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Buccaneers at Bills: Five game-changing players for Week 7

By Bailey Adams

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 15: Head coach Dirk Koetter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks at his play card during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 38-33. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 15: Head coach Dirk Koetter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks at his play card during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 38-33. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 15: Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals attempts to tackle Brent Grimes #24 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who picked off a pass during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. Cardinals won 38-33. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 15: Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals attempts to tackle Brent Grimes #24 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who picked off a pass during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. Cardinals won 38-33. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Brent Grimes

In the loss to Arizona, the Buccaneer defense looked completely lost in the first half. It found itself a bit in the second, but allowing 38 points isn’t going to win you many games. There weren’t too many bright spots, but Brent Grimes was one. That shouldn’t really be a surprise at this point, as the veteran is the best player in the secondary and the only one playing with any consistency. Grimes is carrying the unit, and he will have to continue to play at a high level on Sunday if the Bucs want to be victorious.

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On the opposite side of him, there’s second-year cornerback Vernon Hargreaves. The former Florida Gator is having an awful year, which even led to his head coach straight-up saying that there is a lot of concern right now. Hargreaves is getting bested left and right, which makes Grimes so important on the other side. Sure, teams are still going to attack VH3’s side, but the vet needs to be at his best to keep any sort of pressure on the opposing quarterback.

In Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, Grimes was targeted just five times. In those five throws, Carson Palmer‘s passer rating was just 53.3. One of those throws ended up going the other way, which was Grimes’ first interception of the year. He also has five passes defended. The former Dolphin might be 34, but he still strikes fear into opposing quarterbacks. Look for a big performance from him against one of his former division rivals this Sunday.

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