Pewter Preview For Week 3

With one other dramatic, come-from-behind win on Monday Evening Soccer in opposition to the Texans, the Bucs obtained out to a 2-0 begin for the fifth consecutive season. They do not have a lot time to have a good time that victory, although, as they’ve to show proper round and begin making ready for Sunday’s dwelling opener in opposition to the New York Jets at Raymond James Stadium after a brief week of apply.

Tampa Bay beginning out 2-0 is nothing new, however every of the 4 2-0 begins previous to this yr’s was instantly adopted by a Week 3 loss. In truth, Todd Bowles and Co. are on the lookout for the franchise’s first 3-0 begin since 2005. Curiously sufficient, the Bucs celebrated their thirtieth season in 2005, and a giant theme of this Sunday’s recreation would be the fiftieth season celebrations. So, in a manner, it could be becoming for the staff to start out off its dwelling slate by matching the 3-0 begin it had 20 years in the past in its thirtieth season.

In the best way of a possible 3-0 begin for this Bucs staff are the 0-2 New York Jets, who’re visiting Tampa for the primary time because the 2017 season. They carry with them one other distinctive subplot to this recreation, which is Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles dealing with his former staff. His first head teaching stint got here with New York from 2015-2018, and his firing led to him becoming a member of Bruce Arians’ teaching workers when Arians got here to Tampa in 2019. Whereas these two groups did meet at MetLife Stadium in the course of the 2023 preseason, this can be Bowles’ first common season recreation as a head coach in opposition to the Jets.

Earlier than we dive additional in our “What to Watch For” preview later this week, here is a common preview of Sunday’s matchup between the Bucs and Jets at Ray Jay:

The Final Time…

The final time these two groups met, they performed a recreation that was wilder than it had any enterprise being. On the tail finish of the 2021 season – however on the second day of the 2022 calendar yr – Tom Brady and the 11-4 Bucs went as much as MetLife Stadium to face the 4-11 Jets. It was removed from a cakewalk for Tampa Bay, as New York went up 7-0 early and would ultimately take a 24-10 lead halfway by the third quarter.

Then, late within the third, this occurred:

Former Bucs WR Antonio Brown – FOX

You seemingly do not should be instructed, however that is solely Bucs vast receiver Antonio Brown making a shirtless exit from the staff and the NFL after deciding mid-game that, really, he did not want this soccer factor anymore. For no matter cause, he left and Tampa Bay – already with out Chris Godwin, who suffered a season-ending knee damage a month earlier – needed to transfer ahead with Mike Evans, Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate and a number of unheralded receivers the remainder of the best way.

Shortly after Brown left the sphere, Brady related with Brate for a landing to chop into the Jets’ lead, making it a 24-17 recreation. A Ryan Succop subject objective halfway by the fourth quarter made it 24-20, then got here the game-changing sequence. That noticed the Jets go for it on fourth-and-2 deep in Bucs territory, forgoing a subject objective that might make it a seven-point recreation. In spite of everything, a primary down would put the sport away. Solely Zach Wilson was stopped properly wanting the road to realize, giving the ball over to Brady and the Buccaneers offense.

What got here subsequent was a drive for the ages, with Brady firing strikes to Cyril Grayson and Tyler Johnson to get the ball down the sphere in crunch time. Then, with 15 seconds left, Brady discovered Grayson for a 33-yard landing go for the win. Le’Veon Bell punched within the two-point conversion to make it 28-24, then the Tampa Bay protection closed it out from there to get to 12-4 forward of the common season finale the next week.

Bucs WR Cyril Grayson – Photograph by: USA At present

Brady went 34-of-50 for 410 yards, three touchdowns and an interception on the afternoon, whereas Gronkowski led all pass-catchers with seven catches for 115 yards (16.4 avg.). Grayson completed the day with six catches for 81 yards and the game-winning landing, whereas Johnson got here by big late and wound up with 4 catches for 50 yards. Anthony Nelson had a giant recreation for the protection, racking up three tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, a fumble restoration and a go defensed.

