Pewter Preview For Week 13

It’s been a month for the reason that Bucs’ final victory, with their Oct. 26 win in New Orleans previous their bye week after which three straight losses. Now, 6-5 Tampa Bay has to discover a option to bounce again and end the common season robust, with the stretch run starting Sunday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium in opposition to the 3-8 Arizona Cardinals.

Whereas the Bucs are nonetheless clinging to a half-game lead within the NFC South with the Panthers’ loss on Monday Night time Soccer, they badly must proper the ship, and they should do it quick. The excellent news for Tampa Bay is that the schedule now lightens up after an eight-game stretch that featured seven video games in opposition to potential playoff groups (the Eagles, Seahawks, 49ers, Lions, Patriots, Payments and Rams). In Weeks 13-18, the Bucs will face the 3-8 Cardinals, 2-9 Panthers, 4-7 Falcons, 6-6 Panthers, 4-7 Dolphins and 6-6 Panthers once more.

To not point out, as constant as this crew has been by way of falling into midseason slumps underneath Todd Bowles, it has additionally been constant with regards to placing collectively robust finishes. Granted, the 3-3 end between Weeks 13-18 in 2022 was barely sufficient to win the NFC South in Tom Brady’s closing 12 months, however the Baker Mayfield period has seen the Bucs grow to be a unique crew over the ultimate six weeks of every of the final two seasons. In Weeks 13-18 between 2023 and 2024, Tampa Bay went 10-2.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

However as a lot hope as there is perhaps between the upcoming schedule and this crew’s penchant for getting scorching down the stretch, it’ll be a lot harder to maintain that going if they’re with out Mayfield, whose standing for Week 13 is up within the air as a result of AC joint sprain he suffered in his non-throwing shoulder this previous Sunday. If he’s unable to go well with up, it might mark the primary time a Tampa Bay beginning quarterback has missed a recreation resulting from damage since 2017 when Jameis Winston handled a shoulder damage, and it might imply Teddy Bridgewater’s first common season begin as a Buccaneer.

Sunday may also be a special occasion in Bucs historical past, as Simeon Rice will likely be inducted into the Ring of Honor inside Raymond James Stadium. Rice started his profession with the Cardinals, spending 5 seasons with them earlier than coming to Tampa in 2001 and finally turning into probably the most prolific move rushers in crew historical past whereas additionally serving to the group to its first-ever Lombardi Trophy.

Earlier than we dive additional in our “What to Watch For” preview later this week, right here’s a basic preview of Sunday afternoon’s recreation at Ray Jay:

The Final Time…

The Bucs and Cardinals final met on Christmas evening in 2022, when Tom Brady and Tampa Bay squeaked out a vital 19-16 extra time win over Hint McSorley and Arizona in Glendale. It was a hideous recreation all the way in which all through. In different phrases, it was a 2022 Bucs recreation.

A Ryan Succop discipline objective gave the guests an early 3-0 lead earlier than Matt Prater booted a 56-yard discipline objective to even issues up on the finish of the primary quarter. The second quarter went the identical means, with Succop giving the Bucs a three-point lead earlier than Prater hit from 53 yards out simply earlier than halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter that ended with a Brady interception on the Arizona 19-yard line, Prater obtained the Cardinals their first lead with a discipline objective early within the fourth. The Buccaneer offense then went three-and-out, then a 28-yard punt return by Pharoh Cooper arrange the sport’s first landing, a 22-yard run by James Conner to place the Cardinals up 16-6.

Former Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photograph by: USA Right this moment

However Brady someway had a fourth-quarter comeback in him on an evening when little or no went nicely for the offense. A 44-yard catch and run by Leonard Fournette sparked the following Bucs possession and after an enormous third-down conversion into the crimson zone, Brady discovered Rachaad White for a 3-yard landing to get Tampa Bay inside 16-13.

A McSorley fumble then arrange a game-tying discipline objective from Succop that will finally pressure extra time. Tampa Bay obtained a cease to begin the extra time interval, then a few chunk performs for Russell Gage and Mike Evans arrange a 40-yard game-winning discipline objective by Succop, who completed the evening 4-of-4 on discipline targets with 13 complete factors.

