The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were not good defensively in the month of November, and gave up 39 and 27 points to the Texans and 49ers, respectively.
This week Tampa Bay gets to take on the Indianapolis Colts, a team featuring Gardner Minshew under center, a quarterback that was only able to put up a measly 10 points last week against the lowly New England Patriots in their matchup across the Atlantic.
Still, the same Colts exploded for 38 points in a week 7 matchup with the top-rated Cleveland Browns defense. It’s important to note that Minshew committed four turnovers in that Browns game, but 38 points is still a ridiculous endeavor against a defense that is vastly superior to the Bucs both in talent and production.
The Buccaneers will also be without veteran defensive leaders Lavonte David and Jamel Dean on Sunday afternoon, and linebacker Devin White is expected to be a game-time-decision.
What does this all mean for the Buccaneers?
Things could go sideways Sunday afternoon in Indy, despite on paper a mismatch for the Bucs.
If Baker Mayfield and this offense don’t turn in a quality performance where they put up at least points, don’t expect the Bucs to come home with a victory.
Luckily, I expect Tampa Bay to do exactly that, taking down the Colts 24-20 at Lucas Oil Stadium for a game that kicks off at 1 p.m.
This game’s a bit of a must-win for the Buccaneers, since going three games below .500 with only six matchups remaining on the schedule would all but put the nail in the 2023 season coffin for Tampa Bay.
The Bucs obviously know this as much as anyone else, and I would expect them to play with a sense of urgency.
Of course, head coach Todd Bowles could come out with his usual vanilla, conservative game plan and treat it as “just another game,” because that seems to be his M.O, but hopefully the defensive-minded coach will feel his seat warming up with every Bucs loss.
Because if Tampa Bay does fall Sunday… yeesh. The coaching staff might want to begin updating their resumes.
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This article originally appeared on CLTAMPA.COM and is used with permission.
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