Gameday Tampa Bay!
October 30th, 2016
Game 7
Raiders (5-2) at Bucs (3-3)
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: WTSP-TV Channel 10; DirecTV Channel 708.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (WDAE-AM 620 and WFUS-FM 103.5 in Tampa-St.Petersburg region); SiriusXM Channel 157.
Weather: Really good weather. Per AccuWeather.com, tailgaters will enjoy temperatures in the mid-70s but it is expected to quickly shoot up. Kickoff should be 86 degrees and the fourth quarter temperature should push 90. All under beautiful Florida sunshine.
Odds: Per FootballLocks.com, pick’em.
Outlook: This is not a must-win game, though it would be an important victory if the Bucs can pull it off. First, they would beat a team with a winning record, one that has yet to lose on the road this season. The result today will sort of let us know where this Bucs team stands. It is still rebuilding, or could it legitimately make a wild card run… or better? A win sets up a Thursday night game against the Dixie Chicks for first place in the division. When the hell is the last time the Bucs played for first place in the division? It’s been so long, Joe cannot remember. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Beat the Raiders first. Another element why this would be an important win is the Bucs have won only three games at home since Greg Schiano was fired. That is almost inconceivable to Joe, but alas, it is true. It’s finally time to start winning home games. Dirk Koetter pleaded with Bucs fans last week to fill the lower bowl. Fans are so numb and burned out by seasons past, they are in a show-me mode. Win some home games, first. Hence, why the Joe calls the stadium the “Den of Depression.” This is going to be a monster test for the defense. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree is one of the best tandems at wide receiver in the NFL. The last two times the Bucs went up against a powerful duo at receiver, the Bucs got blasted and ripped to shreds at Arizona and Denver, in the words of defensive coordinator Mike Smith, was “a handful.” They hung in there against Denver until late, though, and Joe is of the mind the defense is greatly improved since the Denver loss. How much? Today will be a measurement. Joe doesn’t expect Koetter to launch hurry-up offenses for a couple of reasons: One, he doesn’t have the weapons. Surely Oakland is going to double- or triple-team Mike Evans. After Evans, there is nothing but schlock for receiver (yeah, yeah, yeah, Rudy Humphries is an OK slot receiver but do you think he keeps defensive coaches awake at night?). Joe believes, with Oakland struggling with rushing defense, the Bucs are going to play smashmouth football, which is how they got their last two wins. If the Bucs can’t win this game, the season is far from over, but this would be a very nice win for both the franchise and fan engagement.
Trinkets: The Raiders lead the league in fewest sacks allowed (seven). … Oakland is eighth in points per game (26.4). … The Raiders are last in both passing yards allowed per game (302) and total offensive yards allowed a game (430). … The Raiders are tied for second in the NFL in turnover ratio at +8. … Tampa Bay is 11th in rushing yards a game (115.3). … The Bucs are 13th in both passing yards per game (237.5) and total yards per game (350.7). … The Bucs are giving up an average of 26.5 points a game, eighth worst in the NFL. … The Bucs are fourth in the NFL in completion percentage allowed (58.3 percent). … WRs Cooper and Crabtree have averaged 11.2 receptions and 153.6 yards per game this year. Both players have caught at least four passes in 17 of the team’s 23 games since 2015. The Raiders are 9-4 when they have combined for at least 10 receptions. DE Khalil Mack is but one of six players in NFL history to have at least five sacks and one forced fumble in a game. In only three seasons, QB Derek Carr has engineered seven fourth-quarter/overtime comebacks and game-winning drives. … Raiders CB David Amerson has an NFL-best 36 passes defensed since the start of the 2015 season. His 11 passes defended this season ranks first among all defenders in the NFL. … A win today by Oakland would give the Raiders their first 6-2 start since 2001, when Chucky coached the club to a 10-6 record and made it to the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs. … When QB Jameis Winston threw for three touchdown passes last week, he tied Craig Erickson for the seventh-most passing touchdowns in team history (34). … WR Mike Evans is now eighth in franchise history in touchdown catches (21) and is currently tied with Crabtree for most touchdown catches this season (six). … CB Brent Grimes is third in the NFL in passes defended (nine). … Since entering the league in 2012, only J.J. Watt has more tackles for loss (120) than OLB Lavonte David (74).
October 30th, 2016 at 10:08 am
Shootout at rayjay. Bucs 38-30
October 30th, 2016 at 10:08 am
Ayers ,McCoy and Spence all day baby !!!!!! GO BUCS!
October 30th, 2016 at 10:20 am
Run the ball all game!!!!! Put NS57 on Fat Albert errrrr I mean Donald Penn!!!! Let him run right by him all game!!!!! Carr throws the ball to quick for sacks, put shorten the coverage!!!!!!!
Go America!!!!
And GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 30th, 2016 at 10:21 am
I am sure the Raiders will be keyed in on trying to take ME13 out of the mix as well as stopping the run. This may be a game where many players get targeted including Humphries and Brate. I think our offense will be able to move the ball against Oakland and put up some points if we do not turn the ball over or kill ourselves with penalties. We need to establish the run and set up play action passes. Also it would be nice to see some roll outs by Jameis as he seems to do better for some reason when outside of the pocket. On Defense, we may not get to Carr unless the secondary can blanket Cooper and Crabtree giving the DL and any blitzes called to get pressure on Carr. This is a winnable game but we cant afford to fall behind and try to play catch up because it may make us more one dimensional on offense and we do not want Jameis to have to try to beat the raiders through the air. We need long, time consuming drives that end in points (preferably TD’s) so the Oakland Defense gets tired and keeps the Raiders offense on the sidelines. If we can do that then our offense is essentially partially playing defense. If it ends up being the other way around and our defense is on the field a lot, then this may be a long afternoon.
October 30th, 2016 at 10:29 am
Riddahs!! Its time to whoop some a$$.
October 30th, 2016 at 10:35 am
For two years we couldn’t stop a average Quarterback but now we are going to stop David Carr and those receivers
We will be behind because of Koetters predictable run run pass
Will be forced to play catch-up and will be a shootout
Will be similar to the Los Angeles Rams game last year
Our defense will look like crap
they will spread the field and Murray will run down our throat
Vh3 will be exposed and revealed
October 30th, 2016 at 10:39 am
Repeat This 3x Out Loud!!!
THE BUCS ARE GONNA DOMINATE TODAY!!!
October 30th, 2016 at 10:42 am
Kobe Faker it must suck to be you….
October 30th, 2016 at 10:42 am
kobe faker aka chicken little!!!!!!
Do you ever leave your house??? I mean a meteor could land on your head while you dodge the piano that fell out of the second story floor!!!!
October 30th, 2016 at 10:46 am
Apparently the “Faker” in Kobe Faker’s name means fake Buc fan, geez. I’m all for being realistic, but not negative.
October 30th, 2016 at 10:51 am
Shep and Hump…..feed them early and often so they don’t see it coming.
Let’s Go Bucs!!!!
October 30th, 2016 at 10:57 am
Plunder the Raiders. Make the Raiders walk the plank, throw em in Tampa Bay. Hey!
October 30th, 2016 at 11:05 am
I’ll knock the dust off that.
October 30th, 2016 at 11:08 am
I am T-Totally with Ray Rice.
Also I took the Bucs in my Pick em today. Did you?
October 30th, 2016 at 11:09 am
T-A-M-P-A!!!!
October 30th, 2016 at 11:13 am
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Beat the Raiders first!
Wise words Joe, Wise words indeed.
October 30th, 2016 at 11:26 am
Joe, isn’t this joe-BUCS-fan dot com? Then use a Buccaneers’ cheerleader picture for this piece! (would prefer Rachel, too!)
October 30th, 2016 at 11:30 am
There is something that occured to me yesterday. We always obsess on sacks.
And yes they are a good thing.
But when you think about it a holding penalty is just as effective as a sack…10 yards down the tubes for the offense.
So yes the Raiders keep sacks to a minimum but they are surrendering just as many yards with their large amount of offensive holding penalties.
I now wish there was a companion stat to sacks. How many times a defender draws an offensive hold. This may make us view GMC in an entirely different light. Haven’t seen that stat so I’m just suggesting not stating unequivocally.
I would love to see the stats on defensive players who cause holding penalties.
.
October 30th, 2016 at 11:34 am
I think J Rodgers, Russell Shepard and Evans all go over the 100-yd mark today.
October 30th, 2016 at 11:35 am
I’m also hoping for big things from Peyton Barber today.
October 30th, 2016 at 11:39 am
Go bucs!!!!
October 30th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Happy to see some of NFL Network guys picking the Bucs..Marriucci and someone else did…Yeah baby! Bring on my guys!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 30th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
Interesting point on the holding calls St. Pete!
SB, I’ve got them too but, I’m considering changing it….. It’s the 1 game I’m just not sure about!
October 30th, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Boomer just said it perfectly. Bucs have won the last 2 games because they took the ball out of Winston’s hands.
October 30th, 2016 at 12:12 pm
@StPeteBucsFan
I got a chance to talk to one of The Buc Realist’s sources this week, and gave a warning. That the back half of the season, that Coach Smitty was really going to unleash the defense, especially the last 4 games and see who are the “Grown Men” on this team!!!! That we are going to see things not seen around this area for a very long time!!!!! Things that make the crowd point in that “did you just see that”!!!!! as the whole crowd yells the owwwwwww!!!!!
Good times will be ahead!!! and I suggest that the last 4 games can be a “must see”!!!!! can’t wait!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 30th, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Realist- RIGHT???? I was born at night but not last night. Who’s your source, some guy falling off a bar stool?
October 30th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
Realist
Great news. I think Smitty has this defense where he wants it now. Health will be the only issue. I think as Noah Spence’s shoulder continues to heal he’s going to become disruptive.
October 30th, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Don’t do it UB!! Stay the course brother
October 30th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
@Bucnut2
that is not how sources work!!! But when I mention “the buc realist source” some real truth usually comes out of it,,,,,check the archives!!!!!!!!
The main plan is to have 60% of the packages installed and running in the last 4 games, JS56 was a set back as he was a pass rusher that really got of work in dropping in coverage and running in the flats for pass defense!!! But something is really starting to cook!!!!
Go America!!!!!!!!!!
And Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 30th, 2016 at 1:00 pm
I stayed the course SB, but can’t say I feel confident!