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Buccaneers: What to Watch for in Sunday’s Game

By Alan Schechter

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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Oct 10, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Jacquizz Rodgers (32) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The Buccaneers won 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Jacquizz Rodgers (32) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The Buccaneers won 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Big Effort

Unfortunately for the Bucs their week 17 game against the Carolina Panthers will almost certainly be their final game of the season barring some epic miracle. The most important thing that I’ll be watching for against the Panthers is effort. With no reasonable shot at the playoffs, will the Bucs still play hard?

You’ll no doubt see some teams push the quit button this weekend in games that have no playoff bearings and in past years the Bucs have been guilty of this very thing (like the game that got them the first overall pick). The Bucs need to prove that they’re no longer one of these teams infiltrated by quitters and this final game could be a good gauge of which role players are worth bringing back next season.

While this game isn’t a “must win”, it would be a large disappointment to see a five game winning streak morph into a three game losing streak to end the season. Wins don’t translate from season to season, but for a team that’s trying to turn that’s continuing to install a winning mentality, every W counts.

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