PewterReport.com Publisher/Bucs Beat Writer Scott Reynolds

Can you say “Three in a row?” It’s happening. Mark it down. I am finally a Buccaneer believer again. Tampa Bay will beat the visiting Indianapolis Colts in convincing fashion (for a third straight week) to improve to 6-7 on the season.

Unless quarterback Jameis Winston has a four-turnover meltdown game, of which he has done a couple of times this year. I – like the rest of the Bucs organization, fan base and probably some in the media – hope that Winston has those kind of games out of his system by now, but you never know with him, unfortunately. So barring that kind of catastrophe, I see Tampa Bay’s defense continue to ascend and its offense continuing to put up yards and points against Indy, which has lost two straight games and four of its last five.

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Colts don’t have any healthy weapons for quarterback Jacoby Brissett and will struggle to put up points. Indy can still run the ball behind an offensive line that Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians said might be the best his team has faced all year. It will be fun to see that unit clash with the Bucs’ No. 2-ranked rushing defense in the trenches. I would expect the Bucs to prevail in that area at home.

After watching the Bucs win three fun games on the road at Los Angeles, Atlanta and Jacksonville, it’s time for the fans to see the team to turn on the entertainment factor at home for one of those kind of games. Because of the stout play of the Colts offensive line, sacks might be at a premium this week for the Bucs defense, which has combined for 11 sacks over the past two weeks, but I expect the secondary to continue to improve and play well.

Reynolds’ Score Prediction: Bucs 33, Colts 16
Reynolds’ Pick-To-Click: RB Ronald Jones II
Reynolds’ Season Record: 4-8

PewterReport.com Editor/Bucs Beat Writer Mark Cook

Ah yes, I remember my colleagues all bailing on Tampa Bay just a few weeks ago. But there I was picking the Buccaneers to beat the Seahawks on the road. And they should have.

But you started to see some light at the end of the tunnel beginning to appear. You saw an offense, that with good offensive line protection, could move the ball against anyone. You saw a pass rush starting to come alive with the return of Jason Pierre-Paul. And you knew if the secondary could ever get their act together, this could be a pretty good football team. And lo and behold, here we are – a team that has won three out of the last four and is finally coming together.

In 1996 the Buccaneers started the season at 1-8. If you asked anyone following that eighth loss, that a year later the Bucs would be a playoff team, you would have been sent upstate to Chattahoochee. But that is exactly what happened the season following 1996. Is this the 1996 team reincarnated? Let’s wait to see what happens over the next four weeks. But with a win on Sunday against the Colts this is a 6-7 football team and already better one than the year prior with three games left to play.

LB Devin White – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR

How can the Bucs beat the Colts? Follow their blueprint of the last two weeks – get pressure on the opposing quarterback while protecting their own. Winning the line of scrimmage is almost always the key. The last two weeks the Bucs were the better team in doing just that. But this offensive line of Indianapolis is easily the best they have faced during their recent run of success.

I think Winston, who now is able to trust his defense, plays smarter. He won’t ever be a less than 10 interception a year type guy. He takes risks that many quarterback scoff at. But knowing that the defense has come a long way and is playing confidently, Winston won’t feel the need to win on every single play. The Colts are playing for their playoff lives, but so are the Bucs.

Tampa Bay will score early, will force Jacoby Brissett into a couple turnovers and win the battle at the line scrimmage. In doing so, Tampa Bay will win their fourth game in five weeks and give the home team something to cheer about as they walk out of Raymond James Stadium at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. And the losses to the Giants, Titans and Seahawks will give fans indigestion thinking about what ifs.

Cook’s Score Prediction: Bucs 30, Colts 20
Cook’s Pick-To-Click: OLB Shaq Barrett
Cook’s Season Record: 3-9

PewterReport.com Bucs Beat Reporter Trevor Sikkema

The Buccaneers have won three of their last four. So which is it, have the Bucs really turned a corner or was it more of a product of this team playing bad teams?

The answer lies somewhere in between.

On one hand, the Bucs have been playing some bad teams. But you’re supposed to beat bad teams, and that’s what Tampa Bay is doing. This can be taken as a positive, and even its own building block. The Bucs have had too much offensive talent over the last few years (including this year) to lose to some of the teams they have since 2017. Now it seems like they’re beating those teams.

Bucs LB Lavonte David – Photo by: Getty Images

As it pertains to the Colts, right now I would classify them as one of those bad teams. They are a bit different because I do have a lot of faith in Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich and that coaching staff. Because of this I think they are going to give the Bucs their best.

