ATLANTA – The Buccaneers are in Atlanta tonight to take on the Falcons on Thursday Night Football.

The Bucs will have to make do without five players this game.

Defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, safety Antoine Winfield Jr., tackle Luke Goedeke, wide receiver Jalen McMillan and wide receiver Trey Palmer are out.

The Bucs will have their work cut out for them with missing personnel, but coach Todd Bowles said he expects a next-man-up mentality.

“We’re going with what we have,” Bowles said this week. “We have guys who have stepped up, and they’re going to have to step up again.”

The Falcons were widely considered the favorite to win the division after adding quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​in the offseason.

The Falcons (2-2) have shown promise as Cousins ​​has led two game-winning drives, but the veteran has not matched the production of Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has led the Buccaneers to the top of the division .

The latest evidence of mixed results came in the Falcons’ 26-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Atlanta won despite not scoring an offensive touchdown, while Kyle Pitts was held without a catch and Bijan Robinson ran for just 28 yards.

Atlanta coach Raheem Morris said he would take the win and leave others to worry about the numbers.

“Really, to me, statistics are for losers,” Morris said after the game.

Tampa Bay currently sits in first place in the NFC South at 3-1, ahead of Atlanta and New Orleans, both at 2-2. The Bucs hope to build on their early season success. After Atlanta, the Bucs play at the Saints, host the Baltimore Ravens and Falcons, then play the Kansas City Chiefs and host the San Francisco 49ers.

Mayfield said they know what’s at stake against a division opponent in prime time.

Wide receiver Mike Evans became the Buccaneers’ career scoring leader last week. Evans is just one piece in a passing game that also features wide receiver Chris Godwin. The team also promoted Sterling Shepard from the practice squad as another option for Mayfield.

“I think it really makes it difficult for the defense,” Godwin said. “It’s one thing if a man leaves because you feed the hot hand, right? But if we can spread the ball around like that, everyone gets involved. …You can combine your quick game, your deep passing game, plays and screens.

The Bucs have won the past three NFC South titles. This is their fourth 3-1 start in the past five years. They have also been successful against Atlanta of late, winning six of the past eight meetings between the division rivals, outscoring the Falcons by 51 points in those games.

Godwin attributes part of Mayfield’s success to the comfort level that comes with a second season with the same team.

“And yes, this is our first year in this offensive system, but it’s his second year with this group of guys, and I think the camaraderie that we built last year really helped,” Godwin said.

“I think the adversity we faced when we all stuck together – I think (that) really helps this year. I think it’s just a natural maturation process just for him as a player.”

Information from the Associated Press was used for this report.