2-Level Conversion: No person Desires A Piece Of These Bucs Bullies Proper Now

It’s time for Scott Reynolds’ 2-Level Conversion post-game column, which options two statements, two questions and two predictions primarily based on the newest Bucs recreation. Tampa Bay overcame a 17-13 halftime deficit to run roughshod – actually – over the Chargers, outscoring Los Angeles 27-0 within the second half of a 40-17 victory. The Bucs at the moment are 8-6 on the yr and keep their lead over the 6-7 Falcons, who play in Las Vegas on Monday Evening Soccer.

This was an announcement by the Bucs, who’ve now gained 4 straight video games and are 5-2 on the highway. Tampa Bay travels to Dallas to play the 6-8 Cowboys on Sunday Evening Soccer this week.

2 BIG STATEMENTS

STATEMENT 1. Bully Bucs Put The NFL On Discover With 40-17 Win In L.A.

The Bucs did one thing that no different workforce has actually performed to the Chargers this yr. Not solely did Tampa Bay drop 40 factors on a tricky, Los Angeles protection, however the Bucs beat the Chargers by 23 factors, 40-17, at SoFi Stadium.

The Bucs have been absolute bullies on Sunday.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs and QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

They rolled into L.A. and bodily beat up the Chargers within the trenches on each side of the ball.

No person desires a chunk of those Bucs bullies proper now.

Not the way in which Tampa Bay is taking part in on each side of the soccer.

Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh is recent off an undefeated nationwide championship season at Michigan the place his Wolverines routinely dominated the road of scrimmage. The Chargers have adopted his bodily, hard-nosed mentality this yr, so he naturally needed to be surprised with the Bucs scoring 27 straight factors within the second half to beat a 17-13 halftime deficit.

Generally the stat sheet doesn’t inform the entire story of a soccer recreation, however this one certainly did.

The Bucs out-gained the Chargers 506-206 yards and out-rushed them 223-32 yards.

Tampa Bay was 9-of-15 on third downs (61%) whereas Los Angeles was 0-of-6 and 0-of-2 on fourth downs.

Hell, the Bucs didn’t even punt the ball.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and RG Cody Mauch – Photograph by: USA In the present day

That’s outstanding contemplating the Chargers entered Sunday with the league’s prime scoring protection, permitting a mean of 15 factors per recreation.

Tampa Bay’s younger, underrated offensive line is rapidly changing into the league’s finest unit. Jason Licht has constructed one other Tremendous Bowl-caliber O-line by the draft and Kevin Carberry and Bryan Picucci are teaching that expertise to the following degree.

“The offensive line took over and that was the largest distinction within the second half,” Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield stated. “These guys performed unbelievable upfront. It’s a bodily soccer workforce (the Chargers). That’s what they pleasure themselves on – speeding the ball and being bodily. And so to flip the script on that’s big for us.”

Mayfield threw 4 landing passes, together with two to Mike Evans, and offensive coordinator Liam Coen was in his bag. Outdoors of two back-to-back turnovers within the second quarter, Tampa Bay’s offense was in excessive gear and every part Coen known as appeared to work brilliantly. What a masterful play-caller Coen has turn into this yr.

Bucs OC Liam Coen – Photograph by: USA In the present day

“I can solely think about for a defensive coordinator what it’s wish to scheme in opposition to us as a result of the personnel adjustments,” Mayfield stated. “I imply we get into 13 personnel, 21 [personnel], 11 [personnel] it’s simply – how do you defend that? And we’ve a whole lot of performs off the performs in the identical formations, so it’s powerful to defend that. And it simply comes right down to our guys figuring out the plan and executing it.”

As sturdy because the Bucs offense was, the efficiency by Tampa Bay’s protection was equally spectacular. Lacking the workforce’s prime three safeties as a consequence of damage, Todd Bowles’ crew pitched a shutout within the second half and compelled 4 turnovers – a fumble, an interception and two turnovers on downs on fourth down. The Bucs protection had been the perpetrator for a number of losses early within the season, surrendering 30 factors per recreation in 4 of the workforce’s six defeats.

