With just four games left in the season, it's do-or-die time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The good news is that after a losing streak nearly undid the hot start the team had, the Bucs are back in the driver's seat in the NFC South and are in control of their own destiny.
That means if Tampa Bay wins out, they'll win the division for a fourth straight year and punch a playoff ticket for a fifth consecutive season. Even better news is that the Bucs have a handful of scenarios that start to settle into place if they win, but that last bit is the most important.
Winning on Sunday won't be easy, as the Bucs are out in Los Angeles for a tough matchup against the Chargers. Jim Harbaugh's squad is also trying to make a playoff push and need a win, and the game will be the hardest test the Bucs have had since before their bye week.
That means we're going to learn a lot about who this team really is, but we're going to do so without some key players in the lineup.
Full inactives list for Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15 vs. Chargers
The biggest name heading into Sunday was Bucky Irving, who has been battling a hip injury since the win over Carolina a few weeks ago. He was able to start the game last week but ended up needing to come out before halftime and didn't return.
Luckily, Irving isn't among the inactives this week, but it's still unclear how much he'll play. Rachaad White had a nice game against the Raiders last week, as did Sean Tucker, and that could be a duo the Bucs lean on in what should be a slugfest of a game.
That's something that might be tough on a defense that continues to be utterly depleted thanks to injuries. Antoine Winfield Jr., Mike Edwards, and Jordan Whitehead are all out which means Ryan Neal has been elevated to the active roster to help make up the difference.
Given how thin the Bucs are at linebacker too, it wouldn't be surprising to see Neal used as a hybrid like he was last year in a game against Carolina.
Here's everyone who won't be suiting up on Sunday for the Bucs:
Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
Antoine Winfield Jr. | S | Knee |
K.J. Britt | LB | Ankle |
Mike Edwards | S | Hamstring |
Earnest Brown | DL | Healthy Scratch |
Devin Culp | TE | Healthy Scratch |
Royce Newman | OL | Healthy Scratch |
Jose Ramirez | LB | Healthy Scratch |
Having Bucky Irving healthy enough to suit up at least is already a big win for the Bucs, but the defense being as thin as it is raises some concern. Justin Herbert was questionable all week battling an injury but is expected to play.
Tampa Bay might benefit a bit from him not being 100 percent, but it's still going to be a major test for a team that needs to prove it deserves to be in the playoffs. A win on Sunday would go a long way in helping make that argument.
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