Buccaneers vs. Commanders: NFL Wild Card Spherical Preview

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers completed their season 10-7. Coming off their bye week the workforce went 6-1 of their closing seven video games, discovering momentum as they tore by means of the closing stretch of their schedule. Final yr, the Buccaneers discovered themselves in an analogous scenario and their Wildcard weekend efficiency was considered one of glory.

In opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay mixed three Baker Mayfield touchdowns, a security of Jalen Hurts, and the defeat of the famed ‘tush push’ to ship the Eagles house with a 32-9 loss. This season, may even function Tampa Bay versus an NFC East opponent in spherical one of many playoffs, Tampa will sq. off with Washington, so—

How can the Buccaneers win this sport?

Photograph by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Photos

Get the gang at Raymond James chanting ‘Bucky! Bucky! Bucky!’ For the Buccaneers’ offense, the season has been a powerful success. One of many largest areas of pleasure has been the group’s rejuvenated run sport. Led by Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay as catapulted the worst speeding assault within the league to a top-5 unit. Regardless of having a quarterback who produced at a stage few in NFL historical past have been in a position to contact –One that might befuddle any pundit caught in a 2019 narrative– the Buccaneers shouldn’t lean on Baker Mayfield and the passing sport.

Quarterbacks in NFL historical past with a season together with 4,500 passing yards and 40 TD passes: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Joe Burrow, Andrew Luck, Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford…and now Baker Mayfield. Elite.

— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) January 6, 2025

2024 has been an thrilling yr for Washington. The Commanders started a rebuild and have discovered themselves considerably forward of schedule, profitable 12 video games with a rookie quarterback in Dan Quinn’s first yr with the group. Whereas Jaden Daniels has been a permier catalyst for the franchise, the workforce at massive nonetheless has holes.

The Washington Commanders’ protection has let up 2,337 yards speeding this season. That quantity equates out to 137.5 yards per sport and ranks them because the NFL’s third-worst speeding protection.

In opposition to the move, Dan Quinn’s protection has a unique résumé. Permitting 189.5 yards per sport, the group is statistically fairly formidable. That mark is sweet for third-best league-wide.

Tampa Bay’s 2024 offensive output dictates that they are able to beating opponents any manner they select— High-5 in passing and speeding yards (Solely offense within the league with these metrics). With Washington’s protection being so one-dimensionally weak, the Buccaneers ought to look to assault that weak point— Get the Ball to Bucky Irving and let the offense, the workforce, and Tampa’s complete stadium rally across the explosive rookie.

How can the Buccaneers lose this sport?

Photograph by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos

Begin sluggish. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been on a scorching streak, nevertheless, the coldest a part of the heater they have been on has been their sluggish begins— Particularly on protection. Todd Bowles’ group has been hit and miss this season. With sacks being the exception, Tampa’s protection has been statistically maimed or no less than saved off steadiness for the higher a part of 2024.

How a lot of that may be attributed to beginning sluggish?

Because the bye week (7 video games), Tampa Bay has allowed 119 factors. Of these 119 factors, solely 26 have been scored within the second halves of these contests. Statistics may be skewed and inside of every sport their is a unique story/scoring abstract with its personal distinctive circumstances surrounding the outcomes, nevertheless, within the seven weeks since Tampa’s bye the Buccaneers have performed in all completely different types of video games. The workforce’s been in tightly contested battles which have drawn out drama and suspense late into the fourth quarter, they’ve dabbled in an time beyond regulation end, they’ve performed video games from behind they usually’ve additionally combined in dominating performances the place their opponents have been by no means actually within the sport.

The Buccaneers’ potential to alter course and switch it on within the second halves of video games because the season has progressed is a stat pulled from a big sufficient pattern measurement to be credible. Even nonetheless, the Buccaneers will now be matched up in opposition to postseason competitors. Every week, from this Sunday shifting ahead the Bucs will play the perfect the league has to supply and muddling their manner by means of the half simply to set themselves up for a heroic third and fourth quarter, might not be probably the most viable tactic.

Ballot
How do you’re feeling concerning the Bucs’ postseason possibilities?

21%

Nice! We’re getting scorching on the proper time! Go Bucs!

(6 votes)

53%

I really feel good. I believe the Bucs would possibly fall wanting the Tremendous Bowl, however we might have a pleasant little playoff run.

(15 votes)

7%

Who cares Mike bought his file. I am good.

(2 votes)

28 votes whole

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