However for the reason that bye week, Tampa Bay’s protection has been tops in scoring protection, permitting simply 15 factors per recreation. Granted, Bowles’ unit has taken benefit of lesser offenses just like the Giants, Panthers and Raiders within the earlier three weeks. However the Chargers have been alleged to be extra formidable.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David and DT Logan Corridor – Photograph by: USA In the present day

As a substitute it was Tampa Bay’s protection that beat Justin Herbert into submission with three sacks and have become simply the second workforce to select him off this season. Bowles deserves an terrible lot of credit score for spearheading the workforce’s resurgent 4-0 run down the stretch, in addition to discovering sufficient glue and rubber bands to maintain his banged-up protection collectively sufficient to play playoff-caliber soccer regardless of not being wherever close to 100%.

Merely put, if the Bucs proceed to play this effectively, no person within the NFL goes to need to play them. Not NFC foes just like the Lions or Eagles, who every misplaced to Tampa Bay earlier within the season, nor Kansas Metropolis within the AFC, whom the Bucs took to extra time at Arrowhead two months in the past.

With a convincing win in Los Angeles – the likes of which nobody noticed coming – Tampa Bay has formally put the league on discover.

Watch out for the Buccaneers.

STATEMENT 2. Legends Mike Evans And Lavonte David Lead The Means For Tampa Bay

The outdated guys nonetheless bought it.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photograph by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Future Corridor of Fame receiver Mike Evans turned in his finest efficiency of the yr in Los Angeles on Sunday with 9 catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns, together with a incredible, season-long 57-yard catch-and-run within the third quarter that helped the Bucs roll within the second half. The 31-year outdated Evans confirmed toughness and pace, shoving his well past a Chargers defender on his first landing after which jetting down the sidelines and profitable the footrace to the tip zone.

“I imply clearly Mike’s at all times had the game-changing skill inside every play, however then on that the scramble play the place he works all the way in which throughout the sphere, he’s the skin receiver on the proper aspect, works all the way in which throughout,” Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield stated. “I’m simply attempting to maintain my eyes downfield – and you realize he’s at all times working – and he makes that play. Clearly makes the catch, however then after the catch is the massive distinction.”

However it wasn’t simply Evans the receiver who got here to play in L.A. The five-time Professional Bowler additionally performed defensive again and broke up a would-be interception within the second quarter, after which threw a key block on the aim line on Rachaad White’s landing catch. Evans did nearly every part he might to will the Bucs to their fourth straight win of the season as Tampa Bay marches in direction of the playoffs for a fifth straight yr.

To not be outdone, legendary Bucs linebacker Lavonte David, who turns 35 on January 23, led the Bucs with 12 tackles and had a season-high 1.5 sacks of Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. David has been a superb blitzer all through his profession and the way has 5.5 sacks on the season, which trails defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey by simply half a sack for the workforce lead.

On a protection that was down its prime three safeties and was additionally lacking beginning inside linebacker Ok.J. Britt, David did a whole lot of the heavy lifting in limiting the Chargers to solely 206 yards of whole offense and simply 32 within the run recreation.

2 PROBING QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1. Who Had been The Unsung Heroes On Offense In L.A.?

Bucs RT Luke Goedeke and QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

There have been loads of them. We all know that Baker Mayfield accomplished 72.1% of his throws and threw 4 landing passes in Los Angeles, which matched his season excessive. Mayfield will doubtless win the NFC Offensive Participant of the Week award in consequence. We all know that Bucky Irving had 117 yards speeding and that Mike Evans led the Bucs with 9 catches for 159 yards and a pair of scores. Jalen McMillan continued to be sizzling, because the rookie receiver had a career-high 75 yards and one other landing on 5 catches.

However there have been loads of unsung heroes who helped the Bucs put up 40 factors on a stout Chargers protection. On the prime of the record ought to be offensive tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, who made it look straightforward in opposition to the likes of Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Joey Bosa and Bud Dupree. That harmful go rush quartet got here into the sport with a collective 21.5 sacks, however was held to simply 4 mixed tackles on the day and just one QB stress, which was surrendered by Goedeke.

Wirfs was nearly flawless regardless of not being 100% wholesome, joked head coach Todd Bowles.

“They’ve been doing an ideal job the previous couple of weeks, particularly Tristan,” Bowles stated. “Luke has been doing an ideal job all yr, particularly ever since he’s come again from his damage. He’s been very stout for us on the proper aspect of the road. It looks as if Tristan performs higher if he’s not wholesome than he’s when he’s wholesome.”

