Buccaneers Road to Playoffs: Looking Ahead
By Justin Beetz
Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
OBSTACLE NUMBER THREE: CHICAGO BEARS
This will be an interesting game because as I said before this is Lovie Smith’s old team and their will be some extra added momentum going into this game for both sides. In my opinion, this will be our toughest test of our final four games. A lot may say the Panthers but I will say on my next slide why I don’t agree.
First off, I think the Buccaneers will win this game because they will be able to pound the rock with Doug Martin and Charles Sims the whole game. This Bears team has given up the 4th most in the entire league in rushing yards and that bodes well for the Buccaneers who are #2 in rushing offense. One thing the Buccaneers have been able to do almost every game is establish the run and it has been the most important thing not only to get the pass going off play action fakes but also to get the win. It seems that whenever the Buccaneers can run well, they always end up winning the football game and that is no coincidence. The run game allows your offense to control the clock, move down the field, keep the defense on their heels, and keep your defense off of the field.
Next is the fact that the Buccaneers will have an extra half a week to rest up for this game. This may not seem like a huge deal but it really is. What a NFL team can do in a day would surprise anyone so giving them three extra days will definitely benefit us in a big way. Put this together with the fact that the Bears should have no reason to really need to win this game and the spectator can see that the Buccaneers will be more prepared for this game.
Last reason is Jay Cutler is a ticking time bomb and his emotions will get the best of him when this game comes around. There will be no playoff hope and if anyone gets emotionally wrecked and doesn’t care when his team is out of it, it is Jay Cutler. I have seen him time and time again be an emotional wreck on the sidelines and come out on the field and handle the ball carelessly and if the Buccaneers could just jump out to an early lead that is exactly the Cutler we will see in this game which should lead to a couple of easy interceptions for our improving defense.
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