The Buccaneers (4-11) will see their season come to merciful end on New Year’s Eve when they host the Saints (11-4). Here, for the final time this season, we break down five players that can change this week’s contest.
The 2017 season has been a nightmare for the Buccaneers. Even still, it feels strange that this Sunday is the final game of the year. It brings me some nostalgia… for like ten whole seconds. Then, I remember that this was supposed to be the year that Tampa Bay returned to the postseason. The Bucs made serious moves in the offseason. They brought in a loaded draft class. HBO’s “Hard Knocks” made them their focus this year. There was so much hype. Now, Tampa Bay is 4-11. What a disappointment.
There’s still plenty of talent on this Buccaneer roster. And in the last two weeks, the team continued to fight hard. They realistically could’ve taken down Atlanta and Carolina, two playoff-caliber teams, in back-to-back weeks. Instead, they fell just short. Sometimes, these guys can’t get out of their own way. Other times, this truly looks like a team that could be destined for something great in the not-so-distant future. It’s like a flip of a coin, isn’t it?
Tampa Bay will get New Orleans’ best on Sunday, as the Saints are trying to win the NFC South. Which five players can most impact the game’s final score?