The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2005 but it's not all rainbows and sunshine for this team. Mike Evans is expected to miss time with a hamstring injury, which removes Baker Mayfield's favorite weapon from the offense.
Sure, rookie Emeka Egbuka has looked phenomenal and Chris Godwin should be returning in the next few weeks but Evans is a different kind of talent. This offense will miss him dearly.
With Evans out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, let's look at the next three games on Tampa's schedule and predict how things might shake out for them.
Week 4 vs. Eagles
Up next on the Bucs' schedule is a date with the Philadelphia Eagles in a clash of 3-0 teams. Both teams have, quite frankly, been lucky to get to 3-0 on the year but wins are wins and both of these squads just keep on winning.
The Eagles certainly aren't invincible, nearly losing to all three teams they've had on their schedule to this point. Just as easily as the Bucs could be 0-3, so could the Eagles but that's not the timeline we're living in. One of these teams will more than likely suffer their first loss of the season and while it'd be great if the Bucs could pull this one out, this feels like the most likely loss on their schedule of the next few games.
Jalen Hurts simply finds ways to win games. Even with the Eagles trailing by double-digits last week, Hurts helped lead the Eagles back in that one and, as we saw, the momentum was too much for the Rams to fight off. Even if the Eagles get knocked down early in this one, the Bucs keeping them down is going to be what needs to happen and that's something they nearly blew against the Jets last week.
Prediction: Bucs lose 27-21 and drop to 3-1
Week 5 at Seahawks
The Seahawks are coming off an absolute curb-stomping of the Saints and that game was over before the end of the first quarter. While it was comical watching the Saints get the stuffing beat out of them, Seattle does appear to be a good team and with this game being at Lumen Field, it's going to be a tough one for the Bucs to win.
Not only is Sam Darnold playing really well but the the Seahawks defense has looked pretty good early on as well. This would have been a great game to have Evans for because the Bucs are going to need big time moments from big time players if they want to go into Seattle and win. That's easier said than done, however.
Prediction: Bucs lose 24-17 and drop to 3-2
Week 6 vs. 49ers
The Bucs return home in Week 6 to play the 49ers who, like Tampa, are undefeated three weeks into the season. While it's unlikely that either of these teams will still be undefeated when this Week 6 match-up rolls around, it could happen. The 49ers have played well despite losing Brock Purdy in Week 1 (though he's not going to be out too long) and also losing George Kittle and Nick Bosa.
While this will be a difficult game, if my first two predictions play out that way, Tampa will suddenly be facing a possibility of dropping to .500 by Week 6 and they cannot let that happen. The Niners have been a good team, sure, but they've looked beatable plus those injuries are going to catch up to them eventually. Hopefully the Bucs get back into the win column against them.