The Jets personal a decisive lead within the all-time collection between these two groups, going 10-3 in opposition to the Bucs over time. Tampa Bay has received the final two conferences, together with the final matchup at Raymond James Stadium again in 2017.

How The Bucs And Jets Are Trending

The Bucs are in a captivating spot heading into Week 3, as they’re coming off two huge, dramatic, comeback wins on the highway in opposition to two powerful groups within the Falcons and Texans. There’s been so much to like in regards to the grit they’ve displayed in each video games, as they’ve executed properly in weathering the early storm of lacking All-Professional left deal with Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin, the second-best receiver in franchise historical past. They’re actually in an important spot file smart – maybe higher than anybody might’ve even anticipated – as they return to Tampa for his or her dwelling opener in opposition to the 0-2 Jets.

However with all of that stated, the damage bug has gotten to this staff in a giant manner already, and it is solely mid-September. Tampa Bay knew it could be with out Wirfs and Godwin to start out the season, however dropping gifted rookies David Walker and J.J. Roberts in coaching camp and the preseason did not assist issues. Then got here a number of extra accidents, together with season-enders for defensive deal with Calijah Kancey and proper guard Cody Mauch, in addition to a foot damage that can value proper deal with Luke Goedeke a while within the coming weeks.

So, that is loads of transferring items and an entire lot of early adversity for a Bucs staff that has designs on making a run to the Tremendous Bowl of their fiftieth season.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA At present

So far, the offense has been capable of make do with a makeshift offensive line that has seen Graham Barton transfer from middle to left deal with, Ben Bredeson slide from left guard to middle and Michael Jordan step in at left guard. However now, except Wirfs could make a return in Week 3, this pieced-together line will characteristic these three in addition to a brand new proper guard and Charlie Heck stepping in for Goedeke at proper deal with.

That would actually restrict Josh Grizzard‘s offense, however quarterback Baker Mayfield has proven by two video games that he is merely hell-bent on making issues occur and prepared the staff to victory. He is gotten assist from rookie vast receiver Emeka Egbuka, the always-reliable Mike Evans and a backfield that options two versatile playmakers in Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. Grizzard, a first-time play-caller, has executed properly to place Mayfield and Co. in good positions up to now this season. However the absences of Mauch and Goedeke add yet one more problem for a coordinator who simply cannot catch a break personnel-wise.

Defensively, the Bucs are enjoying higher, extra basically sound soccer up to now this yr. They don’t seem to be getting the sacks and takeaways {that a} dominant protection creates, however they’ve managed the primary two video games of the season properly. Opening-drive touchdowns have been an issue, however outdoors of these, this has been a gaggle that has performed properly in opposition to two offenses stuffed with big-time playmakers. Haason Reddick is off to a superb begin, as are Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith again at security.

The Bucs want some extra productiveness from Yaya Diaby and a few higher play total from SirVocea Dennis, and creating some takeaways is the largest subsequent step Todd Bowles‘ unit has to take. That might take some stress off the banged-up offense and swing the protection’s efficiency meter from good to nice.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photograph by: USA At present

Lastly on the Tampa Bay facet of issues, maybe essentially the most troubling development outdoors of the damage disaster is the poor play from the particular groups unit. Chase McLaughlin has missed two subject targets and an additional level in two video games, Riley Dixon had a punt blocked in a vital second in opposition to the Texans and the punt and kick protection groups have been problematic, too. Missed kicks are missed factors, and protection issues on kicks and punts result in subject place disadvantages for the protection. These are issues an injury-plagued staff might have a tough time overcoming.

On the Jets’ facet, it has been a little bit of a combined begin beneath new head coach Aaron Glenn. The offense carried out higher than anticipated in Week 1, however the protection let the staff down in a 34-32 loss to the Steelers. Final week, unhealthy went to worse because the protection could not comprise Josh Allen and the offense could not get entering into a 30-10 loss to the Payments. Now, after two dwelling losses, the Jets hit the highway for the primary time this season, enjoying back-to-back video games in Florida, beginning with the Bucs on Sunday.

