As if containing Julio Jones and the Falcons offense weren't challenging enough, the Bucs will try to so Monday night without perhaps their top two defensive players in DT Gerald McCoy and LB Lavonte David.
Bucs coach Dirk Koetter on Saturday ruled both out for Monday's game, with McCoy (biceps) and David (hamstring) not practicing all week. CB Vernon Hargreaves will also miss a fifth straight game with his hamstring injury, being held out Saturday after practicing the previous two days.
The Falcons beat the Bucs 34-20 three weeks ago in Atlanta, with Jones going off for 253 receiving yards, the most ever by a Bucs opponent, as well as two touchdowns. Jones has one touchdown catch total in his other 12 games this season.
Atlanta will be without two key parts of their running game, with RB Tevin Coleman (concussion) and G Andy Levitre (triceps) ruled out for Monday. The Falcons will have RB Devonta Freeman, who missed the first Bucs game with his own concussion injury.