Publisher And Bucs Beat Writer Scott Reynolds
As I wrote in my SR’s Fab 5 on Friday, the difference between the Buccaneers being 3-3 and 2-4 is huge. Not only would a win against Cleveland halt a three-game losing streak, it would also put Tampa Bay one win away from having a winning record again. If the Bucs lose their fourth straight game of the season and fall to the Browns, Tampa Bay would have to win three straight games just to be over .500 again. Do you see that happening with trips to Cincinnati, Carolina and a home game against Washington? I don’t, especially facing the pressure of an enraged Bucs fan base that simply won’t accept a home loss to the lowly Browns from a psychological standpoint.

But there is reason to be optimistic on Sunday. I called for Mike Smith to be fired and replaced by linebackers coach Mark Duffner for two reasons. First, Duffner couldn’t do any worse, as surrendering 30-plus points and 400-plus yards had become the unfortunate “new normal” in Tampa Bay under Smith. And second, Duffner is a hell of a coach, and was honored as PewterReport.com’s Assistant Coach of the Year last season. I think his energy, aggressive coaching style, and presence on the sidelines will create more accountability on defense, and if Tampa Bay’s defense can give up a more modest number like 24 or 26 points per game rather than the 34 its allowing, the Bucs have enough firepower on offense to put up 30 points per week and win.

Bucs DC and LB coach Mark Duffner – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs have the more talented team and should win this game, especially at home. How close the game is will be dependent on which Browns team shows up. Is it the Browns team that tied the Steelers in Week 1, took New Orleans to the wire in Week 2 and beat Baltimore in overtime in Week 5? Or will it be the team that lost to 1-5 Oakland in overtime, and got drubbed 38-14 last week at home to the Los Angeles Chargers? I’m almost tempted to say that the Bucs will beat the Browns in overtime because Cleveland has the most overtime games (seven) in the last three years than any other NFL team. But I think Dirk Koetter’s firing of Smith will provide a jolt to the defense that will have the players come out flying high.

I’m concerned that starting defensive linemen Vinny Curry and Gerald McCoy won’t play, and I’m concerned that starting rookie defensive backs Carlton Davis and Jordan Whitehead aren’t 100 percent. I’m also concerned that Baker Mayfield is really good, and that tight end David Njoku, wide receiver Jarvis Landry and running back Nick Chubb are formidable enough weapons that the Bucs offense can’t afford to sputter. Tampa Bay will need 30 points to beat Cleveland and quarterback Jameis Winston must be sharp and have no more than one turnover, especially against dangerous defensive end Myles Garrett. Left tackle Donovan Smith needs to bring his “A” game.
Reynolds’ Score Prediction: Buccaneers 31, Browns 26
Reynolds’ Pick To Click: LB Lavonte David

Editor And Bucs Beat Writer Mark Cook
Can’t lose.

The Bucs just can’t lose this game. History suggests they do if you go by their record versus rookie quarterbacks as of late. I read a tweet on Friday that said Tampa Bay is 1-10 in their last 11 games against rookie quarterbacks. That can’t be true, can it?

The Buc are the better football team loaded offensively with talent. Everywhere you look on offense there is a weapon. There is talent on defense too. No, really. The team just has to find a way to utilize it. Maybe Mark Duffner is the guy to do it.

No Gerald McCoy and no Vinny Curry hurts, but it is time Vita Vea grows up and proves why the Bucs selected his in the first round. He has has a two games now. That doesn’t mean he fills McCoy’s shoes, but he better fill his gap, because the Bucs will get a heavy dose of the Browns running game with Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson. Tampa Bay catches a bit of a break with the Browns trading Carlos Hyde this week, but with a rookie quarterback in Baker Mayfield, the Browns want to be able to run the football and keep the Bucs offense on the sidelines.

The Bucs just can’t lose this game. They can’t. If they do the wheels on this bus will come flying off and the “Who Will Replace Dirk Koetter” articles will start on Sunday night. good news is, they won’t lose. Not only will they not lose, they will win big. Winston and the offense will have their way with a Browns defense that is beat up in the secondary, and the defense will make Mayfield look like the rookie he is. The defense plays solid, and even notches a couple turnovers. This one will never be in doubt.
Cook’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 34, Browns 19
Cook’s Pick To Click: Mike Evans

Bucs Beat Reporter Trevor Sikkema

Coming off three straight losses, plus a change at defensive coordinator, and all sorts of potential captain drama, there aren’t many teams the Bucs could be playing for me to think they have a shot of winning. 

Enter the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns bring the sensational rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield to town, and that in and of itself could present the biggest wild card of the day for the end result in this one. Bucs defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul mentioned earlier this week that he likes facing rookie quarterbacks, but as a whole, the Bucs are just 1-10 against rookie quarterbacks since 2011. 