Colts running back Marlon Mack makes his return to Tampa Bay after three stellar years as the USF Bulls’ starting running back. He will likely have some extra motivation in this one. The Colts offensive line is also one of the best if not the best unit Tampa Bay will face all season in that category. However, the Colts will be without their top offensive playmaker, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. Indy is just 1-8 since 2012 with Hilton, so the numbers are on Tampa Bay’s side there.

Ultimately I just don’t think the Colts have the fire power to keep up with the Buccaneers’ offensive weapons. I think Mike Evans is going to have a big day, and if Winston stays relatively turnover free, this day should belong to Tampa Bay.

Sikkema’s Score Prediction: Bucs 28, Colts 20
Sikkema’s Pick-To-Click: WR Mike Evans
Sikkema’s Season Record: 2-10

PewterReport.com Bucs Beat Writer Taylor Jenkins

When the Colts head to Tampa on Sunday to take on the Bucs, both team sit in similar situations where they have to win each of their four remaining games – with some help around the league – if they have any shot at all to make the playoffs.

While Tampa Bay has gone on an impressive run over the past month, winning three of their past four matchups, Indianapolis has seen much of the opposite. Since the beginning of November the Colts have dropped four of five, including close losses to the Steelers and Dolphins while losing convincingly to Tennessee last weekend in a two-score contest.

To make matters worse for the Colts, star wideout T.Y. Hilton will likely be sidelined for the game while a banged up Marlon Mack will make his return to Raymond James Stadium following his first week of practice since suffering a hand injury in Week 11. In addition to Mack and Hilton, starting defensive backs Malik Hooker and Kenny Moore are dealing with injuries of their own.

Bucs K Matt Gay – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Indianapolis will continue to try and set up their offense through a dangerous rushing attack that averages 139 yards per game on the ground, good for the league’s fourth-best mark, including a wild 173.7 rushing yards per game over their past three. Luckily for Tampa Bay, that’s a quality matchup that they’re willing to accept as the Bucs’ front seven remains one of the league’s best run-stopping units at 76.2 rushing yards allowed per game.

As always, Sunday’s game will be another installment of Jameis Winston’s season-long proving ground and I expect the Bucs to attack the Colts quickly through the air in an attempt to build an early lead, forcing Indianapolis to put the game on the shoulders of quarterback Jacoby Brissett. If Winston plays mistake-free football and Tampa Bay’s secondary continues their run of strong play, it could mark a third straight victory and just the Bucs’ second home win of the season.

Jenkins’ Score Prediction: Bucs 27, Colts 20
Jenkins’ Pick-To-Click: CB Jamel Dean
Jenkins’ Season Record: 3-9

PewterReport.com Bucs Beat Writer Matt Matera

Bruce Arians likes to ride the hot hand when it comes to his running backs, so I’m taking the hot hand of the Bucs, who have won three of four over the Colts, who have been reeling as of late, losing four out of their last five. This is essentially a playoff game for both of these teams with a lot on the line.

The Colts are injured all over the place, including injuries to star players like T.Y. Hilton and Marlon Mack, which has greatly limited their offense. The Colts have scored just 17 points in consecutive games, and now face a Bucs defense that has found its footing and has been on fire as of late. Even if Mack returns at running back, it won’t be enough to slow down the Bucs pass rush.

Bucs OLB Shaquil Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While Shaq Barrett has been the star as he’s now just two sacks away from tying the Bucs’ single season franchise record, the Bucs are getting contributions from everyone down the line. Whether it’s Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul or Carl Nassib, the Bucs are getting to the quarterback and creating turnovers. Not to mention that Devin White is coming off Defensive Rookie Of The Month honors, where he scored his first defensive touchdown. It’s going to be a difficult afternoon for Jacoby Brissett. Obviously the most exciting matchup here is the battle in the trenches between Vita Vea and Colts’ guard Quenton Nelson. You’ll hear the sound of the pads colliding in that one.

Facing Tennessee last week, the Colts allowed 31 points in their own building. The Bucs offense is much better than the Titans and should be able to move the ball. The Bucs had a difficult time scoring points in the second half in Jacksonville last week, but I don’t think that’s a lingering issue. The Colts defense won’t make it easy for the Bucs, but look for good drives set up by Jameis Winston and company. The Colts should keep it close, but the Bucs win their third straight game.

Matera’s Score Prediction: Bucs 28, Colts 24
Matera’s Pick-To-Click: DT Vita Vea
Matera’s Season Record: 5-7