3 Buccaneers that could save the team’s playoff hopes
By Rob Leeds
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are perched precariously between making the playoffs and falling out of the race, and these three hold fate in their hands.
The Buccaneers are playing in their biggest game of the season this weekend. The matchup versus the Minnesota Vikings will directly impact the Buccaneers making the playoffs or falling out of contention.
At seven and five, the Bucs can’t afford to lose a game now. The Bucs are tailed closely by the Cardinals and the Vikings, and one of those teams won’t make the playoffs. Losing to the Vikings could destroy the Buccaneers’ chances of ending their playoff drought.
The Buccaneers will need to be firing on all cylinders this weekend if they hope to pull out a win, and these three individuals in the organization hold the ability to make or break these chances more than anyone else.
#1 Tom Brady
Tom Brady probably holds the future of this team in his hands more than anyone else. The starting quarterback has a more significant impact and more sway on a team than anyone else. Brady has experienced various highs and lows this season, but this final stretch comes down to him.
The Buccaneers moved off of Jameis Winston because they believed Brady would give the team the better shot at the playoffs. Therefore, it is entirely reasonable to think that Brady should be the necessary glue to get this team to the next level.
When Tom Brady is playing well, nothing else on the field matters. The play-calling may fall short, the opposing defense may be good, but Tom Brady at the top of his game is impossible to stop.
The Buccaneers need the dominant version of Tom Brady that they have seen at moments this year to step up, and if so, their chances of winning this game on Sunday and rolling into the playoffs is substantially higher.