Skeleton Keys To Victory: Week Ten – Patriots vs Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are returning fresh off their bye week. They currently are tied for the best record in the NFC at 6-2 and will hopefully be getting several key players back from injury soon. Things are definitely trending in the right direction for the Bucs.

Now they return to action this weekend and play the New England Patriots. This is a New England team that currently has the second best record in the NFL at 7-2. And while I believe that they aren’t necessarily as good as their record indicates, there is no denying that this Patriots team is playing at a high level. 

I won’t go as far as to call this a Super Bowl preview, but it is no doubt a clash of two of the best teams in the NFL right now. If this battered and bruised Bucs team wants to come out on top then they will have to follow my Skeleton Keys to victory!

Handle Henderson

The Patriots rookie running back has started to come on over the last few weeks. TreVeyon Henderson brings an explosiveness that this offense is otherwise lacking and he has big play ability. It has felt like only a matter of time until he is the full time starting running back. 

The Patriots running game has struggled overall this year. They are one of eight teams to not be averaging at least 4.0 yards per carry. Henderson has given them a spark, but the Bucs need to make sure it doesn’t burn them. 

It is important for the Bucs to make this Patriots offense as one dimensional as possible. Taking away the running game will put a lot of pressure on second year quarterback Drake Maye to carry the offense. This will play right into the hands of Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers defense. 

Bring The Blitz

The Patriots rank 31st in sacks allowed this season. The left side of their offensive line are both rookies and Maye is only in his second season as an NFL quarterback, so there is a lot of inexperienced in this passing game. On top of that, they don’t have any great pass catchers who can help take pressure off the offensive line.

This sets up perfectly for the Bucs to blitz a lot in this game. Communication of stunts and blitzes can be hit or miss for rookies and Maye has never seen this Bowles defense which is very complex. Expect the defense to be into their bag of tricks this weekend.

Baker Bounce Back

Despite having a very good pair of starting cornerbacks, the way to attack this Patriots defense is through the air. They are in the bottom ten in passing yards allowed per attempt and have allowed the 4th most passes of 20+ yards this seas on. Much like the Buccaneers, the linebacker position specifically has been a whole in the pass defense.

This sets up for a good bounce back opportunity for Baker Mayfield. After struggling with an injury the last two weeks, Mayfield had a chance to rest and heal during the bye. Now we are hoping to see him fully healthy and playing at an MVP level again. 

This is a good game for him to reconnect with some of his favorite targets. Cade Otton and Rachaad White should be factors this week against this Patriots defense. Make this Patriots team do things they are not good at and exploit that weakness through the air.

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