HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On which players participated in practice today)

"SirVocea [Dennis] and Lavonte [David] are back. Everybody else is kind of limited."

(On what makes the Atlanta Falcons a difficult opponent)

"It's a division rival – I think all three are difficult. [Falcons Head Coach] Arthur [Smith] does a great job playing ball control, yet getting explosive plays. I think their defense is playing very well. They're playing like a top-five defense in the league right now. Defensively, we gave up a two-minute [drive] at the end. Offensively, I thought they stalled us pretty [well]."

(On what he's seen from Falcons QB Desmond Ridder)

"He's got control of the offense. He knows where to go with the ball. He's always dangerous with his feet. I think he's very underrated, but he's a very accurate passer."

(On this game being a matchup of two great safeties in Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jessie Bates III)

"I haven't seen Jessie too much. I know from his past – he's always been a great safety. The way 'Win' (Winfield Jr.) is playing right now, I haven't seen many better. I haven't watched every team and every game, but I'll take him up against everybody."

(On how big Winfield Jr.'s interception against the Panthers was)

"It was huge. It closed out the game, like you said. I just stated that we hadn't closed it out before in two-minute [drives], so to come back and close that out was big for us."

(On if there's more emphasis on stopping the run this week against the Falcons)

"[If] you try too much in the run game, they're going to burn you in the pass game. They've got a lot of weapons on the outside. We've got to play balanced football and we've got to play honest football. Everybody has got to do their part."

(On if he views this week as a playoff game)

"Every game we play from here on out is a playoff game."

(On game-planning against Falcons RB Bijan Robinson after not playing against him in the last meeting)

"We can stop him full-time if he doesn't play [laughs]. Other than that, he's been playing quite a bit. He's at full-tilt – it looks like he's at [the University of] Texas. He's running the ball well, he's catching the ball well, he's a route runner, he can do a lot of things."

(On the significance of this weekend's matchup against the Falcons)

"It's December football. It's December football. It's a round-robin tournament until the end. We understand the importance of this game. If we can win this one, the next game will be more important than that one. It's the biggest game this week, it's the only game this week. It's a division rival. They're one game ahead of us – we know we've got to try to catch up, they know they've got to keep a lead."

(On what he's seen from some of his younger players on defense like DL Calijah Kancey and OLB Yaya Diaby)

"Just understanding the defense and playing faster. The small mistakes they made earlier in the year, they're not making anymore. That goes with all of the guys over there on both sides of the ball. It's December football – you've got to make plays, you've got to understand your assignment and you've got to win."

(On if the strength of this defense is that the pressure can be applied from different positions)

"That, and they help each other out a lot. Some of them sacrifice for the other ones. All of them are unselfish, so it frees up different people."

(On the offense having so many explosive passing plays so far this season)

"It's just Baker [Mayfield] seeing it. Baker seeing it and Mike [Evans] running a route routinely and understanding something they're doing, and Dave [Canales] making the right play call. We just need more of them or more sustained drives to go along with those big plays."

(On the rushing attack being more effective over the last few weeks)

"I think the O-line is working well together. We kind of cut back on some things and simplified a few things. They're playing faster and they're not thinking as much. Rachaad [White] is playing faster – he's understanding where the run fits are before he even gets to the hole so he doesn't have to hesitate. He's playing faster."

(On if OL Aaron Stinnie is doing well as a run blocker)

"Stinnie is doing a very good job at run blocking. We got better when he got in there."

(On when everything started coming together for RB Rachaad White)

"I can't say when. It was kind of a build up as the offense matured and he progressed in the system – understanding what he was seeing week-by-week. You could see him playing faster. All of a sudden, it just clicked. We're happy [with] where he's at."

(On the progression from OL Cody Mauch)

"I think it's one of the hardest positions to put a rookie in to start – seeing all of the defensive blitzes and different fronts. He's seen probably an All-Pro guy every weekend. Cody is tough, he's very smart, and his footwork has gotten better. He's playing tougher, he's playing smarter, he's playing with better leverage. We kind of like where he's at. He just keeps ascending for us."

(On the progression from TE Payne Durham)

"He's coming on. He's coming along. He's starting to find himself in the offense. He's scrappy. He's got to still use the length of his body more. He made a great catch the other week, jumping over somebody – those are kind of some of the things he did in college. He's really starting to let his personality show, which is helping in his play."

