The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 6-4, and barely holding on to the top spot in the NFC South. With the 6-5 Carolina Panthers lurking, the Bucs really need a win to stay ahead of Carolina. However, Tampa Bay will be tasked with getting that win against a really tough Los Angeles Rams team. Playing the 8-2 Rams on Sunday Night Football, the Bucs will have their hands full in front of the football world.
While Tampa Bay has proven to be a good team that can compete with any team in the league, Sunday’s game could get rough. The Bucs certainly have what it takes to get a win in Los Angeles, but it’s impossible to ignore the team’s defensive struggles in recent weeks. With how the Rams have been rolling this season, the Buccaneers defense will be under a lot of pressure to deliver in primetime.
Buccaneers defense must play better for Tampa Bay to win against Rams
In Week 11, Tampa Bay scored 32 points, had 367 yards of offense, and possessed the ball for just over 35 minutes. Still, the Bucs loss. That’s because the defense gave up 44 points and 414 yards, and Bills quarterback Josh Allen had three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns. The Bucs offense tried to keep up, but teams aren’t going to win many games when the defense is struggling like that.
Tampa Bay also gave up 28 points and 435 yards in a loss against the New England Patriots the week prior to playing Buffalo. On the season, the Buccaneers are allowing 342 yards per game, 22nd in the NFL, and 25 points per game, also 22nd in the league. Now, those unimpressive numbers will be up against a hot Rams offense.
Los Angeles is averaging 360.9 yards per game (8th) and 27.2 points per game (6th), and has really been on a heater in its last four games. The Rams have scored 35, 34, 42, and 21, in four straight games. Matthew Stafford is an MVP candidate, and Puka Nacua and Davante Adams have been unguardable.
Simply put, if the Buccaneers defense can’t find their rhythm and slow Los Angeles down, they will put pressure on the Tampa Bay offense to keep pace. That will either result in another shootout, or the Bucs being embarrassed on Sunday Night Football.