Pewter Preview For Week 8

BUCS vs. FALCONS

WHEN: Sunday, October 27, 2024 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL) | KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m. ET | TV: FOX

Sport day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report employees to make its weekly recreation predictions and provide up our recreation preview of this week’s matchup. Tell us what you assume within the article feedback part and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: The Curse Of The Creamsicles Lives On In One other Bucs Loss

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photograph by: USA At the moment

That is going to offend a few of you Tampa Bay followers, but when the Bucs lose as soon as extra within the creamsicle uniform recreation it’s time to bury Bucco Bruce once more. But so long as you retain shopping for the retro merch the crew will hold trotting out the losingest uniforms in NFL historical past on an annual foundation. The throwback recreation has been a enjoyable novelty over time – till kickoff. Then the crew has misplaced the final 4 video games with the winking pirate helmet in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2023. With out Chris Godwin and Mike Evans and with a protection enjoying absolute horrible soccer proper now I anticipate the orange and white dropping streak to achieve 5 video games.

To be able to have an opportunity at beating the Falcons, Todd Bowles must play extra man protection with tighter protection – however he gained’t. He’ll proceed to play tender zone. Bowles must get the worst inside linebacker within the NFL, Okay.J. Britt, off the sector on passing downs – however he gained’t. He’ll hold J.J. Russell on the bench. Bowles thinks that merely higher communication will repair all of the woes on protection. I don’t assume Kirk Cousins will throw for 509 yards once more, however over 300? Yeah, pencil that in.

I belief Liam Coen greater than I belief Bowles proper now when it comes to figuring issues out and making changes. Getting an early lead – and holding it – will likely be crucial if the Bucs have an opportunity of beating the Falcons. I’m excited to see what Coen can do with out Evans and Godwin and the way artistic he will be. I only a feeling it gained’t be sufficient as Bowles’ protection gained’t have the ability to cease Cousins and the Falcons’ offense. I used to be the one one to select the Bucs to beat the Ravens final week and look what occurred. Within the phrases of The Who – I gained’t be fooled once more.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Falcons 27, Bucs 20REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 3-4

Matt Matera: Bucs Shock Falcons And Win In The Creamsicles

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photograph by: USA At the moment

Usually, Bucs followers have gotten offended when Tampa Bay wears their creamsicle throwback jerseys as a result of they’ve solely gained as soon as in 2009 for the reason that crew has worn them in 5 video games as an alternate uniform. However, with every part down for the Bucs in the intervening time, it solely is sensible that the damaging of the Bucs accidents and the damaging of the Creamsicles would reverse the curse and have the crew win, proper?

It actually goes to be an uphill battle for the Bucs on Sunday in opposition to the Falcons. Not having Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to work with is tough, however not unimaginable. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen should be in his bag on this one, however fortunately he’s acquired an important run recreation to assist him out and on prime of that, an offensive line that has been as sturdy as ever. If Tampa Bay can proceed its speeding assault with Rachaad White, Sean Tucker and hopefully Bucky Irving, the crew will management the tempo of play. With little go speeding assault from Atlanta, Mayfield can have time to throw and finally somebody at receivers will get open.

Tampa Bay’s protection is what I’m very apprehensive about. At this level, I don’t belief Todd Bowles to make the correct changes to decelerate the Falcons offense. All they’ll hope for is that they restrict Bijan Robinson like they did final time and play extra man-to-man. The zone protection in the course of the sector has killed the Bucs. It’ll take a turnover or two to win it, however one way or the other, someway, the Bucs fall right into a splash play. A win retains their season on monitor.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 28, Falcons 24MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 4-3

Bailey Adams: Choosing The Bucs In opposition to My Higher Judgement

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

All the pieces is telling me to select in opposition to the Bucs this week. They’re on a brief week after dropping their prime two receivers to damage. The Falcons simply had Kirk Cousins run up a franchise-record 509 passing yards in a 36-30 extra time win over Todd Bowles’ crew three weeks in the past. I’m not a believer within the “creamsicle curse,” however for the sake of the argument right here, that’s only a cherry on prime of what really feel like unhealthy vibes going into the weekend.