(On why the production has dropped off for WR Chris Godwin)

"We've got to get him the ball. We've got to find ways to get him the ball. I can't tell you why it's dipped. If he's double-covered, obviously we can't throw it to him. Certain things require us doing other things with other guys. Mike [Evans] has been playing well. We've got to keep Mike where he's at and we've got to bring Chris along."

(On the biggest difference with the Falcons defense compared to previous years)

"The [defensive] coordinator (Ryan Nielsen) is doing a great job. They got pieces this offseason, but they have a scheme that works for them that he brought over from New Orleans that has been playing very well. He's added his own [changes]. They're being very well-coached, they're very aggressive and they're playing tough."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On finding out his wife was pregnant with their first child)

"I was in shock. To be completely honest, it was during training camp. I had sent her a picture – outside of our hotel there was a golden doodle puppies sign with a number on it, so I sent her a screenshot of that. Then two days later I go to the house and she put a big brother shirt on our dog, so I started looking around for a puppy, not seeing the ultrasound and the positive pregnancy test right in front of me [laughs]. So yeah, I was in the doghouse for a little bit on that one. It was a complete shock, but yeah, so blessed obviously. There is much more to life than just football, so it's one of those things that we are extremely happy about."

(On being a girl dad)

"I know, a girl dad – I'm going to be wrapped around her finger. [I'm] just completely screwed [laughs]."

(On Sunday's game featuring two of the best safeties in the NFL with Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jessie Bates III)

"I know I mentioned this the first time he (Bates) came around – I played him a bunch of times when he was in Cincinnati. [He's] an extremely smart player [and] obviously athletic. Extremely smart, knows how to pattern read, knows how to get everybody else lined up and always seems to be around the ball making plays on it. He's one of those guys that you've got to know where he's at, at all times. When you're going through your progression, he's going to be reading your eyes, so you have to be smart when you're moving through the field."

(If he's looking at this game as the 'Game of the Year' for the Buccaneers)

"Yeah, I mean I've said it, but [it's] the 'one game at a time' mentality. Obviously, they're leading the division. Divisional games are already important, but obviously with where we are at right now, it's extremely important for us. We've got to be singularly focused on any way we can beat the Falcons. We've got to find a way."

(On what has changed since the last meeting between the Buccaneers and Falcons)

"We're definitely a lot better on offense – looking at it detail-wise and just [our] understanding of everybody knowing exactly what we're trying to get accomplished. The first game was a little hard to watch, film-wise, going back through it and seeing the improvements that we've had. They presented different issues for us that we had to learn from. Some blitz package issues. I mean, they held us to a pretty low score, so we've got to go in and improve, learn off that gameplan. But also, them not having Grady Jarrett is a little different. They've had [Kentavius] Street come in and play really well for them. We're both different to a certain extent, so we've just got to look at the new tape and grow and learn from there."

(On WR Mike Evans' consistency and if there is a need to find a complementary playmaker to break out alongside of him offensively)

"This is one of those games. Obviously, he's been the main guy for us, so everybody has got to be ready. Everybody has got to be ready to step up. Not to harp on your question, but nobody needs to be a superhero – just do your job consistently. I think that's one thing that we can look back on the tape from the first Atlanta game… everybody do your job consistently and good things will happen. The rest will take care of itself."

(On the reason for the decrease in production for WR Chris Godwin)

"There have been opportunities there, but some of the coverages have just dictated where the ball is going. Obviously, we tried to get him involved early and then the rain kind of made it hard for us just based on our normal gameplan that we would have called. But yeah, he is obviously one of our key factors, so we've got to still try to find ways to get him the ball. He had the reverse for a touchdown. Just trying to get the ball in his hands any way possible and good things happen."

(On Atlanta's redzone defense and what makes it difficult to face)

"Their front and their linebackers make it extremely tough to run the ball just all over the field, but especially down there. They're just stout up front. They know how to stop the run. They don't have to bring in extra guys into the box to do that. We have to be good on our targets in the run game and then, in the pass game, just find completions, getting the extra yardage and just getting up the field immediately. Just trying to find ways to end up in the end zone. For us, it's a good challenge and it's something that we need to take the next step on."

(On the key to the 40-plus yard passing plays that Tampa Bay has been able to capitalize on this season)

"Guys being in the right spot. You have certain shot calls throughout the year that you want to hit. But obviously, like the last game, you have a play called where the coverage can dictate it being an explosive play. You have your standard shot plays that you want to get explosives on and then the difference for us has been just key one-on-ones – guys winning and just making those plays. It just comes down to guys doing their jobs consistently. Those big plays will happen if you just consistently do that and just keep moving the chains."

