It’s GAME DAY at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux – Come watch Bucs football all season long!
BUCCANEERS vs RAVENS
WHEN: Thursday, October 27, 2022 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium | KICKOFF: 8:15 p.m. ET | TV: Amazon Prime Video
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Al Michaels |ANALYST: Kirk Herbstreit | SIDELINE: Kaylee Hartung
RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives
Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.
Scott Reynolds: Bucs’ Losing Streak Continues, Changes Must Be Made
I’m done picking the Bucs to win. Sorry, I’ve picked Tampa Bay to win all but one game this year (Saints in Week 2), and I have a 2-5 record to show for it. This is not a good football team right now and frustration is all around. The offense has stalled all season long and I’ve already called for Todd Bowles to replace Byron Leftwich as the play-caller. That could happen after this game. But Bowles has his own problems to deal with on his side of the ball, as the defense has been suddenly shaky in the second half of games.
Bucs OC Byron Leftwich – Photo by: USA Today
Aside from better play selection from Leftwich and execution by the players, Tom Brady has to start taking some more chances with the football. Whether it’s throwing the ball downfield more often and giving his players a chance to make plays on the ball, or hanging on to the ball a bit longer to let routes develop downfield – even if it means taking a hit – the Bucs are missing explosive plays on offense. Tampa Bay will have to ward off Baltimore’s edge defenders, Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Houston, to give Brady ample time to throw.
Defensively, the Bucs secondary is once again ravaged with injuries. Four of the five starters are out for Tampa Bay, and that’s not good news, as Lamar Jackson has developed into a much better passer. He still looks for Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews, especially in the red zone, but Rashad Bateman and Devin Duvernay are capable targets with speed to burn. Linebackers Devin White and Lavonte David must play sound in pass coverage against Andrews, and Zyon McCollum and Dee Delaney have to step up and play close to Jamel Dean’s level. It’s just not enough, though.
REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Ravens 27, Bucs 16
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 2-5
Matt Matera: Bucs’ Issues Continue For Another Week
To say the Bucs played down to their competition the last two weeks would be an understatement. Does this mean they’ll play up to the Ravens level on Thursday? Part of me thinks that because everyone is doubting the Bucs right now, but I just don’t see it. While playing on a short week doesn’t help teams, getting the bad taste out of their mouths with a quick turnaround isn’t the worst thing for the Bucs.
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today
If Tampa Bay wants to be competitive this game it has to give different looks on offense. No more predictability and no more running the same plays that got the team nowhere the week before. The first start is having Nick Leverett in at left guard for the injured Luke Goedeke. That’s an upgrade. What Tampa Bay really needs is to push the ball down the field. The Bucs have lacked explosive plays, and unless Tom Brady is going to take some chances down the field, where is it going to come from? You know they’ll go to Mike Evans and mix in Chris Godwin, but who else will contribute? Leonard Fournette? Rachaad White? Cade Otton. Someone needs to make a play.
It could be a nightmarish game for a banged up defense that is missing so many players, including Antoine Winfield Jr., out in the secondary. They’ll have to play a lot of zone to hide Zyon McCollum at corner, but that opens things up for the dangerous Mark Andrews, who is coming off a bad game. And how is the pass rush going to get to Lamar Jackson? Shaq Barrett and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka have been absent for weeks. That doesn’t even include the lapses in the run game, which by the way, the Ravens rank in the top five in rushing yards per game. It’s tough times for the Bucs and it could be another rough go on Thursday.
MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Ravens 33, Bucs 19
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 2-5
JC Allen: Bucs Figure It Out In Narrow Win
This Bucs team doesn’t just want to win their in a must win situation on Thursday night against the Ravens. It’s been a rough two weeks for Tampa Bay dropping games to opponents with just one win each on the year, but something has to change right? That’s the hope, and if the coaches and players are to believe they are itching at getting the sour taste out of their mouth from their latest defeat. One that saw them score just three points on offense and play undisciplined defense. But with Baltimore up next on a short week there are no shortage of obstacles.
Bucs OL Nick Leverett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs are hoping that by starting Nick Leverett at left guard that he can help give the offense a boost. Todd Bowles praised his smarts and aggressiveness in Wednesday’s press conference and he brings attitude to an offensive line that has sorely missed it. Though they will also be down one of their top receivers in the game, as Russell Gage has already been declared out with a hamstring. The hope is that Julio Jones, who has practiced all week will be able to go, but he’s still a game-time decision. The Ravens pass defense hasn’t been quite what it was in years past, ranked just 27th in the league, but they’ve had a formidable run defense. Not that the Bucs have had much success running the ball. Yet the loss of Calais Campbell (three sacks), who will miss Thursday’s game with an illness, helps the Bucs.