However in opposition to all of my very own logic and every part I’m feeling about this one, I feel the Bucs may discover a means. At first, it’s on Bowles to seek out solutions for Cousins and this Atlanta offense. If Tampa Bay’s protection can’t play one in all its finest video games of the season and hold Cousins, Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson in verify, it’s curtains for this crew’s probabilities of avoiding the season sweep by the hands of the Falcons.

I feel this protection could just do sufficient. And I’ve some newfound religion within the Tampa Bay run recreation, particularly after it proved New Orleans wasn’t a fluke and took it to Baltimore’s top-ranked run protection in Week 7. I just like the run recreation to paved the way and Baker Mayfield to play a clear recreation and make it work, linking up with Sterling Shepard and Cade Otton for touchdowns in a slender Buccaneers win. It most likely is unnecessary, however I’m rolling with the crew in orange and white in opposition to my higher judgement.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 23, Falcons 20ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 4-3

Josh Queipo: Bucs Rally To Win Late At Dwelling

In a uncommon Week 8 playoff-like recreation the Bucs will face off in opposition to themselves. Sure, Tampa Bay will likely be with out their two most prolific receivers. And sure, the protection has been a sieve for giant swaths of the season. However right here’s one thing we would not be contemplating sufficient. The Falcons’ protection is definitely worse than the Bucs. The place the Bucs are permitting 0.036 EPA/play the Falcons are permitting 0.043. And whereas the Bucs permit successful price of 45.8% the Falcons permit 46%.

The Bucs have an inconsistent go rush. The Falcons have no go rush. The Bucs have compelled 10 turnovers this yr to simply seven for the Falcons. The Falcons allowed 18 factors to a hapless Steelers offense and 20 to the Panthers. The Bucs offense, behind a Prime 5 offensive line (yep, you learn that proper), will generate sufficient yards and factors to assist a protection that I anticipate will play higher than it did in Tampa Bay’s Week 5 loss in Atlanta and hold the Bucs’ playoff hopes alive.

I anticipate much less Okay.J. Britt, extra dime protection and a greater exhibiting in the course of the sector. I anticipate offensive coordinator Liam Coen to proceed to impress, underneath abridged circumstances and re-calibrated expectations whereas pushing Tampa Bay’s run recreation into the higher echelon of the league. And I anticipate the crew’s yo-yo season to proceed for yet one more week.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 23, Falcons 21QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 4-3

Adam Slivon: Bucs Clear Up Protection, Do Sufficient To Beat Falcons

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

Lots has modified when wanting on the trajectory of the Bucs’ season this week. As they put together to face the Falcons for the second time prior to now month, they want to keep afloat and persevere regardless of dropping two of their greatest offensive items. One can’t understate dropping Chris Godwin and Mike Evans in the course of a troublesome gauntlet of video games.

Nonetheless, Baker Mayfield seems assured in his remaining weapons and may have the ability to distribute the ball to them adequately sufficient to maneuver the soccer when wanted. Mayfield gained’t must shoulder as a lot of the offense, particularly with the run recreation coming to life over the previous few weeks. The three-headed monster that’s Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, and Sean Tucker stays, as does an offensive line that has solely gotten higher because the season has progressed. Whereas one shouldn’t anticipate continued 30-plus level outbursts, there may be sufficient expertise to assume they’ll keep in ballgames – so long as the protection will get it collectively.

Todd Bowles’ unit is performing the worst it has throughout his tenure as head coach. Regardless of having the expertise to be above-average, defensive gameplans haven’t been as much as par in stopping their matchups this season. Arguably the worst exhibiting that they had got here Thursday night time in opposition to the Falcons, a recreation the place Kirk Cousins had 509 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. By comparability, that was greater than double the passing yards of ANY recreation Cousins has had this season (241 passing yards in Week 2 is his second-highest). What ought to assistance is realizing how Atlanta will assault them, however there have to be changes made to not expertise Déjà vu on Sunday afternoon.

The crew has proven resolve prior to now in must-win video games and did so lately after touring to New Orleans early earlier than Hurricane Milton hit Tampa Bay. They should present that very same psychological fortitude once more after some large losses have thrown them a mid-season curveball. This week, the familiarity of dealing with the Falcons once more ought to work of their favor. Coloration me an optimist, however I predict they sneak out a detailed win to remain alive within the NFC South and reverse their fortunes rocking the Creamsicle uniforms.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 20, Falcons 17SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 4-3

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