SR’s Decide-6 Preview: Bucs at Payments

Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds previews the upcoming Bucs sport with six quick-hitting matters. What’s at stake for the Bucs and their opponent, what is going to result in a Tampa Bay victory or loss, and a few key matchups to observe every week.

Tampa Bay is now 6-3 following a troublesome, 28-23 loss at residence to the 8-2 New England Patriots. The Bucs want to bounce again on the highway and keep away from shedding back-to-back video games for the primary time this season. After an emotional, hard-fought, 28-21 win over the Chiefs in Buffalo, the 6-3 Payments went on the highway to Miami and have been upset by the 3-7 Dolphins. Buffalo has not misplaced back-to-back video games since 2018, which was Josh Allen’s rookie season.

What’s At Stake For The Bucs?

For the 6-3 Buccaneers, this Week 11 journey to Buffalo is about proving they could be a nice staff moderately than only a good staff. Nice groups don’t lose back-to-back video games, and even head coach Todd Bowles mentioned this week that Tampa Bay wasn’t an excellent staff but. The Bucs’ six wins have stored them firmly atop the NFC South, however this matchup in opposition to the 6-3 Payments is a litmus take a look at of simply how reputable this staff actually is. Bowles’ Bucs have been resilient all 12 months, however that is a type of assertion video games that may both solidify their playoff positioning or expose some cracks heading into the stretch run.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and Payments HC Sean McDermott – Photograph by: USA At present

The Bucs can’t afford to let this chance slip. A win in Buffalo would give Tampa Bay a 7-3 file and ship a message that they’ll beat playoff-caliber groups in cold-weather environments – one thing that might matter come January. A loss, although, may drop them again into the center of the NFC pack and tighten the race within the South if Atlanta or Carolina picks up a win.

That is additionally a giant take a look at for Baker Mayfield and the offense to indicate they’ll function effectively in opposition to one of many league’s hardest defenses. The Bucs have a promising file to start out the season and have three losses to superb groups within the Eagles (7-2), the Lions (6-3) and the Patriots (8-2). However in Buffalo, they’ll want to return into Sunday’s sport pissed off about final week’s loss and present the mandatory grit, execution, and psychological toughness to keep away from shedding two straight.

What’s At Stake For The Payments?

For the 6-3 Payments, this Week 11 matchup in opposition to the visiting Buccaneers is about regaining their swagger and reasserting themselves as one of many AFC’s elite groups. Buffalo has been inconsistent this season – mixing dominant performances with puzzling lapses. And this sport is an opportunity to regular the ship earlier than the stretch run. Buffalo is behind New England within the AFC East and must catch up, so this sport carries additional weight.

Payments QB Josh Allen – Photograph by: USA At present

Josh Allen and the Payments’ offense must get again to enjoying with confidence and rhythm after some uneven outings. Dealing with a Tampa Bay protection that has allowed some expensive massive performs this 12 months, Allen should make sensible selections and keep away from the turnovers which have price Buffalo in key moments. Working again James Prepare dinner should step up as a runner and receiver and make massive performs, whereas reserve tight finish Dawson Knox and the receivers must step up for injured tight finish Dalton Kincaid.

Defensively, Sean McDermott’s unit should include Baker Mayfield and a Bucs offense that’s discovered methods to win powerful video games as a rule. A win right here would push the Payments to 7-3 and hold them firmly in charge of their playoff future. A loss, although, would spark extra questions on their consistency and skill to shut out high quality opponents. Which Payments staff reveals up? The one which beat Kansas Metropolis at residence two weeks in the past, 28-21, or the one which received drubbed in Miami, 30-13?

The Bucs Win If…

For the Buccaneers to beat the Payments in Buffalo, they’ll must play one in all their most full video games of the season, and that begins with higher execution on either side of the ball. Offensively, Tampa Bay should discover steadiness early and run the ball as successfully because the staff did final week with 113 yards in opposition to a stingy Patriots run protection. Baker Mayfield has been at his finest when the Bucs can set up some semblance of a dashing assault to maintain defenses trustworthy. Utilizing Sean Tucker’s pace extra could be sensible for Josh Grizzard in Tucker’s homecoming sport. He performed collegiately at Syracuse.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA At present

That’ll be vital in opposition to a Payments protection that thrives on forcing third-and-long conditions and pressuring quarterbacks into errors. Mayfield should keep poised, take what the protection provides him, be environment friendly on third downs and capitalize on pink zone possibilities as a result of factors in Buffalo don’t come simple. Not solely should Mayfield proceed to feed Emeka Egbuka within the passing sport, however he must do a greater job of seeing the sector and discovering Tez Johnson, who was open fairly a bit final week versus the Patriots. Johnson wound up with two late landing receptions in Week 10.

