It’s do-or-die time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite being a miserable 1-6 since the bye week and falling to 7-8, they still control their own destiny toward a fifth straight NFC South title.
If the Bucs go 2-0 in their final two games, they punch their ticket to the postseason, without relying on help from anybody else to clinch. It’s a simple task, and one the Bucs should frankly be able to accomplish with all of the talent in that locker room.
The first step is beating the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, and if they rise to the occasion in some specific areas, it’ll make the task that much more doable.
3 bold predictions for Buccaneers vs. Dolphins
Bucs contain De’Von Achane
Going against seventh-round rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers without the team’s best receiver in Tyreek Hill, the Bucs should be able to zero-in on a dangerous Miami rushing attack and force a Ewers to beat them with his arm.
Achane is Miami’s best player on offense, and Tampa Bay will have to contain him if they want to win. The Bucs have a relatively stout run defense, but they’re 1-5 this season when allowing opponents to rush for 100 or more total yards. Achane has surpassed 80+ rushing yards by himself in eight games this season, which is over half of Miami’s games played.
They can’t allow Achane to take over this game, or they’ll be in big trouble.
Bold Prediction: The Bucs rush defense shuts down Achane and the Miami run game, holding them to under 100 team rushing yards en route to a much-needed win.
Bucs run wild against Dolphins defense
Miami ranks in the bottom seven in terms of rush defense, allowing 130 rush yards per game on the season.
It wouldn’t be shocking if the Bucs deploy the same game plan they did last week against the Panthers, hoping to attempt at least 30 rushes and control the clock, hoping for a different result this time around.
Expect a heavy dose of Bucky Irving, with a smaller sample size of Rachaad White and Sean Tucker sprinkled in for a game where the Bucs’ rushing attack will dominate.
Bold Prediction: The Bucs eclipse 150 team rushing yards for the second week in a row.
Buccaneers bounce back with a blowout win
After losing six of their last seven games, the Buccaneers are desperate for a win. In order to revive their season and win the NFC South, they have to win Sunday against Miami and again in Week 18 against the Carolina Panthers.
As bad as the Bucs have been, they’re still too talented to lose to this reeling Dolphins team with the season on the line. They’ve got too much veteran leadership to go out in such disappointing fashion with so much at stake.
They’ll use all of the built up frustration from their second-half skid and take it all out on Miami, leaving with a dominant victory and carrying some momentum into a do-or-die Week 18 matchup for the division title.
Bold Prediction: The Bucs make a statement in Miami, winning by at least 2 touchdowns.