Gameday Preview: Bucs Look To Avoid The Roar

TAMPA — The Buccaneers are not only fighting to finish with a record ten times more impressive than any critic could have dream tripped, but they’re also fighting for a playoff spot that is still a possibility. After narrowly avoiding a shocking and a abrupt end to that possibility last week in Washington, the Bucs travel home to host the Motor City Kitties, who aren’t fighting for anything other than to ruin the seasons of the teams that lie in their path and that may be the fate of the Buccaneers on Sunday.

The Lions helped out the Bucs in a huge way last week by beating the Green Bay Packers and knocking Aaron Rodgers out of the game and effectively the next game as well. Should Green Bay lose in New England with Matt Flynn at quarterback, the Bucs will get another huge break. But the Lions are just as capable of crushing the Bucs hopes as well; the Lions have no allegiance, they’re a mercenary team that is actually pretty dangerous because they have absolutely nothing lose. The Lions are ranked 11th in the passing game and the Bucs damaged secondary is ranked 11th against the pass, what an intriguing match-up. Ronde Barber will most likely be put on Calvin Johnson but the Lions do have other weapons. The running game of both teams is on the rise, however Jahvid Best won’t be 100% on Sunday and leads a rushing game ranked 27th in the league. However, the Lions are matched up against the 27th ranked rushing defense and a rushing defense without both Gerald McCoy and most likely Geno Hayes who was tased earlier this week. Quincy Black is also out which will severely hurt the Bucs defense. It won’t necessarily be a field day for any team on Sunday, but it will be interesting to see just how the game turns out.

The Bucs are fighting for a playoff spot and still need serious help to get in. It’s no secret the Bucs have sustained heavy damage to the roster this season and in some cases are down to their third strings in some areas. Should the Bucs lose on Sunday, they are all but eliminated from the playoffs. This may not be the worse thing ever with the Bucs being so depleted, and the chance that the Bucs face the Saints two weeks in a row pretty high, Bucs fans may not want to subject themselves to a playoff loss. That’s a tale for the future, as the Bucs first need to get past the Motor City Kitties, which may not be such an easy task. Time will tell.