New York is seeking to keep away from an 0-3 begin beneath Glenn, the previous Lions defensive coordinator. Glenn is aware of Tampa Bay’s offense properly given the matchups the staff had in opposition to Detroit in 2023 and 2024, and that could possibly be a plus in his favor. However the draw back for him and his staff is the truth that they arrive into Week 3 with out beginning quarterback Justin Fields, who’s in concussion protocol. Veteran journeyman Tyrod Taylor will begin in Fields’ place.

Jets RB Breece Corridor – Photograph by: USA At present

Taylor is lots succesful, in fact, and he has some weapons at his disposal. Operating again Breece Corridor is essentially the most harmful, and he is off to a superb begin this season with 136 yards on 29 carries (4.7 avg.) and 4 catches for 47 yards (11.8 avg.). Going up in opposition to a powerful Tampa Bay run protection could also be powerful, however Corridor would possibly discover some success as a pass-catcher out of the backfield the best way Bijan Robinson, Nick Chubb and Woody Marks did in Weeks 1 and a couple of.

Garrett Wilson is the No. 1 goal within the passing recreation, as his 11 catches, 17 targets, 145 yards and one landing lead all receivers for New York. Corridor is definitely second in yardage, with former Buc Tyler Johnson (two catches, 31 yards) being the second-most productive receiver. Rookie tight finish Mason Taylor (two catches, 25 yards) is the staff’s fourth-leading receiver.

Protection is Glenn’s specialty, nevertheless it’s been a wrestle so far for the Jets as they’ve allowed 32 factors per recreation by two weeks. The items are there, with linebacker Jamien Sherwood (19 tackles, three tackles for loss), star defensive deal with Quinnen Williams (seven tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss) and edge rushers Jermaine Johnson (seven tackles, one go defensed) and Will McDonald IV (three tackles, two sacks). And main the best way within the secondary is Sauce Gardner, who has three passes defensed so far.

Jets CB Sauce Gardner – Photograph by: USA At present

An absence of takeaways is plaguing New York proper now, too, as Glenn’s protection has zero interceptions by two video games. And whereas the unit has compelled three fumbles, it has but to get well one. So, each of those defenses are looking for their first takeaways of the season heading into Week 3.

Here is how the Bucs and Jets stack up heading into Week 3:

Bucs Offense: T-18th in scoring offense (21.5 PPG), Twenty first in complete offense (310.0 yards per recreation), twenty sixth in passing offense (175.0 yards per recreation), ninth in dashing offense (135.0 yards per recreation)

Jets Offense: T-Twenty first in scoring offense (21.0 PPG), twenty sixth in complete offense (274.0 yards per recreation), twenty ninth in passing offense (133.0 yards per recreation), sixth in dashing offense (141.0 yards per recreation)

Bucs Protection: Thirteenth in scoring protection (19.5 factors allowed per recreation), fifteenth in complete protection (312.0 yards allowed per recreation), twenty third in passing protection (235.5 yards allowed per recreation), fifth in dashing protection (76.5 yards allowed per recreation)

Jets Protection: thirtieth in scoring protection (32.0 factors allowed per recreation), twenty third in complete protection (337.0 yards allowed per recreation), T-Thirteenth in passing protection (198.5 yards allowed per recreation), twenty fourth in dashing protection (138.5 yards allowed per recreation)

As of Wednesday evening, the Bucs are 6.5-point favorites, with the Over/Beneath set at 43.5 (per Arduous Rock Wager).

Bucs vs. Jets Recreation Data

When: Sunday, September 21
The place: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: FOX – Kenny Albert (Play by Play), Jonathan Vilma (Analyst), Megan Olivi (Reporter)
Bucs Radio: 98Rock – Gene Deckerhoff (Play by Play), Dave Moore (Coloration), T.J. Rives (Reporter)
Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente – Carlos Bohorquez (Play by Play), Martín Gramática (Analyst), Santiago Gramática (Reporter)