Buccaneers fans won't like Chris Simms' prediction for Sunday's game
By Josh Hill
After a rough four-game losing streak, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' season is starting to even out—literally. The Bucs are 6-6 after winning their last two games, and the stars are aligned for them to make it three in a row on Sunday.
A two-win Las Vegas Raiders team is coming to Raymond James Stadium, which should be a game the Bucs win and use to take another step toward making the playoffs. A victory on Sunday coupled with a loss by the Falcons would put Tampa Bay back into first place in the NFC South.
That's also why there's so much anxiety about the Bucs potentially falling into a trap game.
Las Vegas isn't good, but they're not the worst team Tampa Bay will have faced this year. Desmond Ridder might get the start on Sunday, meaning he'd be trying to follow up his last win at Raymond James with another. Ridder was Atlanta's quarterback when they came into Tampa last year and won, but even if he doesn't start and it's Aiden O'Connell under center the Bucs will have their work cut out for them one way or another.
Are the Buccaneers about to fall into a trap game against the Raiders?
PFT's Chris Simms has been one of the more even-keeled analysts when it comes to breaking down the Bucs. He's been fair when others have dismissed Tampa Bay and hasn't pulled punches when the team has let him down.
That's why his reaction to the Bucs being so heavily favored against the Raiders is noteworthy.
“I’m shocked [the Buccaneers] are favored by 6 1/2,” Simms said. “Kind of everybody moves the ball on them except the Giants with Tommy DeVito. So that’s where I was shocked.”
Most Bucs fans have already tempered their expectations given how things have gone this year, as nothing is promised and there haven't been many easy victories. Even the blowout win over the New Orleans Saints in October was a little dicey and saw the team blow a big lead, which is why everyone was on edge for the win over the Giants even though that was put away early.
Expecting the Bucs to roll the Raiders is inviting disaster. The Bucs should have soundly beaten the Panthers last Sunday but needed to force overtime and barely snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Tampa Bay can't afford to take the Raiders defense for granted, one that nearly marched into Arrowhead on Black Friday and came away with an upset win. The way that game ended -- with a bizarre officiating call that screwed Las Vegas out of a game-winning field goal attempt -- could be fueling a fire in the belly of a team that clearly has a ton of fight in it.
Hopefully the Bucs don't open themselves up to indulging that, which is clearly something that has Simms spooked.
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