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Buccaneers vs Rams: Five Game-Changing Players

By Bailey Adams

Dec 17, 2015 St. Louis, MO, USA; The Tampa Bay Buccaneers line up the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2015 St. Louis, MO, USA; The Tampa Bay Buccaneers line up the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) is introduced to the crowd prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at the Edward Jones Dome. The Bears won the game 37-13. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) is introduced to the crowd prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at the Edward Jones Dome. The Bears won the game 37-13. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

Aaron Donald

While the Bucs have one of the NFL’s top defensive tackles in Gerald McCoy, the Rams have their own top guy in Aaron Donald. Donald finished the 2015 season with 69 tackles (43 solo) and 11 sacks. Through two seasons in the league, he is averaging 10 sacks per year. And although he is without a sack so far this year, he will be a tough man to keep out of the backfield on Sunday afternoon.

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    • Tampa Bay has done a solid job of protecting Jameis Winston through two weeks, allowing just three sacks. But, Donald doesn’t only rush the passer well. He has also proven to be a strong asset in stopping the run, which gives Los Angeles an advantage on Sunday. After Doug Martin left the game in the first quarter last week, the Bucs weren’t able to run the ball very well against a tough Arizona defense. The Rams’ defense is just as solid up front, and that charge is led by Donald.

    Donald certainly has the ability to make Sunday a difficult day for the Bucs, especially if he is able to play a big role in stopping the run game. If he holds it down up the middle and stops Tampa Bay’s ground attack, Winston and his receivers may be in for another long afternoon similar to the one they just experienced in week two.

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