(On if the green light goes on when WR Mike Evans has single coverage)

"Yeah."

(On if he is surprised that Evans gets single coverage)

"Yes and no, because if you're going to sit there and double team him all game, the ball is going to go everywhere else. Teams are going to roll the dice and take a chance, especially a team like this. They have good corners, so they trust those guys. They want to have them in man match coverages and trust those guys to carry them down the field. When it's one-on-one with Mike, you're going to take your chances. As a quarterback, you're going to want to put the ball in his hands."

(On the frustration of the loss to Atlanta earlier this season)

"Really frustrating. Obviously, it's been a steady growth of this offense, and that was an early game, so just watching that it seems like a different team now from where we're at. Like I said earlier, just learning from those mistakes, guys learning the concepts completely and knowing the little details and things that truly make the difference when you're playing a competitive team like that."

(On if he has seen G Cody Mauch bringing more physicality as the season progresses)

"Yeah, I think I mentioned it to [media] after that 'San Fran' game – you really saw him improve in that game against, obviously, a great challenge. He has continually [taken] that step. That's something you look for. As a rookie, you're finding your way and then sometimes the light will turn on and you can just build on that. He has improved consistently. We ask a lot of those guys up front, but Cody is continually improving and we're really happy about that."

(On if Mauch can take a punch)

"He can take a punch [laughs]. I'm not sure he deserved it, but yeah, he took it. He wore it. It didn't knock another tooth out, though."

(On how long he was in the doghouse for misinterpreting the baby announcement from his wife)

"Not long. I got out quickly. I got over the no puppy thing pretty quick though and reality set in."

(On if getting another puppy is another goal of his)

"For me? Yes. For Emily (his wife)? No. Too much running around the house."

(On if he feels like facing a team you've seen before is easier or more difficult)

"There is give and take. You can learn from some of the looks and disguises that teams will do, but there are obviously adjustments they can make and new wrinkles that they can throw in to make it look like something they presented the first time around. There is always, like I said, give and take. You learn looks, you come to expect it and then just try to react to any new wrinkle they're going to have in. For knowing defensive backs, it's definitely one of those things [where] you can look at the film and see how guys are playing, see how they're playing a receiver specifically and go based on that. We always look to improve playing a team the second time."

(On what he thinks is the biggest key to the run game getting going)

"A lot of credit to the O-line, quite honestly. Just getting their targets right, just all being on the same page and really understanding the concepts of how their tracks mean a lot. The running back room as a whole has grown a lot – just understanding how they're supposed to set up these blocks, how they're supposed to play off the combos and just making a lot more plays in space. It's that whole unit. Not to leave out the tight ends and the receivers in the blocking schemes. Everybody is a part of it, so everybody just being on the same page and getting more reps at it has been the biggest improvement."

(On the development of TE Payne Durham)

"He is a really athletic tight end. I think he brings a different aspect in the passing game, as well. Obviously, Cade [Otton] is great in the passing game, but Payne, you saw him in that Indy game making a great catch over the top of somebody. He helps in the run game, as well. He is a versatile guy that is continually learning this offense, as well. He's a young guy [but] he has continuously improved over the year and that's what you look for."

(On RB Rachaad White's growth over the course of his second season)

"He has continually improved. It's obviously a new system for him. Some of the run schemes are similar to what he has done in the past, but like I said with the run game improvement, a lot of that is on the O-line but also him with his eyes where he's looking at how to read these blocks. Obviously, he is a special athlete when he's got the ball in space. We know that, but just his improvement in setting blocks up has been a huge difference."

SAFETY ANTOINE WINFIELD JR.

(On what he saw earlier in the season from the Atlanta Falcons compared to now)

"I feel like they are very much similar to last time we faced them. They still have skilled position players everywhere, so we have to make sure we do our very best to contain all of those guys, because they'll try to come out, attack, [deploy] different personnels, and things like that."

(On if they are preparing for the system or the player)

"For the system. For the system. For the most part, they run the same thing. They're switching different people in and out."

(On how good he thinks Atlanta Falcons HB Bijan Robinson is)

"He's good. He's good. I've seen him with the ball in his hands. He's good at making people miss in open space, so we [have] our work cut out."

