The overwhelming Buccaneers could not have asked for a better schedule ahead.
With three weeks left in the regular season, the only teams between the 6-8 Bucs and post-season are led by Trace McSorley, Sam Darnold and Desmond Ridder – those are the Cardinals (4-10), Panthers (5-) 9) and Falcons (5-9) if you’re not familiar.
Claiming victory over the underdogs could provide much-needed confidence to the struggling Bucs ahead of the knockout stages, where they will play at home by winning the NFC South.
Losses can take them to where they seem to belong: watching knockout matches from their couch.
Bucs’ solid defense will do well against inexperienced midfielders. McSorley will make his debut Sunday, Ridder will have his fourth game when he visits in January and Darnold has struggled since joining the league in 2018.
However, Tampa Bay’s captain Devin White, who carried on his shoulders fair share of ridicule this season, saying they can’t afford to get ahead of themselves. The Bucs have overlooked their opponents in the past, leading to defeats against the Steelers and Panthers.
“You have to handle the game in front of you,” said White, according to Tampa Bay Times. “It won’t just be no entrance.”
Taking advantage of these games will be crucial for the team that has suffered humiliating defeats over the past two weeks, with a loss to the 49ers and a 17-point lead to the Bengals.
“It’s like we can’t get out of our own way,” Cameron Brate finished saying, according to Tampa Bay Times. “For the whole team, it’s a shame.”
