Falcons face 42-7 loss to Buccaneers in Miami

The Atlanta Falcons lost 42 to 7 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Miami. The defeat marked the third loss of the season for Atlanta, which is now 2-6. The game was played in rain, a condition that affected the offense.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said the team did not expect to throw the ball so often. He noted that the rain made it difficult to protect the quarterback. The offense completed 20 of 41 passes. They gained 206 yards through the air. The running game was less effective. Atlanta gained 42 yards on the ground. The team had a negative yardage average of 5.88 on rushing attempts.

Morris said the Buccaneers used a loaded defensive box. This strategy limited the Falcons to a running game. He stated the team must find better solutions against these defenses. The Falcons allowed 231 rushing yards to Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers also gained 85.6 yards per carry on the ground. Their rushing volume was the second-highest of the season for them.

The defense allowed the Buccaneers to run for 231 yards. They also gave up 5.8 yards per carry. Morris said the front seven failed to stop the run. He said the team must adapt to different looks from the offense. The Falcons allowed 318.4 rushing yards per game this season. That is the second-worst mark in the NFL.

Special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman will lead practice at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Thursday. He will test the turf there before Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Aukerman coached in the NFL's first Madrid game last season with the Dolphins. He said he knows the field and the sight lines. He expects the specialists to be ready for the conditions.

Kicker Nick Folk is 35 years old. He has made 91 of 94 field goal attempts this season. He has missed only one field goal in the past three years. Aukerman said Folk is confident and knows what he is doing. He said Folk will be fine in the rain at the Bernabeu.