The Pewter Plank
FanSided

5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to watch vs. Los Angeles Rams

By JT Squillante

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 18: Quarterback Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates with wide receiver Mike Evans #13 after connecting with Evans for a 42-yard touchdown pass during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on December 18, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 18: Quarterback Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates with wide receiver Mike Evans #13 after connecting with Evans for a 42-yard touchdown pass during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on December 18, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 22: Kicker Matt Gay #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks down dejectedly after missing what would have been the game-winning field as time expired during the game against the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 22: Kicker Matt Gay #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks down dejectedly after missing what would have been the game-winning field as time expired during the game against the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

K Matt Gay

Just seeing his name still leaves a little sting; although kicker Matt Gay did not solely cost the pewter and red the game last week, he was directly responsible for leaving five points off the board, including the game-winning chip shot he missed. It is not common to see a kickers name as a player to watch, but us Bucs fans know the pure pain and struggles kickers have brought us.

The entire city of Tampa is just about ready to take the kicking element out of the game of football, as the Buccaneers have not had a reliable option since parting with Matt Bryant. While we cannot do that, the Buccaneers do need Matt Gay to turn things around in a big way on Sunday as he has already missed two field goals and multiple extra points.

Kicking is all mental, so it is going to be interesting to see if the rookie has enough mental strength to block last week’s game out and focus on this one directly in front of him. The Buccaneers selected Gay in the fifth round of the draft, hoping he could solve their kicking crisis, and there is still time to prove he can.

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