Buccaneers: What to Watch for in Sunday’s Game

Jul 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83), wide receiver Evan Spencer (85), wide receiver Jonathan Krause (10), wide receiver Adam Humphries (11) and teammates work out at One Buccaneer Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83), wide receiver Evan Spencer (85), wide receiver Jonathan Krause (10), wide receiver Adam Humphries (11) and teammates work out at One Buccaneer Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter watches the scoreboard during a review late in the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16-11. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter watches the scoreboard during a review late in the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16-11. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Fire

Playoff hopes are gone. Key players are missing. There isn’t a chance to play spoiler. So really, there isn’t much to play for at all, right?

Wrong. I want to see the Bucs play with fire on Sunday. The season isn’t over. They need to prove that they’ve changed the culture around the team. They won five straight, and things were looking great. They were in the playoff picture and controlled their own destiny. Then, things came crashing down over just two weeks. There isn’t anything that the team can do now. Its response to the recent adversity is what matters at this point.

We saw them fall apart last season and lose their last four games. Things have seemingly changed this year for Tampa Bay. But, if it loses three in a row to close this season, what will that say? It’ll prove that not much has changed at all. A win over a division rival at home will prove that the culture really has turned around for this franchise.

Bailey Adams

Schedule