The Bucs defense, that played so well in the beginning of season, will have their hands full. Lamar Jackson is dangerous as a passer and rusher and the defense will need to account for him at all times. He’s currently the league’s fifth-leading rusher and has more yards (510) and averages more per carry (7.7) and per game (72) running than the Bucs entire offense combined. Mark Andrews has been an unstoppable weapon for the Ravens, and without key members of the secondary the defense will need to step up to contain him. Still, I think the Bucs can do just enough to win this game. It’s tough to pick against the home team on a short week even given Tampa Bay’s struggles as of late. The difference in this game is decided by the kicker – just not the Ravens kicker.
ALLEN’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 23, Ravens 20
ALLEN’S SEASON RECORD: 2-5
Bailey Adams: Bucs Continue Their Downward Spiral In Primetime
There is zero reason for me to pick the Bucs to beat the Ravens on Thursday night. I suppose blind faith could have me going that direction, but even my blind faith in this team figuring things out is running low. Tampa Bay is far too talented to be playing as poorly as it is. But that’s where things stand. The Bucs are executing poorly and they’re coaching poorly, and that’s led to some pretty embarrassing results over the last two weeks.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
So, what has changed in four days that makes me think Todd Bowles and Co. suddenly have answers that will help them beat Lamar Jackson and the Ravens? Nothing. Sure, Tom Brady and the offense could put it all together and the unit could finally break out of its downward spiral. Tampa Bay’s best defensive players could suddenly play up to their potential for the first time since early September. Maybe Baltimore’s weird season continues and John Harbaugh’s team comes to town and out-Bucses the Bucs.
I’m not counting on any of that happening, though. More likely, the offense plays marginally better, but not well enough. The defense might get its share of stops, but it ultimately doesn’t have enough to handle Jackson. Or maybe things only get worse on both sides of the ball, the Bucs drop to 3-5 and we’re left wondering if there’s a road back at all. With the Rams looming, it’s not unrealistic to see this team dropping all the way to 3-6 ahead of its trip to Germany. Here’s to hoping that isn’t the case.
ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Ravens 34, Bucs 16
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 2-5
Josh Queipo: Bucs Show Progress In Surprising Win
It’s been a rough two weeks for the Bucs. And now if you are a Bucs fan, it feels like the sky is falling. And Baltimore presents a formidable opponent with a dynamic quarterback and a good coaching staff. But are the Ravens a really good football team? They are certainly a solid one. But not the juggernaut they are being made out to be.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson – Photo by: USA Today
The Bucs will need to play sound, gap-disciplined football to limit Lamar Jackson and the Ravens running attack. But Baltimore doesn’t have very many playmakers if they have to go to the air. And that’s where I see the Bucs forcing them to go to.
On offense I expect the team to come out in similar fashion to the second drive of the Panthers game with 11 personnel, up-tempo spread. That, I foresee, leads to the Bucs’ first touchdown in the first quarter of the season. From there, by staying ahead of the Ravens on the scoreboard they are able to gradually force Baltimore to move more and more to an aerial game. As Baltimore does, I see Todd Bowles lean into his nature and blitz Jackson over and over similar to the Ravens’ Thursday Night game against the Dolphins last season, as well as their matchup against the Giants this year. And from there Baltimore can’t keep up.
QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Ravens 17
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 4-3
Kasey Hudson: Defense Does Enough To Contain Jackson
The past two weeks have been a stinging surprise, but crazy enough I believe the surprise could swing in the Bucs favor. Injuries plague both teams heading into this primetime matchup. Calais Campbell being ruled out can help Tampa Bay. Yes, the Bucs are the worst team in the league with rushing, but no Campbell can help, and it cannot just be the Leonard Fournette show. It’s time to count on some of the young guys like Cade Otton and Rachaad White. Otton has proven plenty since the Falcons game and getting the tight ends more involved would be a huge help to this team. White is starting to gain some confidence and offers different advantages than Fournette in the running back group.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs showed some creativity in the first quarter last week than reverted to bad habits. Patience and consistency is important for this offense tonight. The Ravens have not been a big scoring team, and hang in their games by a thread. In two of Baltimore’s losses, they’ve lost big leads in the second half. Will the Bucs offense show up enough to take advantage of that after halftime?
As for the defense, they have a tall task versus a team that has a high red zone scoring percentage. Tampa Bay has to clean up its third down management and stop giving up chunk plays after successful plays. The potential return of Akiem Hicks could be a big help here if he plays. Hicks was a contributing factor to stop opponents run game. Gus Edwards helped the Ravens walk away with a narrow win against the Browns last week, but is banged up. That leaves Lamar Jackson and his split decision runs to contain. The defense has to pull through for the Bucs today in order to win.
HUDSON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 20, Ravens 17
HUDSON’S SEASON RECORD: 3-4
