“To Live & Die In L.A.”

This we know about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers …
We know they can have their way with last-place teams.

The last three weeks, the Buccaneers have defeated teams that are dead last in their division.

The Bucs have bounced the Giants, Panthers, and Raiders. It’s a good thing style points are not involved. The Bucs had to rally late to beat Carolina and the Raiders. As for the Giants, nobody pounds their chest over this team that has hardly been “Big Blue.”

Only four teams have given up more yards than the Buccaneer defense.

Even less impressive, only two teams have allowed more passing yards than Todd Bowles and company. Considering who they have played in recent weeks, that’s both scary and embarrassing.

We also know this about their next opponent, the Los Angeles Chargers. Under Jim Harbaugh, they don’t beat themselves.

The Chargers check in 8-5. Last week ..they lost on a pinball field goal to Kansas City. Four of the five Chargers losses have been by one score.

And know this even more, Justin Herbert is a whole lot better than Tommy DeVito, Bryce Young, and Aiden O’Connell. In fact, those three had their moments against the Buccaneer defense. If the Buccaneers give Herbert the same amount of rope, they won’t luck out with a late, uneven victory like recent weeks.

Yet another thing we know. The Buccaneers have done something nobody else has done. That’s beat the Detroit Lions on the road 20-16 way back in week two.

The Buccaneers own the third-longest active playoff streak in football at four consecutive postseason appearances. They have a trip to Dallas and home games against Carolina and New Orleans. No winning records there.

At this point in the season, a loss to any of those teams would earn the Buccaneers a spot on the Naughty List.

Written by Al Keck