(On what he learned from the last game against the Atlanta Falcons)

"That we just have to capitalize on different situations. That game kind of came down to our last series, we just [have] to make sure we finish, and not put ourselves in that position again."

(On the importance of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons)

"Super important. If we win this one, we're first place in the division, and so this is like a playoff game for us."

(On if it's helpful facing a team for a second time)
"Yeah, I think it helps. They're still going to run their system. It's just a matter of [which] plays come at you at a time. They're obviously going to come out, show us different looks and things like that, but once everything is settled in, it's pretty much the same system."

(On how he feels about being nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and being named NFC Defensive Player of the Week)
"I put a lot of work in, so it's just paying off. For the Defensive Player of the Week, that was awesome, but the Walter Payton was even better. Being able to give back to the community, and [to] have that out there has been amazing."

(On his interception against the Panthers last week)

"I was reading the quarterback, [saw] him scramble out, and I took a peak to [Adam] Thielen, and I [saw] Bryce [Young] throw his hands up to tell him to go vertical, and I'm like, 'Oh, that's where the ball is going.' I just broke on the ball and made a good play."

(On what it's like being the guy who makes the play to win the game)
"It's awesome. I put myself in that scenario a lot. Even after practice when I'm doing ball drills, I'm thinking in my head, 'We are down such-and-such, if I make this interception, we win the game.' I run that scenario in my head a lot, and so to actually have it happen, it's just from working hard."

(On why he wants to give back to foster children)

"It's important to me because these kids go through a lot. You know, some of them might not have the same support system [that] I had growing up. It's really just about giving back to them and letting them know that they're supported, and they feel seen and heard."

(On playing against Atlanta Falcons S Jessie Bates III)
"He's a great player – great player. It's going to be fun going against him. I watch him week to week, I see him all his plays, so it's going to be fun. We are going to see who is the better man this Sunday."

(On he likes about Bates' game)

"He creates takeaways, he's a ballhawk, he tackles well, and he just makes plays. Force fumbles, picks, whatever – he does it all."

(On how he felt about S Ryan Neal playing linebacker)
"It was cool. At one point I was confused, so I'm like, 'There's too many people out here,' and he was like, 'I'm linebacker,' and I was like, 'Oh, okay cool.' It was cool for him to come in, play that role, and he did it well. Hats off to him for playing that role."

GUARD CODY MAUCH

(On his progression so far this season)

"Yeah, the last few weeks have definitely felt like...not that it's slowing down, but maybe it's slowing down a little bit."

(On if he feels like the game against the San Francisco 49ers was a turning point for him)

"Yeah, I felt pretty good that game – felt pretty comfortable. Especially to be able to do it against great competition like that – that's really something to kind of hang your hat on. Obviously, [there is] a lot to improve [on]. There always is."

(On getting punched last Sunday against Carolina)

"Yeah, that one was a little unexpected, but you've got to deal with it."

(On if he deserved the punch)

"I don't think so. You're just kind of in there, just playing."

(On QB Baker Mayfield saying it was good that he didn't lose another tooth)

"That's right. I've got to keep the ones that I do have."

(On what he learned in the first meeting against the Falcons)

"Not only the way their defense is, but the specific guys you're going to be going against. You actually have reps against them now. Film study is always one thing, but you can actually go back and look at, 'How did I block these guys? And what kind of improvements can you make?'"

(On the importance of this weekend's game)

"We're treating it like a playoff game, because, really, for us, it is. You've got to keep winning, especially these division games. That's just kind of the mentality for us: keep winning, especially these division games."

(On what it's like watching his own tape against the Falcons)

"You're a little frustrated at times watching the last game, because you're like, 'Why did I do that? What am I doing?' But we've all grown a lot since that game, as players. It's good to go back and see, because you're still the same player. You've made some improvements, but you can kind of see what I did last time and how you can improve that."

(On the area he's improved most in)

"I would say [my] head is not as much like a chicken with its head cut off. Those first couple games, everything is so fast, it's like, 'What do I do? Where do I go?' I think it's just really [that] I've calmed down a lot in there. That's really helped me play a lot faster."

(On the transition from left tackle to right guard and the biggest challenge there)

"Just dealing with guys in a lot tighter space in there on the inside, especially moving from left side to right side. It was a little bit with the stance and the outside hand is now my right hand instead of my left. Some of those things early on, but I'm feeling like this is my spot. I'm feeling way better in there now."

-BUCCANEERS-