The all-time collection between the Bucs and Cardinals is tied at 11-11 coming into Sunday’s recreation. Tampa Bay has received the final two conferences and is 7-5 when the 2 groups meet in Tampa.

How The Bucs And Cardinals Are Trending

The Bucs’ 2025 inventory hit a brand new low in Week 12, and never simply because they misplaced 34-7 to the Rams on Sunday Night time Soccer for his or her third straight loss and their fourth within the final 5 video games. Baker Mayfield struggling a sprained AC joint in his left, non-throwing shoulder immediately casts doubt on the place Tampa Bay goes this season. Sure, the severity of the damage being what it’s made for comparatively excellent news, because it’s about ache administration. Understanding Mayfield, he’s going to present it every thing to play on Sunday in opposition to the Cardinals and make the second half of the Rams recreation the one motion he’ll miss on account of this damage.

But when he’s lower than 100% on Sunday and because the weeks go on or if it’s Teddy Bridgewater stepping in for him and beginning, it’s going to have an effect on the Buccaneer offense’s ceiling, which has already been extra restricted in 2025 underneath offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard than it was in 2024 underneath Liam Coen. And contemplating how poorly Todd Bowles‘ protection is taking part in in latest weeks, the offense can’t afford to proceed trending downward.

Bucs QBs Baker Mayfield and Teddy Bridgewater – Photograph by: USA Right this moment

In any case, an offense operated by a banged-up Mayfield or a clearly restricted Bridgewater mixed with a subpar protection makes it harder to run with the concept of Tampa Bay reviving its season with a robust end in opposition to lesser groups. A wholesome Mayfield and a more healthy offense paired with a minimum of some enchancment from the protection would make it simpler to pencil in wins in opposition to groups just like the Cardinals, Saints, Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins. However that’s not the truth for the Bucs proper now, and their half-game lead within the NFC South feels shakier than ever.

Sure, Carolina has a tricky schedule to complete out the season and hasn’t been a constant crew week-to-week. However except Tampa Bay goes on a run the remainder of the way in which, the division may be very seemingly going to return right down to the head-to-head matchups between the 2 groups in Weeks 16 and 18. A struggling, banged-up Bucs crew isn’t any assure to beat the nice model of the Panthers, ought to they present up. So, sure, there needs to be some degree of concern contained in the partitions at One Buc Place proper now.

With all of that mentioned, although, there may be a minimum of some assistance on the way in which. Working again Bucky Irving is anticipated to play this Sunday for the primary time since Week 4, which may preserve the constructive trajectory going for the Bucs’ run recreation. Including Irving again into the combo with Sean Tucker and Rachaad White might be an enormous increase whereas the offense weathers the storm with Mayfield’s shoulder. Left guard Ben Bredeson might be again quickly as a nicely, plus there’s nonetheless some hope that Mike Evans makes his means again later in December.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

Defensively, some assist might be on the way in which, too. Haason Reddick might be nearing a return, and the hope is that Jamel Dean can also be again quickly. And as poorly as Tampa Bay’s protection has performed since its Week 9 bye, it has confronted the No. 7, No. 5 and No. 6 scoring offenses within the league. The truth that the unit can’t match up with top-tier offenses is a priority in its personal proper, certain, however so far as getting again on observe over the ultimate six video games, it ought to assist that Bowles and Co. will likely be seeing the No. 18, No. 32, No. 26, No. 28 (twice) and No. 24 scoring offenses within the NFL.

On the Cardinals’ facet, every thing has been spiraling uncontrolled for 10 weeks now. They began the season 2-0 with slim wins over the Saints and Panthers, however they’ve misplaced eight of their 9 video games since. After a five-game shedding streak earlier than their bye week, they beat the Cowboys in Dallas to cease the skid. However after that, they misplaced 44-22 and 41-22 to divisional opponents in consecutive weeks. Although, to their credit score, they did give the 7-4 Jaguars a scare final week, taking them to extra time earlier than shedding 27-24.

Arizona is 3-8 and is presently slated to be choosing within the prime 10 of the 2026 Draft. And the crew’s future is unclear proper now. Jonathan Gannon is nearing the top of his third season because the Cardinals’ head coach and is presently 15-30. He presently has the third-best odds to be the subsequent NFL coach fired, trailing solely Atlanta’s Raheem Morris and Cincinnati’s Zac Taylor. It doesn’t assist that there seems to be a reset coming on the quarterback place and the group might wish to pair up their potential quarterback of the longer term with a brand new head coach in 2026.

