Sunday’s matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots is shaping up to potentially be one of the best games of the season.
The Bucs and the Pats are rolling, coming in with just two losses each. The quarterbacks have played some out-of-this-world football, and their defenses are shutting down the opposition. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel isn’t known for his unique schemes like Todd Bowles is, but his teams are physical and gritty. Thankfully, the Bucs have shown they can win those types of games this season already.
In what should be a close and physical contest, here are five individual matchups that could go towards determining the outcome of the game.
WR Emeka Egbuka vs CB Christian Gonzalez
As wide receiver one, Egbuka needs to step up for the Bucs this week. He’ll likely get matched up with Gonzalez most of the day in what will likely be a dog fight between two of the league’s promising young players.
The Patriots are 6-0 this season when Gonzalez suits up. He’s limited the quarterback to a 50% completion rate when targeted and a passer rating of just 67.3%. He has not allowed a touchdown on the season, although he has been beaten for several explosive plays.
Egbuka will likely be matched up one-on-one with Gonzalez and will need to show he can separate and win against one of the league's best up-and-coming talents. If he can shake the coverage and be the weapon he was to start the season, the Bucs will have a better chance at securing the win.
Bucs Right Guard? vs DT Christian Barmore
I’m not sure who is going to start for the Bucs on Sunday, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Luke Haggard. The third-year linemen is back from a shoulder injury that knocked him out for two games. In his place, Michael Jordan and Dan Feeney both started games to middling results. Whoever will be manning the right guard spot will have their hands full.
Barmore has been extremely disruptive this season as a pass rusher, but his dominance as a run stuffer has helped the Patriots boast the number one run defense in the NFL. He’s tallied 29 pressures, aligning all across the front, but has done most of his damage rushing the B gap. He’ll have help at times from a returning Luke Goedeke, but how he holds up against Barmore will go a long way in determining the outcome of the game.
LB SirVocea Dennis vs TE Hunter Henry
It’s been a rough start to the year for SirVocea Dennis in coverage. Although he displayed signs of improvement before the bye. So far in the season, he’s allowed 90% of his targets to be completed for 36 receptions, 484 yards, and a touchdown. He’s missed nine tackles on the season and is allowing a quarterback passer rating of 125.4% when targeted. Things don’t get easier with the Patriots' 12-personnel happy offense coming to Tampa.
Henry has been one of Maye’s go-to targets, especially in the red zone, where three of his four touchdowns this season have come. He’s been a plus blocker for the Pats and a chain mover with 22 first downs. He can still pick up some yards after the catch as well, and presents plenty of problems for the defense. The Pats will also deploy veteran Austin Hooper, who has 13 receptions for 174 yards and a red zone reception himself. If Dennis can limit the production over the middle of the field, it will stymie New England's offensive rhythm.
OLB Yaya Diaby vs LT Will Campbell
Diaby has really turned it on over his last few games. He’s notched four sacks over the last three weeks with 10 pressures and four tackles for loss. He’s received extra attention and will until Haason Reddick returns from injury, but has still been able to affect the quarterback. Diaby will be sure to try to take advantage of Campbell’s inexperience in their matchup.
However, the Patriots' first-round rookie left tackle has been pretty solid over the season. He’s let up five sacks on the season, albeit two of them were to Myles Garrett. Welcome to the NFL. Though he’s also allowed 20 pressures this year. He’ll get help at times from his tight ends, but will need to win his solo matchups against Diaby to keep him from getting to Drake Maye.
LG Ben Bredeson vs DT Milton Williams
Like Barmore, Williams creates a ton of problems in his own right. One of the Patriots' big-ticket free agent acquisitions, he has four sacks and 32 pressures on the season with 14 stuffs in the run game. He’s been everything as advertised and more for New England's top-ranked defense and will present plenty of problems for Ben Bredeson and the Bucs offense on Sunday.
Bredeson popped up on the injury report this week, missing Thursday’s practice with a shoulder designation. It could have just been for precautionary and rest measures, but it will be something to monitor during the game. Just as whoever starts at right guard will get help from Goedeke, Bredeson will receive his from Tristan Wirfs, who will see his fair share of Williams as well. However, Bredeson must win his one-on-one battles with Williams to ensure the offense's success.