The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Five Reasons the Buccaneers Will Rebound From Last Week

By Alan Schechter

Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates a touchdown catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates a touchdown catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson (23) is gang tacked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeat the Buccaneers 40-7. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson (23) is gang tacked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeat the Buccaneers 40-7. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

The Defense

Yes, the defense. I said it. You might think I am crazy to say that after a 40-7 loss. They certainly deserved to be on the losers list. But, they will still take this team going forward.

First, you had the first sack by Noah Spence. Even a late-game play when the game is out of reach is still a play. He absolutely tossed his guy out of the way to get to Carson Palmer. If Robert Ayers is out for any length of time, as well as Jacquies Smith, the Bucs are going to need big things from Spence quickly.

The unit actually helped up well before it got tired from being on the field too long. The Cardinals didn’t cross midfield until late in the first quarter. After the second Winston interception leaving Arizona deep in Bucs’ territory, the defense stiffened nicely to hold the Cards to a field goal. The game was at a reasonable score (10-0) until the Winston fumble late in the first half. Only then,  after being on the field for most of the half, did the game go haywire.

This defense is good, and will only get better.

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