Buccaneers Round Table: Can the Bucs get on a winning streak?
Zain Ahmed
If you had asked me earlier this week, I would have told you the chances of the Buccaneers going on a five game winning streak is slim to none. I would’ve told you 10% max. However, something changed my mind, maybe it’s false optimism, but I feel a little more confident now.
The Bucs upcoming schedule isn’t exactly brutal. Their most difficult game in the next four is Detroit. It all comes down to Atlanta to me though. If they can beat Atlanta without Jameis Winston, they can certainly beat Green Bay.
This week against Miami won’t exactly be an easy win, but it’s a game where I expect the Bucs to come away with a victory. The Dolphins are in bad shape. They’ve been shutout twice this season and are fresh off being blown out by Carolina.
Atlanta will be a tough match-up, because the defense will have to play better than they have this season, and the Bucs must establish the run. This formula sounds relatively simple, but even though Atlanta’s offense isn’t playing at the same level as it did last year, it’s still an explosive unit.
The Falcons defense is also still above average as well, and looked particularly dominant against Dallas.
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The game against Green Bay is also a game I’d expect Tampa to come away from victorious. The Packers haven’t exactly been very good since Rodgers has been hurt. This team does have a history of not so great quarterbacks torching them, but I think they can stop Brett Hundley.
If the Bucs are riding a four game winning streak heading into Detroit, I think Winston will return. When they play the Lions on December 10th, they’d be over a month removed from shutting him down. What better game would there be for Winston to return against than whose players have made their disrespect of him known.
Wide receiver Golden Tate and offensive lineman Taylor Decker took shots at Winston for his pregame speech, which admittedly was a little extra, but you can tell he was just trying to motivate his team.
Winston could use their comments to motivate him, and come back strong from his injury, if he isn’t already back of course.
Who knows what the timeline is on his injury, but if he isn’t back by the time they play Detroit, I’d expect him to return, especially if they’re on a winning streak.
People may say something along the lines that the team has been playing better under Fitzpatrick. While I can’t see into the future, I can guarantee that won’t be true.
If the Bucs go on this winning streak it’d be because of the defense, and if the defense is playing lights out, that means there is less pressure on Jameis.
I’m guessing based off what I just said you would expect there’s no way I would think the Bucs won’t, but you’d be wrong.
Even though I argued strongly, I still believe the team has just a 25% chance. This is a rather large jump up from 10% but still shows the lack of confidence I have in the team.
It all comes down to the defense. Can they keep up the level of play they had against New York?
We all know Fitzpatrick can’t carry the offense and he’s going to need a lot of help from the defense.
So, while it isn’t exactly out of the question for the Bucs to go on a five game winning streak, it isn’t very likely in my opinion. Another thing to mention is how tough the NFC is. The Buccaneers could be 8-6 and still not be in a wild card spot, just crazy how competitive the NFC is.