During this three-game losing streak, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4) have dropped themselves to last place in the NFC South and have seen bad headlines spiraling their team.
Seven weeks in and the Bucs have been far from what many fans expected coming into 2017. Now, after putting themselves in a hole, Tampa Bay gets their chance to fight back against their division foes, the Carolina Panthers (4-3).
This game is the first divisional match-up for Tampa Bay of this season as Carolina lost their first divisional game to New Orleans. This is nearly a must-win situation for the Bucs, the team must begin to put things together this week if they expect a post-season run.
The Panthers on the other hand, would definitely like to win this week because they are facing a bunch of negative attention surrounding QB Cam Newton after he, once again, left his weekly press conference. Carolina is also on a losing streak, having lost their last two games.
Cam Newton walks out on press conference (again).
Last week Cam failed to fulfill his weekly media obligations on Wednesday or Thursday. pic.twitter.com/VcPnuNMdtl
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) October 26, 2017
The key for the Bucs has to be the front seven. They must pressure Newton and they must stop the run. The team will be without cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Robert McClain this week, and with that group already underperforming as it is, you have to help them out as much as you can this week.
QB Jameis Winston is marked as questionable going into this week, but the way the team has been talking, Winston will suit up Sunday.
This Tampa Bay offense hasn’t been too bad as of late, they’ve been inconsistent and streaky but you can tell their improving. The big thing for Winston and the offense has to be protecting the football after turning it over three times in Buffalo, ultimately losing the game had it not been for those turnovers.
Prediction: Carolina wins 35-31
The match-up with Carolina will be at Raymond James Stadium at 1:00 PM, being televised on FOX.
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