There is no getting around the fact that the Bucs have suffered three consecutive losses. It was always going to be a difficult gauntlet, with Tampa Bay having to play what are now the 8-2 Patriots, 7-3 Bills, and 9-2 Rams. All three look like legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and while there were signs of life against New England and Buffalo, the team fell flat on the West Coast, losing 34-7 in Los Angeles.

The biggest question mark heading into Week 13 surrounds the quarterback position and whether or not it will be Baker Mayfield or Teddy Bridgewater starting under center. Regardless of who is slinging the football, the message from coaches and players on Wednesday was centered around not taking a 3-8 Cardinals squad lightly. That means playing with a newfound sense of fight and urgency to remain in the NFC playoff mix.

Bucs’ Defense Is Facing A Backup QB, But Jacoby Brissett Doesn’t Play Like One

Leave it to Bucs outside linebackers coach/run game coordinator Larry Foote to illustrate the message given after poor defensive showings each of the past three games. Foote is second in-command of the unit behind head coach Todd Bowles, offering a transparent voice who is not one to sugarcoat things.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and OLBs coach Larry Foote – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“The main message is nobody is coming to save us,” Foote said. “We [have] to come together, we [have] to keep our confidence and [we have] to keep swinging. We [have] to play better, [have] to coach better, but we [have] to keep our confidence. This league will humble you [and] young guys are learning that, but [our] guys have to stay together most importantly.

“You have to avoid finger pointing and when you get whooped like that on national television, everybody just has to go to your own separate corner, look yourself in the mirror and figure out how I can do better.”

With that being said, Tampa Bay is aiming to bounce back in what looks on paper to be a much more favorable matchup. For all the talk regarding injuries for the home team, the Cardinals come into town even more battered. Despite Arizona losing eight of the past nine games, they beat the Cowboys 27-17 earlier this month and have been competitive through a tough stretch of their own.

They nearly came away with a win over the Jaguars in Week 12, falling just short 27-24 with veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett leading the way. Brissett is a more than capable thrower of the football, completing 66.8% of his passes for 1,887 yards and 11 touchdowns to three interceptions. Filling in for the injured Kyler Murray over the past six games, the Bucs’ defense is aware of what they are in for and, unlike previous games, have to be ready to stop it.

Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett – Photo by: USA Today

“Jacoby [Brissett] can throw the ball,” Bowles said. “He’s been around a long time, and he’s listed as a backup but he’s really a starter. He plays quality minutes. He’s been in this league a long time, he can really throw the football, and he’s a very sneaky scrambler as well. They can run the ball, as well. They got behind a couple of times the past few games where they had to throw it, but they have a very good running offense. They’re very scrappy on defense and can make plays.”

Foote chimed in with his thoughts on Brissett, who is 20-39 in his career as a starter. Despite that record, the veteran quarterback is extremely careful with not making mistakes. His 1.3% interception percentage is the best mark in NFL history, and he has enough weapons at his disposal to do some damage.

“We played against him a few times since [I’ve] been down here,” Foote said. “He’s not a backup. I heard some of that talk, we are facing two backups back-to-back weeks for the next two weeks. He’s not a backup; he makes every throw. You can make an argument that the offense has taken off since he took control. He’s seen everything, but he can make some throws. For a big guy, he can scramble too. He has the ability to pick up first downs with his feet, so it’s going to be a challenge. He can make every throw.”

Trey McBride Presents A Nightmare For The Bucs’ Defense

Who will be catching a lot of Jacoby Brissett’s throws is star tight end Trey McBride. McBride has a hat in the ring when it comes to being the NFL’s best at his position. Through 11 games this season, he has 80 catches for 797 yards and seven touchdowns. McBride presents a nightmare scenario for a Bucs’ defense that remains vulnerable in pass coverage up the middle of the field. He is a smooth route-runner with plus athleticism, all of which understandably concerns the defensive coaching staff.

Cardinals TE Trey McBride – Photo by: USA Today

“[It is] very concerning,” Todd Bowles said about defending McBride. “Right now, he looks like one of the best one or two tight ends in the league right now. He can play receiver, he can play tight end, he beats corners, safeties, and [linebackers] alike. He’s got a lot of production right now and he’s really playing well.”

In recent weeks Tampa Bay has struggled to guard big names and unknown commodities alike. Much of that has come with opposing wide receivers getting the better of cornerback Zyon McCollum and the secondary, but McBride presents a new challenge.

He has the ability to single-handedly keep the Cardinals in Sunday’s game.

“He is a weapon,” Larry Foote added. “’85,’ I remember a couple years ago, a lot of people on the offensive side were buzzing about him in the draft. We didn’t get him, but ’85,’ he’s a weapon. [You have] guys starting to argue who’s better him or the kid from [Las] Vegas (Brock Bowers). He’s special; he can move like a wide receiver being that big. I got to coach in the Pro Bowl this past season in Orlando, and he was on our team.

“You could see he moves differently. Him and [Jacoby] Brissett [have] a good rapport for a team that’s showing up. Those guys [have] weapons. You come in, you look at [those] guys’ record, then you start pounding that tape and you just go, ‘Oh shoot…’ It’s going to be another dog fight, but hey, we’re 6-5 right now, we [have] to respond.”

The Cardinals’ Defense Has Struggled, But They Have Several Game Wreckers

With the way the Bucs’ defense has played, much of the attention is fixated on whether they can turn it around. Still, the Cardinals’ defense cannot be looked over, especially with the status of Baker Mayfield remaining in question. Despite Arizona allowing 112 points over the past three games (more than Tampa Bay’s 105), it is a group that has notable talent.

Cardinals DE Josh Sweat and Cowboys QB Dak Prescott – Photo by: USA Today

It starts with defensive end Josh Sweat, who signed as a free agent after winning a Super Bowl with the Eagles last season. Sweat already has nine sacks and joining him along the defensive line is the ageless wonder Calais Campbell. Campbell might be 39 years old, but the imposing, immovable force remains as productive as ever in run defense, adding 5.5 sacks for good measure.

While the Cardinals’ secondary is banged up and has been leaning on some inexperienced players, safety Budda Baker is a steadying force. Baker has been one of the better safeties in the league for nearly a decade and is the team’s leading tackler with 78 tackles. For offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, he will have his hands full with a trio he mentioned by name and spoke at length about it this week.

“Their record is not indicative of the kind of performance they show on tape,” Grizzard said about the Cardinals’ defense. “So, when you see that, you see a lot of games that have been under seven points, and they didn’t come out on the right end of it on their side of it, but you see a bunch of ability.”

“You see a little bit of positionless players, but when it comes to the player side of it – the fact that Calais Campbell is still playing at the level that he’s playing at is hats off to him. [Josh] Sweat does a really good job coming off the edge – I think he has nine sacks… Then, you see these rookies that are playing on the perimeter – these guys [have] got some ball production, these guys turn the ball over really well. Then, I don’t [mean to] mention him last, but the one that makes it go is Budda [Baker] – and he is flying around. He’s still playing at a very high level – whether he’s playing [linebacker], safety…He runs to the ball. These guys play hard.”

After facing three top teams, the Bucs are once again primed to overcome a midseason lull with a favorable schedule ahead of them. There is a reason the games are played, though, with Tampa Bay still needing to show up and perform. Getting a win over the Cardinals is a start, but that requires the offense and defense to display fight and urgency to be more than just a good team.

They have to want to be great.