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Bucs game day is approaching, and it’s time for the PewterReport.com staff to offer up its weekly game predictions.
Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.
BUCCANEERS vs. RAMS
WHEN: Sunday, January 23, 2022 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium | KICKOFF: 3:00 p.m. ET | TV: NBC
PLAY-BY-PLAY: Al Michaels |ANALYST: Chris Collinsworth | SIDELINE: Michele Tafoya & Kathryn Tappen
RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives
SPANISH RADIO: 96.1 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Carlos Bohorquez | ANALYST: Martin Gramatica
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– Game Days At Glory Days Grill –
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Glory Days Grill
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Scott Reynolds: I Can’t Bet Against Brady, Bucs At Home
I can’t do it. I can’t bet against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers at home. Outside of a fluky 9-0 loss to New Orleans in which three major offensive weapons were lost to injury, Tampa Bay is undefeated at home. In fact, the Bucs are a perfect 8-0 when scoring a point at home this season! And when they score points at Raymond James Stadium it’s 30 points or more. Scoring 30 points will be a challenge against a stingy Rams team, especially if right tackle Tristan Wirfs can’t go. Los Angeles’ pass rush got to the quarterback 50 times this year, which ranked third in the NFL.
Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: USA Today
To combat the Rams’ pass rush, the Bucs need to have Brady throw the ball quickly on wide receiver screens, tight end screens and screens to the backs. Then load up on max protect and take some play-action shots downfield against some backup Rams safeties for a big play to Mike Evans, Scotty Miller or Breshad Perriman. The Bucs don’t have to run the ball a ton in this game. But they have to be more efficient – and total more than 35 yards, which is what they were held to in Week 3.
Tampa Bay’s defense has to find a way to get pressure and sack Matthew Stafford without overdoing it on the blitzing. Stafford has carved up blitzes all season. Maybe try to rush three and drop eight into coverage and force Stafford to be patient or check the ball down. Tampa Bay needs to force some takeaways after failing in that department in Week 3. If the defense doesn’t create takeaways that and Wirfs doesn’t play, I think the Rams actually have a good chance of winning. I just can’t pick against the Bucs, though.
Reynolds’ Season Record: 13-5
Jon Ledyard: It’s An Uphill Battle – But Bucs Find A Way
I have no idea how the Bucs are favored to win this game. Because they are at home? On paper, I think the Rams are better given all the Bucs injuries. Tampa Bay has clear advantages at four positions – quarterback, tight end, safety and linebacker. Offensive line might be a push given the injury status of both units. But the Rams have four legit weapons at wide receiver and a healthy stable of running backs. Even if Leonard Fournette plays, the Bucs will be behind in those key areas.
Offensively, it will be tough for the Bucs to put up 30-plus points. It’s going to take greatness from Tom Brady and catching the Rams with a few big plays. Rob Gronkowski will need to be big if Los Angeles gives Mike Evans the extra attention I’m expecting. Forget what people are saying about the last game – the Bucs need to run the ball better, not more often. But mostly, they need to not drop the football, not miss kicks and not commit seven penalties.
A clean offensive game will go a long way. But the Bucs need to win this game on the defensive side of the ball. Cooper Kupp is one of the greatest “Buc Killers’ in the NFL today. His production in three games against Todd Bowles defense is jaw-dropping. Can Bowles finally figure out how to slow him down? I think it all comes together for the Bucs on Sunday. They might not win the majority if the two teams played ten times, but they only need to win once. Behind a few Matt Stafford mistakes and a clean game from Brady, I think they will squeak it out.
Ledyard’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Rams 20
Ledyard’s Season Record: 15-3
Matt Matera: Bucs Scratch And Claw Their Way To A Win
Seemingly every day there’s a ton of injuries that the Bucs have to deal with. It wasn’t an excuse when they won last week and it shouldn’t be either in the divisional round. Obviously the Bucs are better if Ryan Jensen and Tristan Wirfs can play, but I think the Bucs can survive if one of them isn’t available. They’ll need Tom Brady to get the ball out as quickly as he usually does and a more up tempo offense could do wonders. I expect Tampa Bay to get creative with moving Mike Evans around to ensure he gets the ball, and look for some one-on-one matchups for Gronk. Let’s remember that Leonard Fournette is back this time around and he’s called Lombardi Lenny for a reason.
Bucs OLB Shaquil Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs’ defense has to be a main catalyst in order to beat the Rams. Shaq Barrett needs to have his best game of the season and dominate against the offensive line. If they can force the Rams to drop back over 30 times, I like the Bucs chances to rack up the sacks. It’ll have to start with the defensive line because you’re asking a lot for the secondary to contain Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr.
Many people are picking the Rams to win this weekend, but I also think the Bucs play their best when others doubt them. We’re in store for a great matchup this week that should come down to the wire. It’s a bold choice to pick against Brady at this time of the season, so I won’t. The Bucs have always played better at home, and it could be a late drive by Brady that helps seal the deal.