Wirfs had a 90.7 go safety grade per PFF in opposition to the Chargers, whereas Goedeke had a formidable 79.7 go professional grade. Goedeke truly had the next general PFF grade of 89.3 because of a team-best 90.1 run-blocking grade. The job these two tackles did in L.A. was a masterpiece. Hold it within the Louvre.

Additionally, kicker Chase McLaughlin is so computerized that his discipline targets are virtually an afterthought. He’s so underappreciated, and has related on 25-of-27 discipline targets (92.6%) along with making 95.5% of his additional factors. McLaughlin was excellent in Los Angeles, hitting all 4 discipline targets and all 4 additional factors.

QUESTION 2. Who Had been The Unsung Heroes On Protection vs. The Chargers?

Bucs DT Logan Corridor – Photograph by: USA In the present day

There have been actually a number of on protection outdoors of the whale of a recreation that linebacker Lavonte David had. J.J. Russell returned to the beginning lineup and had three tackles on protection and one on particular groups. Reserve linebacker Vi Jones had one snap on protection, however made it depend in protection, forcing a fumble that was recovered by second-year security Kaevon Merriweather. That was the primary takeaway that every younger defender had a hand in creating.

Defensive deal with Logan Corridor additionally had a extremely good recreation. The Bucs performed with three and 4 defensive tackles at instances to assist man up in opposition to the Chargers’ massive offensive personnel. Corridor had a sack and a half and now has a career-high 4.5 sacks on the season, which is the third-most on the workforce. Defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey are tied for the workforce lead with six apiece and David has 5.5 sacks.

It’s good to see Corridor actually come to life late within the season along with his go rush. Corridor had a pair of sacks at Atlanta again in Week 5, however has been quiet since then. He’s only a sack and a half away from the workforce lead with three video games to go.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS

PREDICTION 1. Bucs Snap Dropping Streak In Prime Time In Huge D

Bucs FS Mike Edwards – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

Momentum is actual, and Tampa Bay actually has a great deal of it with its fourth straight win after the bye week, capped off by a 40-17 trouncing of the Chargers in L.A. Dallas has discovered its footing with backup quarterback Cooper Rush, who has gained three of the final 4 video games in aid of Dak Prescott. The Cowboys aren’t a straightforward win for the Bucs regardless of their 6-8 document. Tampa Bay can’t simply present up in Dallas and declare victory, particularly in prime time.

The Bucs are 0-3 in prime time video games this yr with losses at Atlanta and Kansas Metropolis and a house defeat in opposition to Baltimore on Monday Evening Soccer. With the potential for a Wild Card recreation to be in prime time, as has been the case the final two years on Monday evening, lastly getting a win on Sunday Evening Soccer and snapping the three-game shedding streak in prime time is important.

And it occurs. Mark it down. The Bucs win their fifth straight to enhance to 9-6 and proceed their lead within the NFC South.

PREDICTION 2. Bucky Irving, Mike Evans Each Have 1,000-Yard Seasons

Bucs RB Bucky Irving Photograph by: USA In the present day

I do know I doubted Mike Evans’ probabilities of reaching 1,000 yards this season when he was out for 3 video games with a hamstring damage. The maths wasn’t in his favor, particularly with him not producing a 100-yard receiving recreation till Week 13 at Carolina. However because of extra targets to Evans – and particularly extra catches – he erupted in L.A. along with his finest recreation of the yr. With 9 catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns versus the Chargers, Evans now has 749 receiving yards to guide the Bucs and he’s 251 yards away from 1,000 yards for an eleventh straight season.

Subsequent up are the Cowboys and Evans returns to his residence state of Texas to play in prime time. Dallas is with out prime cowl cornerback Trevon Diggs, so Evans ought to have some favorable matchups to take advantage of. Then it’s one other recreation in opposition to a Panthers secondary he lit up a number of weeks in the past for 118 yards, adopted by a season finale in opposition to the Saints with out Marshon Lattimore, who was traded away at midseason. Evans must common 83.7 yards per recreation over the following three video games.

As for Bucky Irving, he wants even fewer speeding yards to hit 1,000 yards than Evans does receiving yards. Irving had his second 100-yard recreation of the season in Los Angeles, speeding for 117 yards, together with a 54-yard sprint within the second half whereas taking part in by a again damage. The rookie operating again now has 852 yards and wishes 148 yards to hit 1,000 yards with three video games left. That’s a mean of 49.3 yards per recreation and appears fairly doable.