The threesome of Mike Smith, Dirk Koetter and Matt Ryan came within 10 yards of lifting the Falcons to the Super Bowl in January 2013. Two of those now work for Tampa Bay, which will serve as the Falcons’ opponent Sunday in the Dome.
The Buccaneers have won 23 games over five seasons and are on their fifth head coach since 2008. The Falcons have won 18 games over three seasons, the first two of those under Smith, who was fired Dec. 29, 2014. Today he’s the defensive coordinator for a head coach who was once his offensive coordinator.