Ultimately, though, even with the potential defensive struggles against Mayfield, I think the biggest x-factor or matchup to watch for is the Bucs offensive weapons versus the Browns coverage unit. The Browns are very aggressive in what they do on the back end, but they’ll be without starting cornerback E.J. Gaines. Even with Gaines, it would have been a tough day for the Browns. The Bucs will have their chance to overwhelm the Browns secondary, if Winston is patient and smart enough. 

I think he will, and I think Chris Godwin will be the player that benefits the most from it whole Browns CB Denzel Ward switches off on Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson.
Sikkema’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 28, Browns 23
Sikkema’s Pick To Click: Chris Godwin

Pewter Report Intern Taylor Jenkins
As the Bucs prepare to show their first look at new defensive coordinator/old linebackers coach Mark Duffner, I’ve wanted to pick the Browns to beat the Bucs all week.

Why? Because it’s what the Bucs do; they lose. They’ve created a culture of it.

In years past you could write the Browns off, they were an automatic win on the schedule, but not anymore.

The Browns enter this year with much more talent across the board and a player in Baker Mayfield that appears to finally be the organization’s long awaited franchise quarterback.

Antonio Callaway, Jarvis Landry and Nick Chubb team up with Mayfield as flashy new weapons on offense while defensive players like Denzel Ward, Myles Garrett and Jabrill Peppers have created a young core to a defense that’s kept every game close this year, with the exception of big their loss to the Chargers last week.

Here is a look the Browns’ results so far this year:

Tie, loss by three, win by four, loss by three, win by three, loss by 24.

The Browns have tied a good Steelers team, outlasted a very real Ravens’ defense and held the Saints to just 21 in New Orleans while nearly escaping with a win, but the Browns are also allowing opposing teams to rack up over 406 yards per game against them thus far and I don’t know if they’ll be able to keep up with this Bucs’ offense.

They’ve also been great at forcing turnovers, something the Bucs will have to limit as the Browns have been able to come up with seven fumble recoveries and nine interceptions on the season.

Call it a last grasp at hope but I like to think that the Bucs can take out some frustration this game. They’re back at home, it’s been a week of adjusting to a new coordinator and this would be the perfect time to send pressure, get after a rookie quarterback and go out and secure a big win.

A loss, on the other hand, could be damning as I truly don’t see the season playing out well if they can’t even win this game, at home against Cleveland, and drop to 2-4.
Jenkins’ Score Prediction: Buccaneers 31, Browns 21
Jenkins’ Pick-to-Click: Jameis Winston

Pewter Report Intern Matt Matera                                                                    Nothing like a little home cooking to get back on track. After losing three in a row, the Bucs are back home for the first time in almost a month to take on the Browns. I’m expecting a shot of adrenaline on defense with Mark Duffner taking over as defensive coordinator.

What should we see different? Aggressiveness and tighter coverage. Since Duffner is also the linebackers coach, look for more blitzes from Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander through the A-gap.

Previously the Bucs have played a lot off-coverage against opposing receivers, that just can’t happen anymore. Baker Mayfield hasn’t connected on receptions as much with his top receiver Jarvis Landry, much to the chagrin of fantasy football players that have him on his team. That doesn’t mean Landry still can’t carve up this defense if adjustments aren’t made.

The most important thing that needs to change for the Bucs defense is turnovers. I want to see more turnovers caused. They have only have one interception on the entire season and haven’t had any turnover at all since week three! That is unacceptable and also why they need to blitz more.

One last piece of information is that the Bucs will now have to game plan for RB Nick Chubb, after Carlos Hyde was just traded. Chubb hasn’t had many carries, but has a breakaway speed if he hits the open field. I’m not looking for the Bucs to turn into the 2002 defense, but to have some bend but don’t break, turning those touchdowns they let up into field goals.

This will be the most challenging pass rush the Bucs will face since the Chicago game, and that went downhill fast. Myles Garrett is a top three pass rusher in this game. He has to be priority number one. Last week the Browns let up 38 points, but the week before only allowed 12. The Bucs can get a jump on them with the right scheme.

Tampa Bay’s offense didn’t skip a beat with Jameis Winston at quarterback. It continued humming much like it has for five out of their six games this season, and they even had a successful running game! Here’s one thing though; can they get the ball to Mike Evans more? Evans had only five targets last week, he should be getting a minimum of 10 a game.

Rookie cornerback Denzel Ward is doing a great job in his first year, but that’s someone that Evans should be able to dominate. Even if he doesn’t get the ball again, the Bucs have enough to get over that. I see them getting back on the winning side of the score at the end of this one.
 Matera’s Score Prediction: Bucs 29 Browns 22                                             Matera’s Click-To-Pick: Mike Evans