Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds previews the upcoming Bucs game with six quick-hitting topics. What’s at stake for the Bucs and their opponent, what will lead to a Tampa Bay victory or loss, and a couple of key matchups to watch each week.

Tampa Bay is now 6-5 after dropping its third straight game, losing in Los Angeles, 34-7, on Sunday Night Football. The Bucs are still above .500 and still have a slim lead in the NFC South, but must regroup and get a win on Sunday against an injury-riddled, 3-8 Arizona Cardinals team. Tampa Bay kicks off a three-game home stand against three teams with losing records – each of them starting a backup quarterback.

Todd Bowles’ defense needs to rebound after a tough, three-game stretch since the bye week in which the unit has failed against three top quarterbacks in New England’s Drake Maye, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Los Angeles’ Matthew Stafford. On offense, the Bucs need to get back to scoring points after a season-low seven against the Rams. Backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is expected to start this week for Baker Mayfield, who injured his non-throwing shoulder versus Los Angeles.

What’s At Stake For The Bucs?

For the Buccaneers, Sunday’s matchup against the 3-8 Cardinals in Tampa Bay is far more than a meeting with a struggling opponent – it’s a crossroads moment in a season that is teetering between playoff contention and mediocrity. At 6-5, the Bucs are squarely in the NFC playoff race with the NFC South lead, but every week tightens the margin for error.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Dropping a home game to a three-win Arizona squad would be a crushing loss and a damaging blow to both the standings and the confidence of a team still trying to find its post-bye identity. Tampa Bay needs to prove it can handle business against lesser opponents, especially with a tougher December stretch looming.

Ultimately, the pressure lies squarely on the Bucs. If Tampa Bay is truly a postseason-caliber team, it must assert control early, avoid self-inflicted wounds, and deliver a complete performance. The defense must rebound from three terrible games against better foes as well the the Bucs running game continuing to excel with Teddy Bridgewater in for an injured Baker Mayfield at quarterback.

What’s At Stake For The Cardinals?

For the Cardinals, Sunday’s trip to Tampa is about much more than trying to spoil a playoff contender’s season – it is a defining moment in a year focused on evaluation, culture building, and identifying long-term cornerstones. At 3-8, Arizona is well outside the playoff picture, but that doesn’t mean the stakes are low. Each remaining game is an audition, especially for young players and fringe starters fighting to prove they belong in the 2026 plans.

Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon and QB Jacoby Brissett – Photo by: USA Today

A road win against a 6-5 Bucs team pushing for the postseason would provide tangible evidence that Jonathan Gannon’s program is progressing, even if the record doesn’t show it yet. Arizona is banged up with 18 players on injured reserve, including quarterback Kyler Murray and running back James Conner.

This is also a critical measuring-stick game for offensive consistency and the defense’s ability to finish. Arizona has shown flashes behind backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, but flashes are not enough. A strong performance could help stabilize confidence in the coaching staff and front office, while a flat showing may reignite questions about the rebuilding pace. For the Cardinals, the stakes are about pride, development, and momentum for the future. A win at Tampa Bay would not change the standings, but it could change the trajectory and tone of the entire second half of their season, especially for such an injury-riddled team.

The Bucs Win If…

To beat the Cardinals, the Buccaneers need to approach this matchup with discipline and the urgency to end a three-game losing streak, treating it like a must-win game rather than a soft spot on the schedule. On offense, Tampa Bay has to establish balance early. That means using running backs Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving to attack a vulnerable Arizona run defense and setting up manageable down-and-distance situations for Teddy Bridgewater.

Bucs QB Teddy Bridgewater – Photo by: USA Today

Protection will be critical, too – keeping Bridgewater upright and able to use play-action to hit wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson with intermediate passes. Bridgewater needs to stay away from turnovers, as the Cardinals have a plus-4 turnover margin.

Defensively, the Bucs must focus on pressuring Jacoby Brissett, who has been sacked 24 times this year. Todd Bowles’ unit can stop the run, but can they stop tight end Trey McBride and quit giving up big pass plays downfield? Ultimately, this game is about the Bucs’ maturity. Can they resume taking care of business against lesser opponents and avoid a disastrous upset at home? Bowles’ team needs to win the turnover battle to ensure that happens.

The Cardinals Win If…

Jacoby Brissett has done a good job of avoiding turnovers this year with just three interceptions in eight games. But Brissett will need to make more plays, as he only has 11 touchdowns on the season. With wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. questionable for Sunday’s game, Brissett will need to lean on Arizona’s leading receiver, tight end Trey McBride. Arizona will also need to cobble together some sort of running game with its backup backs.

Cardinals TE Trey McBride and QB Jacoby Brissett – Photo by: USA Today

Sustaining long drives – and finishing them with touchdowns – will put the pressure on Tampa Bay’s inconsistent offense, which will lose some firepower without Baker Mayfield. Converting at least 45% on third down will be ideal for a Cardinals offense that needs to get off to a quick start on the road.

Defensively, the Cardinals must win situational downs. That means tightening up against the run on early downs and preventing the Bucs’ ground game from controlling the pace of the game. Forcing Teddy Bridgewater into third-and-long situations allows Arizona to unleash creative pressures and take advantage of Tampa Bay’s inconsistent pass protection. The Cardinals secondary must also limit explosive plays and play tighter coverage in the red zone to force the Bucs to kick field goals rather than allow touchdowns.

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Offense

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs vs. Cardinals OLB Josh Sweat

Tristan Wirfs is the Bucs’ best offensive lineman by far, but he will have his hands full with the Cardinals’ best pass rusher, outside linebacker Josh Sweat. Arizona’s premier free agent signing in the offseason, Sweat leads the team with nine sacks through 11 games. That’s one more than he had last year during the Eagles’ Super Bowl season, and two away from tying his career high of 11 sacks that set in the 2022 season.

Cardinals OLB Josh Sweat – Photo by: USA Today

Sweat has four sacks in the last four games, but didn’t have one in last week’s overtime loss to the Jaguars. He also has three forced fumbles and the speed to pursue quarterbacks from the blindside once he gets around left tackles. Teddy Bridgewater got sacked twice last week in the second half of the loss at Los Angeles. Wirfs gave up one of those sacks to Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse.

Tampa Bay’s four-time Pro Bowler is not having his best season. Although he has only surrendered two sacks, Wirfs has given up 20 pressures this year, which is four away from tying his career high, according to Pro Football Focus, with six games left. With Bridgewater lacking Baker Mayfield’s mobility, Wirfs will have to be on top of his game and shut out Sweat on Sunday.

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Defense

Bucs ILB Lavonte David vs. Cardinals TE Trey McBride

Tampa Bay loved Trey McBride coming out of the 2022 NFL Draft, but Arizona beat the Bucs to the punch later in the second round by selecting him a few spots ahead. McBride has become one of the best receiving tight ends in the NFL and has 80 catches for the third year in a row with six games to play. He had a career year in 2024 with 111 receptions for 1,146 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Cardinals TE Trey McBride – Photo by: USA Today

But McBride has already produced a career-high seven touchdowns this season and he has developed into a consistent red zone weapon. Bucs inside linebacker Lavonte David surrendered a red zone last week to Rams tight end Colby Parkinson as he was just a step too slow in coverage. David has already surrendered four touchdowns this season, according to Pro Football Focus, which is one away from his career high.

David is slowing down at age 35. He used to be one of the league’s better coverage linebackers, but he has a career-low 52.2 coverage grade this season per PFF. Keeping up with the younger McBride and trying to contest catches could prove to be problematic.