2016 Buccaneers’ Season Preview: Week 12 vs. Seattle
Our season preview moves on to week 12. How will our Buccaneers handle the “Legion of Boom” and the Seattle Seahawks?
All right Buccaneers’ fans, time to continue our look ahead. Over the last several weeks, we have been posting a game by game preview of the 2016 season. Most recently, we have looked at the week 10 matchup with the Bears, and the week 11 trip to Kansas City. It doesn’t get any easier when the Bucs return home for week number 12.
That’s because they Bucs take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 12. Let’s talk about it.
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One of the biggest keys to this game will be Jameis Winston and his ability to protect the football. The “Legion of Boom” is a group of defensive backs that are lethal, and always around the football. 2015 was a bit of an off-year as they only posted 14 interceptions, led by Earl Thomas with five. But don’t ever take Richard Sherman and company for granted. He is not far removed from his eight interception campaign of 2013. These guys can get after that football. Jameis had better be smart.
It won’t be easy as the Seahawks were second in the league in pass defense last year.
By the way, they were also the top defense against the run, so Doug Martin won’t just be running free either. He hasn’t faced Seattle in his career to date, and it has the potential to be a rude awakening. Charles Sims may play a huge key here. If they can get him going with some short passes out of the backfield, it will open up lanes for Martin and passing windows for Winston.
On defense, Russell Wilson must be contained. He can make all of the throws, and he can make plays with his legs. In one previous matchup with the Bucs, Wilson went 19-26 for 217 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He added 36 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The pass rush is going to have to get to Russell, but they have to contain him. Keep him in the pocket and don’t let him get outside.
Don’t sleep on Jimmy Graham. Yes, his production was down last year as he felt his way around with his new team. However, his production in New Orleans was not by accident. There was a reason that he averaged over ten touchdowns per year with Drew Brees. With Doug Baldwin taking a starring role on the outside, the openings up the seam will be there for Graham. He has averaged over 70 yards per game in nine previous matchups with the Bucs. It won’t be easy.
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This will be a big battle as the Bucs head into the final phase of the 2016 season. They will need to be clicking on all cylinders and then some to make the win happen.