Defensively, Todd Bowles’ group has to make Josh Allen uncomfortable and restrict his dual-threat influence. Meaning disciplined rush lanes to include him within the pocket and tight protection on the again finish to stop explosive performs. The Bucs’ entrance seven – led by Vita Vea, Lavonte David, and Yaya Diaby – should management the road of scrimmage to close down James Prepare dinner within the working sport. The linebackers should additionally restrict his yards after catch on swing passes and screens. If the protection continues to take the ball away it should go away Buffalo with an upset win.

The Payments Win If …

For the Payments to beat the Bucs at residence, they’ll must play a pointy, disciplined model of soccer on either side of the ball, which is one thing that’s eluded them at occasions this season. Offensively, it begins with Josh Allen. When Allen has time within the pocket, protects the soccer, and picks his spots to improvise, Buffalo’s offense will be practically unstoppable. The Payments’ disappointing receiving corps should step up, although – particularly with out pass-catching tight finish Dalton Kincaid.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photograph by: USA At present

Towards Todd Bowles’ aggressive protection, Allen should keep affected person, take the beneath throws, and keep away from forcing passes into tight protection. Establishing a gentle run sport with James Prepare dinner may also be essential to maintain Tampa Bay’s go rush trustworthy and open up play-action alternatives throughout the center to Khalil Shakir and Joshua Palmer, if Palmer is wholesome sufficient to play.

Defensively, the Payments must make Baker Mayfield uncomfortable from the opening snap and take away Tampa Bay’s floor sport. Meaning stuffing the run and collapsing the pocket with large defensive sort out Deone Walker and defensive finish Greg Rousseau, whereas disguising coverages to bait Mayfield into errors. Tampa Bay likes to take pictures downfield to Emeka Egbuka, so Buffalo’s secondary – regardless of being banged up – should sort out effectively and restrict explosive performs. If the Payments can win on third down, management time of possession, and hold Allen from turning the ball over, they’ll get the bounce-back win they’re searching for.

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Offense

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka vs. Payments Cornerbacks

With out Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka has needed to step up and be Tampa Bay’s featured receiver within the passing sport. To this point, the staff’s first-round choose has been as much as the problem. He’s coming off a six-catch, 115-yard efficiency in opposition to the Patriots on Sunday through which he scored his sixth landing of his rookie season. Egbuka now has three 100-yard receiving video games up to now, and is in rivalry for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Yr honors in addition to being on tempo for a 1,200-yard season.

Bucs RG Cody Mauch and WR Emeka Egbuka – Photograph by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Egbuka will want an identical efficiency to assist the Bucs win on the highway in Buffalo, which is a troublesome place to play. In truth, Tampa Bay has by no means received at Buffalo in any of the 50 years the franchise has been in existence. Egbuka has performed effectively on the highway up to now this 12 months together with his finest day up to now coming at Seattle in a 38-35 win with seven catches for 163 yards and a landing. The Ohio State product additionally caught game-winning touchdowns within the first two weeks at Atlanta and at Houston.

Tre’Davious White continues to be a stable cornerback at age 30, however he’s not the explosive playmaker he was in his youthful years throughout his first stint with the staff. Nonetheless, he’s a savvy, artful veteran who can provide Egbuka issues. The Payments may also look to match up first-round choose Maxwell Hairston on Egbuka. The rookie has missed a while as a result of damage, however he’s the quickest participant on protection and is tied for the staff lead with two interceptions. Buffalo’s major concentrate on protection can be containing Egbuka and never letting him make massive performs downfield.

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Protection

Bucs Protection vs. Payments RB James Prepare dinner III

It would take your complete Tampa Bay protection to do the job of bottling up Buffalo working again James Prepare dinner III. With out tight finish Dalton Kincaid, and with Buffalo working with a lackluster huge receiver corps, the NFL’s second-leading rusher can have Todd Bowles’ full consideration. Prepare dinner is having a Professional Bowl-caliber season with 920 yards dashing with seven touchdowns and a wholesome 5.5-yard common.

Former Bucs ILB Devin White and Payments RB James Prepare dinner – Photograph by: USA At present

The Bucs have given up too many explosive performs to working backs this 12 months, whether or not it was the 50-yard landing on catch-and-run by Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson, a 30-yard reception and a 78-yard by Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs, or permitting New England’s TreVeyon Henderson to tear off landing runs of 55 and 69 yards final week. Prepare dinner has 5 100-yard dashing video games up to now, together with a monster 214-yard sport at Carolina through which he ripped off a 64-yard run. Sustaining hole integrity and tackling effectively can be prioritized by Bowles’ protection on Sunday.

Prepare dinner is simply as harmful as a receiver popping out of the backfield, and overlaying backs within the flat has been an issue for Tampa Bay’s linebackers this 12 months. Though he solely has 18 catches for 124 yards this season, he’s able to taking any reception the space at any time. It would take each one of many Bucs defenders to take the correct angle and use the correct tackling method to get Prepare dinner down. He’s not the largest again at 5-foot-10, 190 kilos, however he’s elusive and does an excellent job of slipping tackles like Bucky Irving does.