Bucs Must Stay Grounded Against Chiefs
Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Remember a few weeks ago, when the Bucs looked to be the class of the NFC South? A lot has changed since then, and now they are in what almost amounts to a must-win situation against the Kansas City Chiefs. Based on the last few weeks, that might seem impossible. The good news for the Bucs is that they are still a talented team (even though they have lost a few key guys to injuries), which makes this a tough, but winnable game. Let’s take a look at a couple of keys if the Bucs want to get the job done.
Ride the Three-Headed Monster
One of the biggest keys for the Bucs in this game is to pound the rock, as that will help not only the offense but also the defense. The Chiefs have the second-best running defense in the league, but if any team is going to find success against it, it will be the Bucs.
Bucky Irving and Raschaad White averaged at least 4.7 yards per attempt, but they weren’t given enough chances. Irving had only nine rushing attempts while White only carried the rock six times. Don’t forget about Sean Tucker, who the coaching staff raved about just a couple of weeks ago. Two or three carries a game isn’t near enough. Irving has missed some practices with a toe injury but, it sounds like that’s something he’s just going to have to deal with the rest of the year, and he should be good to go on Monday night.
Carrying the ball will also help keep the ball out of Patrick Mahomes hands. The fewer opportunities that the Chiefs have on offense, the better the chance the Bucs come out on top. It might sound crazy, given how the Bucs offense has found success scoring, but the lower scoring this game is, the better the chances for the underdogs.
Limit Self Self-Inflicted Wounds
Far too often, especially recently, the offense has been killing themselves, even if the scoreboard has looked impressive. In the last game against the Falcons, Baker Mayfield completed 37 of his 50 passing attempts for 330 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. The interceptions continue to come at the worst possible time, and against the Chiefs, it will take a near-perfect effort to outduel both Mahomes and the Chiefs’ defense.
Mayfield will take the brunt of the blame, but he’s not the only one making foolish mistakes. White had a costly fumble in the first quarter that started off last week’s game on the wrong foot. It’s not to say the Bucs need to be perfect and score on every drive, but they can’t continue to have two or three turnovers a game.
Antonie Winfield Jr. Must Ball Out
It’s often crucial for a team’s best defensive players to be on their game, but it will be even more important on Monday. This Chiefs offense doesn’t have as many playmakers at its disposal as it did in years past, but Travis Kelce and Mahomes are still there. Kelce is always a threat after the catch, and that’s where Antonie Winfield Jr. comes in.
The Bucs can’t let the Chiefs nickel-and-dime them down the field, and limiting Kelce’s yards after the catch will go a long way to accomplishing that. If Winfield can get an interception, that would be an added bonus.
Keep Mahomes Confused
The most important thing for the Bucs in this game will be to figure out a way to confuse Mahomes, which might be easier said than done, according to Todd Bowles.
“I think he sees the game so much better,” Bowles said of Mahomes. “Obviously, since he’s older, he’ll see it a lot better, but he sees stunts at the line, he knows when he can take off, he knows where the line of scrimmage is when to dump the ball off. He knows what to do to win the game. He’s not really looking for stats, he’s looking to win the ballgame.”
Everything could go right for the Bucs, and they could still lose. Still, if the Bucs can focus on things like limiting mistakes and making sure not to abandon the running game, they’ll give themselves the best chance to move above .500 instead of falling below.
Up Next