The game this weekend down in Tampa Bay is meaningless in terms of the postseason, but there is still a decent amount on the line. Atlanta has never had back-to-back winning seasons, and a victory here would get them to 9-7 and erase that dubious honor. But they may have to do it without a few key cogs in Michael Turner and Tony Gonzalez, as both are banged up.

Meanwhile, the Bucs have stepped up their game of late and are not the pathetic mess they were earlier. It may not save Raheem Morris' job, but who knows? With a third consecutive victory here

after shocking the Saints in New Orleans last week and beating the Seahawks in Seattle the week before, we could see Morris get another season. The players do seem to like their young head man and play hard for him.

What will it take for the Falcons to get it done?

KEYS TO THE GAME

Falcons defense vs. Tampa's run game: Cadillac Williams last week showed how much of an upside he still has by rumbling for 129 yards and a score in New Orleans. Combine the former Auburn star with a solid Derrick Ward and the Falcons really need to step up and slow down the running game so they can make rookie quarterback Josh Freeman have to throw the ball under pressure in order to beat them.

Atlanta's run defense is only 17th in the NFL but has stepped it up of late. They had a ton of success last week stopping the run, as the Bills came to the Georgia Dome and finished with a total of 40 yards. The week before that, Mike Smith's squad allowed 99 yards to Thomas Jones and a very good New York Jets rushing attack and not coincidentally, Atlanta went 2-0 in those last two games allowing a combined 10 points.

Matt Ryan's performance: Matty Ice has certainly not had the second season he had hoped for, but I would not call it a sophomore slump. Midway through the campaign, for whatever reason, he started to sail balls over his receivers' heads and before he could cure those ills, he got hurt and missed some action.

The Atlanta quarterback has looked all right since his return, as he led the game-winning drive in tough conditions two weeks ago at the Meadowlands and last week played a very clean game, throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns in the victory over the Bills.

If Ryan plays a quality game and doesn't turn the ball over, the Falcons have a great chance to get that second straight winning season.

-- JUSTIN HANOVER