Entering Week 12, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their hands full. Not only have they lost three of the last four, but they face the mighty 8-2 Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night.
It's truly a nightmare scenario. While the Bucs are faltering, and are in danger of falling out of the playoff race, the Rams have won five straight and scored 34 or more points in three of those games. That's a bad combo for a defense that just got gashed by the Buffalo Bills and doesn't seem to be figuring things out.
With a hot offense and dominant defense, Todd Bowles and company will have their work cut out for them.
3 tough challenges the Buccaneers will face in Week 12 against the Rams
Puka Nacua, WR
One of the best receivers in the sport, Puka Nacua is playing exceptionally once again this season. Excluding a scary injury that knocked him out for a couple of games in Week 6, Nacua has less than 75 receiving yards in one game this season.
The shifty elite receiver has dominated defenses since his rookie campaign in 2023. In that rookie season, Nacua's main problem was holding onto the football. He led the league in drops, with 13, but has had two since then in 20 games.
With his biggest flaw in the rearview, nothing is stopping Nacua. Thankfully, he'll be matching up with a strong secondary on Sunday. The problem is that the Bucs allow the sixth most passing yards per game, with 241. Obviously, Nacua is a threat to watch out for, but fans may not understand the attention he must draw in Week 12 to be stopped.
Byron Young, OLB
Young is a dominant pass rusher with nine sacks, which leads the team. Even though he hasn't had a sack in over a month (3 games in that timespan), Young is still top five in the league in sacks.
Drafted in 2023, he's always been productive, but he's setting himself up for his best career season by far. Thankfully, the Bucs' offensive line is slightly above average in sacks allowed per game, but will have to key in heavily on Young during this contest.
Jared Verse, OLB
This defense is tough to go up against, with playmakers everywhere, and Verse is certainly on the list. The second-year Florida State product only has four sacks this season, but co-leads the team with 18 QB hits. Verse has also forced three fumbles; he's an absolute game wrecker.
Last season, Verse won the defensive rookie of the year award, rightfully so, but he's set to blow past his 2025 numbers. With Verse and Young quickly becoming superstars, the Bucs' offensive line better get healthy in a hurry, or else this week could go south.