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About the Author: Mark Cook
Latest Bucs Headlines
Buccaneers game day is approaching, and it’s time for the PewterReport.com staff to offer up its weekly game predictions. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.
WHEN: Sunday, September 20, 2020 Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
WHERE: Raymond James Stadium
TV: FOX
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Adam Amin
ANALYST: Mark Schlereth
SIDELINE: Lindsay Czarniak
RADIO: 98 Rock, Flagship Station (WXTB-97.9 FM)
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff
ANALYST: Dave Moore
SIDELINE: T.J. Rives
Join PR’s Matt Matera on PewterReport.com’s Red Board to talk Bucs football for a live game day chat, starting at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday all the way through to the final whistle. Click the link below to access the Game Day Thread on the Red Board.
Scott Reynolds: Panthers No Match For The Bucs
Carolina nearly pulled off an upset in last week’s season opener before falling to Las Vegas, 34-30, in Matt Rhule’s NFL debut. The Panthers’ young and inexperienced defense couldn’t stop the Raiders from scoring, although Joe Brady’s offense came out firing with the one-two punch of Pro Bowl running back Christian McCaffrey (two TDs) and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (one TD, no INTs), which was a bit of a surprise. What wasn’t a surprise was the Bucs coming up short in last week’s game at New Orleans against a Saints team that was 13-3 in each of the last two seasons. But expect a bounce back for the Bucs this week.
Saints QB Taysom Hill – Photo by: Getty Images
Brady, who was LSU’s offensive coordinator last year and has roots in Sean Payton’s Saints organization, wants to get the ball out of Bridgewater’s hand quickly and into the hands of the Panthers’ speedy weapons. Carolina’s speed on offense will present a new test for a Bucs defense that is coming of age. After generating one sack last week at New Orleans, it’s time for Shaq Barrett and Co. to dial up the pressure and sack Bridgewater multiple times. The Bucs’ young DBs will have to play tight man coverage and force Bridgewater to hold on to the ball to make that happen, which they will.
Tom Brady is pissed after losing in Week 1. That was crystal clear in his Zoom conference call with the media on Thursday. He’ll need left tackle Donovan Smith to play better this week, but the Bucs offense should roll against an over-matched Panthers defense – even without wide receiver Chris Godwin. You can read more about my thoughts on the Bucs vs. Panthers game here and read my 4 Match-ups To Watch from my new SR’s Fab 5 column.
Reynolds’ Score Prediction: 37-26
Reynolds’ Season Record: 1-0
Mark Cook: Bucs With Easy Rebound Win
Earlier this month I predicted a 12-win season for the Buccaneers, but I had Tampa Bay knocking off the Saints last week. That is okay, they still get to 12. And the first of the 12 comes this Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. This is the perfect opponent at the perfect time for the Buccaneers.
Panthers HC Matt Rhule and QB Teddy Bridgewater – Photo by: Getty Images
The Panthers defense is bad. Well they are young and inexperienced so that usually equates into bad. Remember the Bucs defense for the first half of the 2019 season? And Todd Bowles scheme is probably more complex than what the Panthers defense led by coordinator Phil Snow and head coach Matt Rhule is installing. The Bucs should be able to exploit that side of the ball and score at will. The Raiders put up 36 points and that was before some injuries took a toll on them Panthers’ defensive unit. Plus the Bucs offense is more talented than the Raiders. Add in quarterback Tom Brady’s desire to redeem himself from all the critics who have fired off at him this week including his head coach, and the Bucs offense will roll.
Defensively the secondary needs to play smart football and hope the pass rush is better than what the Bucs showed last Sunday. Teddy Bridgewater isn’t a risk taker, so interceptions will be hard to come by, but with that said, being sound in technique and coming up and making sure tackles will be important. Even if Panthers’ running back Christian McCaffrey has a good, or even big day, it will still be difficult for the Panthers offense to match Tampa Bay’s firepower and score output.
Cook’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 40, Panthers 17
Cook’s Season Record: 0-1
Jon Ledyard: Bucs Meet Expectations In Must-Win Game
Percentage of playoff teams 2009-2019 after starting 0-2: 8 of 132 (6.1%)
Percentage of playoff teams 2009-2019 who would have made expanded playoffs after starting 0-2: 10 of 154 (6.5%)
0-2 is still very hard to overcome in the NFL, if you want to make the playoffs.
— Virtual Bubble Justo (Day 275) (@JuMosq) September 15, 2020
You can tell yourself this isn’t an elimination game for the Bucs this week, and technically you’d be right. But only technically. It is very rare for 0-2 teams to rebound and make the playoffs, even when taking into consideration the additional seventh spot in the postseason for both conferences this season.
Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: Getty Images
The good news for the Bucs is that Carolina is one of the least formidable teams in the NFL on paper, with the most roster turnover in the league since last season. Yes, they’re difficult to prepare for based on the limited available tape of Matt Rhule, Joe Brady and Phil Snow’s scheme, but the Bucs are the far more talented team, especially at key positions.
Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul have to beat up on Taylor Moton and Russell Okung, making a pocket-passer like Teddy Bridgewater uncomfortable. Devin White and Lavonte David will need to hold Christian McCaffrey in check in the passing game like they did Alvin Kamara on Sunday. If the Bucs defense does those two things and doesn’t beat themselves with penalties and blown coverages, Sunday should be a good day in Tampa Bay, even if the offense is still finding its’ way a bit
Ledyard’s Score Prediction: Bucs 27, Panthers 13
Ledyard’s Season Record: 1-0
Matt Matera: Bucs Get Some Redemption By Topping Panthers
Well, they weren’t going to go 16-0. The Bucs look to rebound after a loss at New Orleans to start the season by taking care of the Panthers in their first game at Raymond James Stadium this season. This is a far better opponent to boost the Bucs’ confidence on offense, as they take advantage of an inexperienced Panthers team. Even if Chris Godwin can’t play, having Mike Evans or Scotty Miller face up against rookie fourth round pick Troy Pride Jr. will be a match-up they look to exploit.
While I do think the Bucs get further on track to become the high-potent offense that we think they can be, I’m not ready to anoint this as a complete breakout game. Tom Brady looked as dialed in and ready to go as he could be when speaking to the media on Thursday, it’s just the offensive line I’m concerned about. They need to prove that all five members of the line can protect Brady for a full four quarters. I think Brady’s rhythm gets knocked off from time to time when moving down the field. Even if rookie Yetur Gross-Matos doesn’t play, you’ll have to worry about Brian Burns. Where I do think the Bucs take a big step forward is the run game with Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette, as Carolina got beat down in the run game last week against Las Vegas, giving up 133 rushing yards.
Bucs CB Carlton Davis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
For the defense, the name of the game is stopping Christian McCaffrey. I have all the confidence that they can do so because they were able to limit Alvin Kamara last week, and they’ve showed in the past they can stop McCaffrey. What’ll be tough is that this is a whole new offense the Bucs have to game plan for with Joe Brady coming from LSU to be Carolina’s offensive coordinator. You know who understands LSU’s offense, though? Devin White. He’ll be responsible for shutting down the Panthers star running backs while the Bucs’ secondary gets challenged by down field threat and offseason addition, Robby Anderson. I’m looking for the Bucs to get at least two turnovers in this game, simultaneously setting up the offense with good field position on the way to punching in some touchdowns. The Bucs get their first win of the season in this one.
Matera’s Score Prediction: Bucs 31, Panthers 21
Matera’s Season Record: 1-0
Taylor Jenkins: Bucs Handle Panthers With Ease
Following the Bucs’ Week 1 loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Bucs will host another divisional rival in the Carolina Panthers with a fed up Tom Brady. It’s no secret that Brady is a next-level competitor and if need be, I truly believe he will fuel the Bucs to a victory on Sunday by himself if he has to.
Luckily for Brady, the Bucs should have the advantage in numerous match-ups across the field. Heading into 2020 the Panthers have a new head coach and staff, a new starting quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater and lost a number of key starters on both sides of the ball. Against the Raiders in Week 1, the Panthers allowed 239 passing yards and 133 rushing yards, including three rushing touchdowns to running back Josh Jacobs and I don’t see Tampa Bay having much trouble moving the ball and putting points on the board come Sunday. Carolina has a glaring weakness at cornerback with a very young defensive line that will see two rookies in Derrick Brown and Yetur Gross-Matos (if healthy) start alongside veteran Kawaan Short and second-year edge rusher Brian Burns.
On offense, Bridgewater is a quarterback who doesn’t turn the ball over much and has a few dangerous, big-play receivers in Robby Anderson, D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel but the offense will likely go through Christian McCaffrey. As it should. If the Bucs’ elite front seven can just keep McCaffrey in check and force Bridgewater to beat Tampa Bay through the air, I don’t see the Panthers keeping up with the Bucs’ high-powered offense.
Jenkins’ Score Prediction: Bucs 30, Panthers 16
Jenkins’ Season Record: 1-0
Bucs fans, be sure to check out the latest edition of the Pewter Nation Podcast for even more Tampa Bay vs. New Orleans pre-game analysis before kickoff. Click the link below to listen.