Talking of the quarterback place, it seems that the Kyler Murray period in Arizona is coming to an finish. The 2018 Heisman Trophy winner and 2019 No. 1 general select of Oklahoma signed a five-year, $230.5 million extension with the crew that drafted him again in 2022. However whereas he stays underneath contract by means of the 2028 season, it’s wanting like the 2 sides will go their separate methods, seemingly this offseason. Gannon introduced earlier within the season that veteran Jacoby Brissett could be the crew’s beginning quarterback whereas Murray went on injured reserve, and whereas he’ll quickly be eligible to be activated, that won’t occur with an imminent break up coming.

Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon and QB Jacoby Brissett – Photograph by: USA Right this moment

Brissett, to his credit score, has been taking part in some spectacular soccer at 32 years previous. He has accomplished 66.8% of his passes this season for 1,887 yards and 11 touchdowns to simply three interceptions. He’s solely two weeks faraway from a recreation that noticed him go 47-of-57 for 452 yards and two touchdowns, although he additionally had two of his three interceptions on the season in that recreation and Arizona misplaced 41-22. However Brissett has largely stored the offense afloat regardless of getting little or no assist from his run recreation.

The Cardinals definitely have some younger pass-catching expertise for the veteran to throw to, with tight finish Trey McBride main all receivers with 80 catches for 797 yards (10.0 avg.) and 7 touchdowns. Michael Wilson has emerged and is on his option to a profession 12 months with 47 catches for 534 yards (11.4 avg.) and a landing, whereas Marvin Harrison Jr. has confirmed some big-play capability as nicely with 15.4 yards per catch on his option to 34 catches for 525 yards and 4 scores. Nevertheless, Harrison has been sidelined in latest weeks after present process an appendectomy, and his standing for Sunday’s recreation stays unclear.

Arizona gave up 40+ factors in Weeks 10 and 11 and is permitting 25.7 factors per recreation this season, rating twenty fourth within the league. However with that mentioned, Josh Sweat (9 sacks) and Calais Campbell (5.5 sacks) can get after the passer, plus the Cardinals rank sixth within the NFL with 17 takeaways, another than the Bucs. Simply final week, they intercepted Trevor Lawrence thrice and obtained to him for a misplaced fumble whereas sacking him thrice. So, this group is a lot able to creating chaos and affecting opposing offenses, which is a scary thought contemplating the state of the Bucs offense proper now.

Cardinals S Buddy Baker – Photograph by: USA Right this moment

Right here’s how the Bucs and Cardinals stack up heading into Week 13:

Bucs Offense: 14th in scoring offense (23.5 PPG), twentieth in complete offense (319.5 yards per recreation), nineteenth in passing offense (208.4 yards per recreation), twentieth in speeding offense (111.2 yards per recreation)

Cardinals Offense: T-18th in scoring offense (22.5 PPG), fifteenth in complete offense (332.8 yards per recreation), tenth in passing offense (231.7  yards per recreation), twenty fifth in speeding offense (101.1 yards per recreation)

Bucs Protection: twenty fifth in scoring protection (25.8 factors allowed per recreation), twenty first in complete protection (341.2 yards allowed per recreation), twenty seventh in passing protection (243.5 yards allowed per recreation), T-Eighth in speeding protection (97.6 yards allowed per recreation)

Cardinals Protection: twenty fourth in scoring protection (25.7 factors allowed per recreation), nineteenth in complete protection (337.0 yards allowed per recreation), twentieth in passing protection (222.8 yards allowed per recreation), seventeenth in speeding protection (114.2 yards allowed per recreation)

As of Wednesday evening, the Bucs are 2.5-point favorites, with the Over/Below set at 43.5 (per Onerous Rock Wager).

Bucs vs. Cardinals Recreation Data

When: Sunday, November 30
The place: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: FOX – Kevin Kugler (Play by Play), Daryl Johnston (Analyst), Allison Williams (Reporter)
Bucs Radio: 98Rock – Gene Deckerhoff (Play by Play), Dave Moore (Coloration), T.J. Rives (Reporter)
Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente – Martín Gramática, Santiago Gramática