Matera’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Rams 23
Matera’s Season Record: 13-5
JC Allen: Bucs Advance To NFC Championship In Hard Fought Battle
The Bucs head into their Divisional round match up with the Rams much like they have all season, banged up. Injuries have been a key storyline all season on both sides of the ball. While it appears the defense is going to play their first game of the season as a complete unit, now key players on offense are in question. Offensive lineman Ryan Jensen and Tristan Wirfs are both battling through ankle injuries and their status for Sunday’s game is in question. Even if they can play how effective will they be against an intimidating front four Los Angeles boasts.
That’s where having a quarterback as good as Tom Brady factors in. While the Rams are a phenomenal team at getting pressure, 50 sacks on the season, Brady is incredible at getting the ball out quickly. Quick passes fortunately have been an achilles heel for the rams this season. on short passes to the middle the Rams have allowed the highest completion percentage(80.2) in the NFL and rank 28th in average yards allowed(7.9). On short passes to the left, right and middle, L.A. has allowed a 68.2 completion percentage. Brady time to throw average was 2.48 seconds this season and was 2.17 in the Wild Card game against the Eagles. Brady led the NFL with 24 touchdowns on quick passes, while the Rams have let up the most passing yards on quick passes this season.
On the defensive side of the ball, finding a way to contain Cooper Kupp will be a key to the game. The Rams offense moves through him generally and he’s torched the Bucs in his last three contests against them. Putting the right kind of pressure on Stafford will also be key for this team. While the Bucs only blitzed 11 times in Week 3, Stafford had tremendous success against them. In fact Staffords 141.8 passer rating against the blitz is the highest mark since 2016. However when sending just four or less and getting home he has struggled throwing 16 of his 17 interceptions this season. With solid game plan on both sides of the ball, but most importantly execution of said game plan the Bucs should find themselves returning to the NFC Championship for the second straight year.
Allen’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Rams 24
Allen’s Season Record: 14-4
Paul Atwal: Rams Overpower Depleted Bucs
The schematic rock-paper-scissors element of football is fascinating. Talent trumps all – and both the Bucs and the Rams have plenty of it – but I fear that the Bucs are holding paper against the Rams’ scissors. As evidenced by the week 3 matchup, Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford force Todd Bowles out of his schematic comfort zone. Bowles can win when leaning more on a two-high coverage game plan rather than his single-high blitz-heavy default (see Super Bowl LV), but it forces the defense to play away from its strength.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp and Bucs S Antoine Winfield, Jr. – Photo by: USA Today
Offensively, the match-up would be less concerning if Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown were still in the lineup. Even without Brown, Tom Brady moved the ball with consistent precision in Week 3. The issue is that Los Angeles, unlike Philadelphia, can put the onus on receivers to win instead of the quarterback. As Brady told Jon Ledyard, the Rams’ aggressive pattern matching coverages effectively turn into man, despite the Rams being one of the most zone-heavy teams in the league.
Even though Bowles called a reasonable game in Week 3, Stafford and Co. gashed Tampa Bay with chunk plays. And that’s not even counting several missed opportunities with which Los Angeles could have easily surpassed 40 points. Unless Bowles finally gets one over on McVay in a big way, it’s asking too much of this depleted offense to overcome Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Donald and Von Miller.
Atwal’s Score Prediction: Rams 38, Buccaneers 17
Atwal’s Season Record: 15-3
Kasey Hudson: Playoff Scotty On 3 – 1, 2 … PLAYOFF SCOTTY
Divisional round – where the rubber meets the road. The toughest game of the year lies ahead for Tampa Bay and as of now, they’re still favored by three to win. But the big question is, can 44-year-old quarterback Tom Brady stay upright against L.A.’s defense? Tristan Wirfs and Ryan Jensen were spotted at practice today, but their ability to play is still questionable. Losing two pro bowl caliber linemen affects the timing for Tom Brady and his offense. The Bucs cannot afford to not start fast against this team. Make no mistake, Brady is not Kyler Murray, but the Rams’ defense forced the Cardinals into three-and-outs on each of their first four drives, taking complete control of the game before halftime. While we’ve seen Tampa Bay make some bounce backs, this is not the team to play catch up with.
Now, this Bucs defense is not the same defense from Week 3. During that game Tampa Bay’s defense’s suffered a few injuries, not counting the players that were already ruled out. This is the healthiest the defense has been all season. Shaq Barrett’s answer to solving L.A.’s offense? “I’m banking everything on putting pressure on the quarterback.” Barrett mentioned is his press conference Thursday that Arizona was unable to get to Matthew Stafford. The Cardinals allowed too much time for Stafford to spread the ball in the first half. While I agree with Barrett’s statement, over blitzing this team will fail.
Sean McVay is unpredictable, which makes the Rams dangerous. Spectators would argue that Todd Bowles is just as ingenious. If Bowles can produce the right game plan and Brady’s MVP ability can get his team in the end zone, the Bucs will avoid a blowout. Rams are the stronger team and truthfully the only way for the Bucs to come out on top is through zero mistakes. But I just can’t bet against postseason Brady and the Bucs at home. Tampa Bay finds a way.
Hudson’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 31, Rams 28
Hudson’s Season Record: 14-4
Key Bucs Starters Return To Practice
Bucs vs. Rams Injury Report: 2 Bucs Out, Several Questionable
