The Tampa Bay Buccanneers will be on the road this weekend and face the Washington football team. It was an interesting week nine for the NFL. The LA Rams followed the Buccaneers’ “Super Bowl championship or bust” mentality. Aaron Rodgers tested positive for Covid-19 and did not play in the “State Farm bowl” against Kansas City. The Jaguars beat the Bills and the Giants beat the Raiders. The NFL schedule is now 17 games long. Week nine is usually when the Super Bowl contenders emerge.
Tampa Bay is coming off its bye week. The loss to New Orleans really stung, but there are a lot of lessons that can help to go forward. The penalties have to get reduced by the Bucs. They just have to. Tampa is so talented it can overcome self-inflicted wounds, but against good teams, it makes it really difficult.
The Bucs need to find a way to establish the running game when the running game is being challenged by the opposing defense. There were some good runs against the Saints, and there were some runs that got shut down by the Saint’s defense. As a fan, I’m concerned. I trust the coaches and players to be able to establish a balanced offensive attack against good defenses. Those are the defenses a team faces in the playoffs.
Unfortunately, many players are still recovering from injuries. Gronkowski is out, LB JPP, WR Godwin, and CB Delaney are questionable. CB Rashard Robinson is listed on injured reserve. Thoughts and prayers to the sick, injured players on Tampa Bay and the other NFL teams. Hopefully, every player makes a full recovery.
Heading into the second half of the season. Tom Brady is on pace to throw for over 5000 yards. Evans can add to his NFL record of consecutive seasons with 1000 yards receiving. ” The defense is a historic run defense.” Washington has a record of 2-6. The Bucs are 6-2 and have a 2-2 record on the road. As I’ve said earlier, Tampa is establishing a home-field advantage with the best fans in the NFL! Champions have to win on the road.