WILD CARD PREVIEW- Bucs vs Commanders
2 min read
Feature Image | Courtesy of Eric White | NSPN Champa Bay Tv
It’s now officially playoff time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers get a rematch with Washington, again at Raymond James.
You are talking five consecutive playoff appearances and four NFC South titles in a row.
Yet, truth be told, the Buccaneers have been facing “win or else” for weeks.
The Buccaneers have quality regular season wins over the Commanders, Lions, Eagles, and Chargers. All are playoff teams. However, six of their 10 victories have been over teams with losing records. In fact, wins over the Saints, Giants, Panthers, and Raiders are teams with double-digit losses and have a combined 17 wins on the season. That’s just more than an average of four wins each.
You can’t blame Baker Mayfield. The Bucs have jumped aboard and ridden his mojo throughout the season. Mayfield sees career highs with 4,500 yards and 41 touchdown passes. Only Joe Burrow has thrown more touchdown passes.
The question. Can Baker outscore what his defense gives up??
Only three teams have given up more yards passing.
Listen to all the analysts doing the Buccaneers games. They will beat the drum that the Bucs don’t give up much against opposing
running backs. Could that be because huge plays are there for the taking against this Buccaneer Secondary? Why deal with Vita Tea trying to run the football when you can torch the Buccaneer secondary for easy plays?
Yes, the Bucs have injuries. Ask the Lions about injuries. Everybody is hurt this time of year.
It wasn’t just the likes of Lamar Jackson embarrassing the Bucs secondary. How about Kirk Cousins twice? Or rookie Patrick Nix? Backup Cooper Rush? Even Bryce Young had a comfortable afternoon against the Bucs defense.
Rest assured, the Commanders and quarterback Jaylen Daniels will be much-improved for this rematch. The hope is the Buccaneer defense will also improve.
