Sure, it’s a new year and nothing in 2024 means anything in 2025.

But you can’t tell me the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense doesn’t want to avenge its poor performances against the Atlanta Falcons that led to a sweep by the divisional rival up North.

In reality, the Bucs defense is looking to rebound as a whole this year and not just from two bad games against the Falcons. Either way, the Week 1 matchup represents a great opportunity to kill two birds with one stone in the context of this game.

So let’s stop wasting time and dive into the four biggest questions facing the Bucs defense.

How does the Buccaneers’ front seven perform in a potential scenario where Vita Vea is out or limited?

Vea unexpectedly showed up on Wednesday’s injury report as a non-participant due to a foot injury and his status held through Thursday’s practice. He did show up to practice on Friday, though, which doesn’t guarantee his availability unless he’s listed as a full-go on the final injury report or Todd Bowles tells reporters as much after practice.

A Vea-less Bucs defense would not be ideal against a Falcons team that has a good interior offensive line and a running back in Bijan Robinson that can kill you both between the tackles and on the edges (there’s also Tyler Allgeier to worry about inside). There’s also the fact the Falcons are really going to try and run it inside as much as possible since they’re down two tackles on the right side. No Vea, or a limited one, wouldn’t be ideal.

“Their exceptional running game,” Bucs pass game coordinator George Edwards told reporters when asked what’s hard about defending Atlanta’s offense. “I mean, they’ve got really two good backs that can carry the football and do a good job of making explosive plays for them down the field. Their receivers are tough matches, the tight end’s a tough match. So, they have a plethora of weapons that we’re going to be facing this Sunday.

So, I think our guys will rise to the challenge, but it will be tough-contested throws and those kind of things down the field with their receivers and the back out of the backfield…Those kinds of things”

Plus, there’s the drop-off in the pass rush department, as Vea is one of the best overall defensive tackles in the game. Not only can he wreck interior o-lines, he frees up guys around him by taking on double and sometimes even triple-teams. While things are looking encouraging, they’re not set in stone, just yet.

Update: Todd Bowles told reporters after practice that it’s “looking promising and trending the right way” when it comes to Vita Vea’s availability for Sunday, per Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud.

Can the Bucs’ outside pass rush take advantage of the Falcons’ injury issues at right tackle?

This is a big year for the Bucs’ outside pass rush. Haason Reddick was brought in to add some serious juice and Yaya Diaby is expected to take a big step after a good 2024 season that just did add up in terms of actual sack numbers. The staff is high on second-year rusher Chris Braswell and then there’s Anthony Nelson, who is a solid rotational player.

The crew has a chance to get off to a hot start against the Falcons, mainly due to the fact the offense will be without it’s Top 2 options at right tackle in starter Kaleb McGary and backup Storm Norton.

“We’ve been doing a lot of scouting,” Diaby told reporters Thursday. “…Michael Penix Jr. is a great quarterback – he doesn’t fold under pressure. For us, we have to get him off his mark and we’ll be just fine.”

Whomever is lined up on the right side needs to make an impact, plain and simple. If not, the Bucs are going to be in for another long day against a Falcons offense that’s picked it apart over the last couple years.

What happens at the nickel position with Christian Izien likely out for the game?

This is an interesting one. It’s easy to assume third-round rookie would take over as the primary nickel but Todd Bowles said Wednesday that while it remains to be seen, it’ll probably be Tykee Smith or Zyon McCollum. Or both.

So, that would mean either Kaevon Merriweather and/or Rashad Wisdom next to Antoine Winfield Jr. and then either Kindle Vildor or Benjamin Morrison on the outside when McCollum moves inside. The only thing with that scenario is Morrison is still coming back from a hamstring injury and it’s unclear how much he’ll play – if he plays at all.

I think what’ll happen is the Bucs will call up Bryce Hall from the practice squad so he or Kindle Vildor can man the outside if McCollum moves inside.

It really feels like Bowles is overcomplicating this, but we will wait and see how it all shakes out on Sunday before making statements like that.

Update: Bowles told reporters Morrison is out for Sunday’s contest and the team will likely elevate an offensive and defensive lineman, per Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud.

Is SirVocea Dennis ready to start stepping up at inside linebacker?

This question doesn’t apply to just this game against the Falcons – it applies to the whole season. But we’ll keep it in a Week 1 vacuum for purposes of this exercise.

The Bucs really need Dennis to step up at linebacker for two reasons: a) he’s simply necessary to the defense performing at a high level in general and b) his skill set and coverage abilities can be a big asset in today’s NFL.

Honestly, the biggest obstacle in Dennis’ way is his health. If he stays upright then he should become the guy the Buccaneers need next to the legendary Lavonte David. Sunday’s test against a tough Falcons offense will go a long way in telling us if he’s ready for the next level or not.