Happy Black Friday, everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving. After a tough five weeks for the Bucs, I wish there were a Black Friday deal that guaranteed their playoff spot. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees, and the Bucs face a challenging battle in the last six weeks of the season. Here’s what both the Bucs and Cardinals need to do to secure a win in this Week 13 matchup.
BUCS WIN IF…
Bucs on Offense: Whether Baker Mayfield is under center or not, the goal is for the Bucs to make significant strides on offense by establishing a strong running game. However, that’s often easier said than done in the NFL.
Most defenses can effectively shut down one aspect of an offense—either the run or the pass. The real challenge is stopping both. Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon has the chops to make the Bucs one-dimensional.
Asking the Bucs to run on first and second down every drive, then consistently gain 3 to 6 yards on third down, isn’t an ideal scenario… especially if we’re relying on Teddy Bridgewater. We need to let him throw on first down to find early success. Moving the pocket and getting the ball out of Teddy’s hands quickly will be crucial. It would be great to see another touchdown reception from Tez Johnson, and surpassing 100 rushing yards as a team would put us in a strong position for a win.
Bucs on Defense: I’m uncertain what to expect from this Bucs defense. I hope Coach Bowles simplifies things a bit, allowing the players to react instinctively rather than overthinking. Let them fly around and make plays.
Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett can spread the ball around and push it downfield. We need to start by ensuring there are no blown coverages… let’s not give Brissett wide-open receivers for easy scores. Make him work for it. This should be a classic Bowles defense: shut down the deep ball and force the Cardinals to methodically move the ball down the field.
While I don’t expect a complete shutdown, it would be great to hold them to 24 points or fewer.
CARDINALS WIN IF…
Cardinals on Offense: This game has the potential to frustrate Bucs fans, especially if the Cardinals find success running the ball. However, the biggest concern will be the Cardinals’ passing game, which averages 258 yards per game.
The Cardinals should let Brissett air it out as much as possible to test this Bucs defense, which consistently ranks in the bottom half of the league in pass defense.
Keep an eye on Marvin Harrison Jr… he could have a big game.
Cardinals on Defense: The Cardinals have had some disappointing showings on defense this year, but they always have the potential to put together a nice showing. Calais Campbell is always a huge presence.
They are also hoping to get some pass rush help from returning Nolen Walter III and sack leader, Josh Sweat.
If they can shut down the Bucs early efforts to establish a running game, then they may be able to pin their ears back to end the game.
FINAL WORD
The Bucs need this game in a bad way. If they hope to win their division, they need to start putting some wins together now. Here’s to hoping they can find a way to close out a close one.
Prediction: Bucs 27, Cardinals 23
All comes down to Baker
if he plays and not like poo, they win
if he doesn’t play, they lose
if he plays like he does when banged up, yikes. Expect a close and frustrating game
if he plays like he does when banged up, yikes. Expect a close and frustrating game
Pretty much the entire NFL, but yes I agree.
I think they win a game like this with just average play from Mayfield, especially if they have Godwin and Irving starting to come back. But, this season being what it has been so far it would seem only fitting that those two would come back as Mayfield went out to injury.
All comes down to Baker
if he plays and not like poo, they win
if he doesn’t play, they lose
if he plays like he does when banged up, yikes. Expect a close and frustrating game
The smart thing would be to sit him for the week.
But, the words "smart" and "Bowles" rarely collide in the same sentence.
Should be a easy win but it will likely come down to the end of the game like it does with all the teams that aren't very good this season. I think I come to grips that the team when unhealthy like they are, arnt going to do much in the playoffs or this season in general. However the fight to get in is the goal and if they get healthy then maybe they can make a run but we'd need some decent luck and turning it on when it matters. Hard to see it but I think talent wise they can. They will need bowles to be better than he has been too. Maybe he can be a broken clock.
"
Must win for Tampa, it feels like,” Kimes said. “They’ve been playing a lot of really, really good teams and losing. …
“I’m on Tampa here.”
if they get healthy then maybe they can make a run but we'd need some decent luck and turning it on when it matters.
Agreed
"
Must win for Tampa, it feels like,” Kimes said. “They’ve been playing a lot of really, really good teams and losing. …
“I’m on Tampa here.”
not actually must win but they need to win this game to turn things around, change the momentum
Reddick expected to play
All comes down to Baker
if he plays and not like poo, they win
if he doesn’t play, they lose
if he plays like he does when banged up, yikes. Expect a close and frustrating game
The smart thing would be to sit him for the week.
But, the words "smart" and "Bowles" rarely collide in the same sentence.
LOL. Speaking of "smart", what do you all think about Sirianni going for 2 near the end of Friday's game vs the Bears. Kick the XP and trail by 8 with 3:10 left and all three TOs. Instead, they missed on the 2 and trailed by two scores. I thought that was a very Bowlesian strategy.
Bucs 30 - Cardinals 24
I really don’t like baker playing today.
in the grand scheme of things, this game is meaningless. Same with the Miami game.
atlanta. New Orleans. Carolina 2x.
these are the ones we need. Especially Carolina, obviously.
if they feel baker can’t further injure himself, I guess I get it. I know he’s a competitor. I know he wants to play.
we are getting healthier. Arizona is not.
we could win this game either either qb.
and I hope we do.
Bucs 24
arizona 17
With either qb*
don’t have the option to edit my post
anymore? Strange.
I predicted the Patriots score almost on the nose. I was afraid to even attempt the Buffalo game. I predicted overtime for the Rams game. So I'll try to get back on the horse this week.
The Bucs are getting some help on defense with Dean and Reddick. Of course Bucky is back on offense which will be a big boost.
The Cardinals have had a pretty brutal schedule if you look backwards. Mostly close losses twice to the 49ers and Seahawks, and losses to the Packers, Colts and Jags. One bad loss to the Titans. But the last two were home losses - now they're on the road. They still have to play the Rams twice. The wheels could be coming off. Harrison is expected to play.
Bucs win if they don't get behind and then gift wrap turnovers. They need to get pressure on Brissett. Cardinals win if the Bucs gift wrap a couple TDs such as Otton saying "Here take this as an offering of freindship..."
Final score Bucs 34 Cardinals 21.
I hope they can a comfortable lead and get him out of there in the 4th quarter. I've criticized Bowles for leaving it up to the players. But in this case I think you have to send a message to the team that this game is extremely important. They have to win this game. They can't assume that the Cardinals have packed it in. This is the NFL and losses come just when you least expect. This would be a horrible time to take a loss.I really don’t like baker playing today.
All comes down to Baker
if he plays and not like poo, they win
if he doesn’t play, they lose
if he plays like he does when banged up, yikes. Expect a close and frustrating game
The smart thing would be to sit him for the week.
But, the words "smart" and "Bowles" rarely collide in the same sentence.
LOL. Speaking of "smart", what do you all think about Sirianni going for 2 near the end of Friday's game vs the Bears. Kick the XP and trail by 8 with 3:10 left and all three TOs. Instead, they missed on the 2 and trailed by two scores. I thought that was a very Bowlesian strategy.
Bucs 30 - Cardinals 24
its 100% something Bowles would do
It must suggest it in the analytics that I disagree with.
I know I’m kicking the extra point there
