Skeleton Keys To Victory: Cardinals vs Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost three games in a row and four of their last five. There is no sugar coating how disappointing these last few weeks have been. However, if there is a ray of hope it is that the schedule is lightening up starting this week. 

The last three opponents, the Patriots, Bills and Rams, are a combined 26-8. Now this week the Bucs will host an Arizona Cardinals team that already has 8 losses by themselves. To right the ship, the Bucs will have to follow my week thirteen skeleton keys to victory. 

Cardinals Travel By Air

Much of the conversation this week will be about the quarterback matchup and how it isn’t very good. The Bucs might start backup Teddy Bridgewater and Arizona will start journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brisset. Logic tells me that this will probably be a grind it out, run heavy type of football game.

That is if both teams thought logically. In fact, the Cardinals have thrown more passes than any other team in the NFL this year. And while you might think that is because they are always behind, keep in mind that Brisset threw 49 passes last week in a game where they led going into halftime and midway through the fourth quarter. 

It seems likely that the Cardinals offense will be fairly pass happy once again this week. It’s a matchup that should favor the Bucs. Whether it be Tampa’s cornerback talent or Todd Bowles bringing pressure against a backup quarterback, them throwing the ball should play into the Bucs favor.

On Defense, What You See Is What You Get

In recent weeks I have heard that the Buccaneers defense is too complicated. Too many exotic looks, dropping pass rushers into coverage, etc. Fans have become a little tired of the scheme that the Bucs are running.

This weekend, those fans will get a glimpse of what the grass looks like on the other side of the fence. The Cardinals have the 10th lowest blitz rate in the NFL. They also run the 7th most base package sets in the NFL. It’s a defense that isn’t really trying to surprise anyone.

This should make it fairly easy to prepare for. Josh Grizzard should have a good gameplan for this fairly bland defensive unit. If he can’t figure this one out, then it’s time to be very concerned about his development as a play caller.

Buccaneers On The Mend

The Buccaneers are entering their home stretch now. They have just six regular season games before the playoffs. Now is the time that this team needs to start hitting their stride.

A big part of that is getting players back healthy. Bucky Irving is expected to return this week. Baker Mayfield may or may not play as well after getting hurt on Sunday night. We will see on some of the other short term injuries such as Jamel Dean, Benjamin Morrison, Ben Bredeson and Haason Reddick, but none of those guys should be out much longer.

Getting everyone back healthy and jelling together at this time of year is critical. It’s something that goes well beyond this game, but rather is what they need to do for a postseason run. That process starts this weekend.