucky Irving to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Derek Brown, Aug 11, 2026: Bucky Irving to fall short of his draft cost (RB22, Overall RK57 | ECR vs. ADP: -13) (not settled yet)
- [Emeka Egbuka](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/emeka-egbuka) (WR1, WR): 31 catches for 278 yards · 2 TD · 7 games; 80th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 6 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 25, 2026: Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Derek Brown, Sep 2, 2026: Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Cade Otton](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cade-otton) (TE1, TE): 23 catches for 211 yards · 0 TD · 8 games; 118th in the NFL in receiving yards
- [David Walker](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/david-walker) (Sack leader, LB): 4 sacks · 15 solo tackles · 8 games; 29th in the NFL in sacks
- [Josiah Trotter](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/josiah-trotter) (Tackle leader, LB): 1 sack · 36 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games; 13th in the NFL in solo tackles

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The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team.
The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-8
Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology