Buccaneers at Chiefs: Five Game-Changing Players
By Bailey Adams
Noah Spence
It took some time, but Noah Spence has developed into a threat off the edge of the Tampa Bay defensive line. With the returns of Robert Ayers and Clinton McDonald, Spence doesn’t have to be relied on as heavily, which helps him as a 22-year-old rookie. He’s up to four sacks on the year, recording one in three of the last four weeks. His sack of Jay Cutler on Sunday knocked the ball loose, getting the ball back to the Bucs at a crucial time.
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Tampa Bay will likely be heavy underdogs in Kansas City this week, and the biggest key to an upset will be a strong defensive performance. Mike Smith’s unit was outstanding on Sunday against Chicago. The Chiefs’ offense isn’t as bad as the Bears’, but it also isn’t on the same level as that of the Raiders and Falcons. The Bucs can win this game, but only if their defense steps up with a performance like it had against the Bears.
Spence, who is still somewhat unproven, is likely someone that can fly under the radar as the Chiefs prepare for this game. If he can disrupt the quarterback, it would be big for Tampa Bay. He’s forced two fumbles in the last three games, making a big impact for the defense in terms of momentum. The Bucs will need to force some turnovers this week if they want to win, and they might want to turn to the rookie to do so.