Buccaners vs Panthers: Week 17 Recreation Preview

All shouldn’t be misplaced for the 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Although Santa might have introduced them some coal this 12 months, Tampa nonetheless has a possibility to perform precisely what they got down to on the season’s onset. Two weeks after securing the fitting to say ‘if we win we’re in,’ the Buccaneers misplaced, embarrassingly— on Sunday Evening Soccer. Now, per week later, Tampa can be matching up with the divison rival Carolina Panthers for the second time this season, nonetheless alive however needing a win and hoping for assist. So—

How can the Buccaneers win this recreation?

Cease letting common quarterbacks masquerade as elite towards them. Todd Bowles has been despatched to the firing squad fairly few occasions in his pretty transient tenure as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Within the course of, the workforce’s protection has caught some strays. Because the workforce paces its manner via 2024 the roles virtually appear reversed. Tampa Bay’s protection has been so poor at occasions that the firing squad has been aimed instantly on the gamers on the sector, whereas Bowles’ seat has been warmed— Not on account of his recreation administration or head teaching duties, however slightly on account of his incapability to educate his protection.

Picture by Ron Jenkins/Getty Photos

The Buccaneers’ protection hasn’t been all dangerous in 2024. In opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers, the workforce allowed a grand complete of 17 factors, pitching a second half shutout. In week two, Tampa Bay wielded a protection that was able to taking up Ford Discipline, shutting down Jared Goff (0 TDs, 2 INTs), and holding down the Detroit Lions’ offense— Simply 16 factors have been scored on Tampa that day. Even nonetheless, far too many occasions this 12 months the submit recreation dialogue of a loss looks like— ‘An examination of why Todd Bowles’ protection failed as we speak.’ Tampa’s protection is coping with an amazing quantity of accidents and has performed musical chairs with secondary all season. Accidents cannot be ignored, nevertheless, they cannnot merely clarify away each wrongful, disturbing defensive efficiency.

Bryce Younger, Kirk Cousins, Cooper Rush— These names have a two noteworthy issues in frequent. All three have hung out on the bench this season— deemed not their workforce’s greatest probability to win soccer video games. All three have additionally ransacked Tampa Bay’s defensive credibility. These three, in simply 4 video games, have thrown for higher than 1,300 yards, 10 touchdowns and only a single interception towards Tampa’s protection.

Picture by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos

It is a group, underneath this coach, that used to hold this workforce— Piloted it as its driving pressure. Now, the Bucs’ protection is little quite a lot of excellent gamers who might be seen making an attempt to overcompensate every week.

Bryce Younger has been a pleasant storyline in 2024, as his profession seems to be trending in proper course, however he’ll enter Sunday’s recreation with 10 touchdowns and 9 interceptions on the season. Since he has returned from his benching, the second his profession turned the nook, he has thrown 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Vital indicators of enchancment— Nonetheless not a quarterback that good protection ought to wrestle towards.

How can the Buccaneers lose this recreation?

They can’t. Tampa Bay takes the sector this Sunday with all the things a workforce may need— All the pieces besides what they gave up per week in the past. The workforce now not controls its personal future however any real looking probability the Bucs have of getting 2024’s ebook learn with a contented ending requires them to win, win, and proceed profitable from there— ought to they be allowed to hold on.

Resetting off of final week’s substandard efficiency, the Buccaneers will enjoying their last two video games of the season towards groups with actually nice draft place. These video games, towards dangerous groups, can be performed at house— within the consolation of Raymond James Stadium. The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints have a mixed complete of 9 wins— Another than the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay is the one workforce in the whole NFC South to have a constructive level differential on the season (427–352). Shedding and in the end lacking out on profitable the NFC South could be a difficult stain for Todd Bowles and co. to wipe away come the 2025 offseason. Tampa merely can not lose.

Ballot
The place is your confidence stage that Tampa Bay will make the playoffs?

26%

85-100% Tampa is EASILY going to win out and we’ll get the assistance we’d like! Go Bucs!

(6 votes)

60%

50-84% I imagine that the Bucs nonetheless have a fairly good shot however Atlanta would not have the toughest schedule and the Bucs struggled with Carolina final time. Want we simply had that tiebreaker!

(14 votes)

13%

0-49% I simply don’t see it with this workforce. Final week confirmed me quite a bit.

(3 votes)

0%

This entire 12 months has been STRESSFUL. Simply get Mike his 1,000 yards and we’ll be on our option to the offseason.

(0 votes)

23 votes complete

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