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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Game Plan: Week 7 vs Buffalo Bills

By Douglas O'Connor

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 01: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates beating the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 01: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates beating the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will get there first taste off cool weather this season as they travel up to Buffalo to take on the Bills. It may sound cliche, but not turning the ball over and stopping the run will go a long way in buffaloing the Bills.

Offensive Game Plan 

Tampa fans found out Friday that their injured franchise quarterback Jameis Winston will start Sunday against Buffalo after being knocked out of the previous weeks game with a strained AC joint in his throwing shoulder.

While having your starter back most weeks would be a huge boost to an offensive game plan. Winston’s return shouldn’t change they way the Buccaneers attack the Bills defense on Sunday.

The Bucs offensive line have graded out pretty good thus far this season. Especially when it comes to protecting the quarterback, but they haven’t been able to open enough holes to have one of their backs record a 100 rushing yard game.

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This should change this week in Buffalo.

To be fair the Buccaneers have had two games where the team has rushed for over 100-yards, but again not once has a single Bucs running broken the century mark in a game this season.

Look for the Jameis Winston to hand the ball off to running back Doug Martin more than 20 times against the Bills. Even if the running game isn’t clicking in the first half. Tampa’s defense will keep the game close enough where the offense doesn’t have to play catch-up and severely limit Martin’s touches in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

Winston hasn’t turned the ball over in four of the five games he’s started. If he can continue this trend and let punter Bryan Anger pin the Bills deep when a drive stalls. His patience should pay off in the end, as Buffalo lacks the offensive weapons to sustain long clock consuming drives.

Defensive Game Plan

At first glance this seems like a pretty simple game plan for the Buccaneers defense. Stack eight men in the box and make Tyrod Taylor beat you with his arm. If the Bucs were playing the Bills the following week after they faced the Chicago Bears I’d say this game was in the bag, but since we all just witnessed what happened in Arizona; I’m not confident the Bucs run defense can stop my gran-gran in her electric wheelchair.

None the less, it’s still the best way to go.

The Bills do everything. Running back LeSean McCoy isn’t having a LeSean McCoy type year, but neither was Adrian Peterson. However, he is their entire offense. McCoy leads the team in carries, receptions and yards gained on the ground. Further adding to McCoy’s importance this Sunday is that the Bills leading receiver in yardage, TE Charles Clay, has been ruled out with a knee.

Buffalo should get back their only other receiver with 10 or more catches Jordan Matthews, but to be honest, now I’m just looking for any offensive threat. BUT, Tampas’ defense hasn’t showed up on the road at all this year, so get your hopes up at your own risk.

Next: Week 7 Round Table

Special Teams

Short and sweet.

Make your kicks.

The Bills defense has been opportunistic and stingy as a unit. This could be a low scoring game where a 48-yard field goal missed in the 2nd quarter will dramatically alter the play of both teams in the final minutes.

Recap

Offense

  •  Run The Rock! Buffalo’s offense isn’t going to run away and hide from you. Wear ’em down and dominate the 4th quarter.
  • No Interceptions. The Bills stay in games by getting turnovers. 8 Ints so far, all by their secondary. A punt is a win in this game.

Defense

  • Tag LeSean McCoy with a GPS chip and follow him, surround him and don’t let him breathe. I want a Buccaneer sharing his jockstrap EVERY PLAY!
  • If a Bills receiver goes for 8 plus catches for 100 plus yards and 2 touchdowns. I’ll cry… Seriously… Don’t make me cry.

Special Teams

    • Make your kicks. Points could be at a premium. Give fans a reason to love you Patrick Murray.

Thanks for reading.

Be sure to fire off any comments or questions in the space provided for you below.

You can follow me on Twitter @Ren_Daxt, I’m always down to talk Buccaneers football.

Until next time.

GO BUCS!!!

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