The New England Patriots are off to Tampa for a bout with the 6-2 Buccaneers, an opponent they are not particularly familiar with: the two teams last met in 2021, when Tom Brady made his return to Gillette
Stadium one year after leaving the Patriots.
Since then, a lot has changed. So, to find out more about the Patriots’ Week 10 opponent, we spoke with Evan Wanish of Pats Pulpit’s sister site Bucs Nation, the SB Nation community for all things Buccaneers.
Here is what he told us about the upcoming game and opponent.
1. How has the Buccaneers’ offense overcome huge losses at WR and the right side of its O-line?
It’s definitely been a challenge that Tampa has had to navigate really this entire season. Players have constantly been in and out of the lineup. Really though, it’s been the last two games for the Bucs that have shown those absences and maybe now it is catching up to them. The offense does not look the same as it did earlier in the season and it’s something the Bucs are going to have to figure out down the stretch here.
Baker Mayfield is going to have to once again put the team on his shoulders at times in order to move the football and score points until they get some guys like Chris Godwin Jr, Bucky Irving and Mike Evans back.
2. What have defenses done to make Baker Mayfield uncomfortable?
Making Mayfield uncomfortable is very similar to making any QB uncomfortable. Pressure. Consistent pressure and getting him off of his spot early in the game is the key. If Baker is able to get into a rhythm and find success early, he can carry that confidence with him throughout the entire game. However what he doesn’t like is having to rush passes or simply take sacks, especially since he’s been a bit banged up himself this season.
3. How do you see Todd Bowles’ defense attacking Drake Maye?
The same way Bowled has attacked most opposing QBs during his time in Tampa. Blitzing early and often. He will give very exotic looks that will force Maye to have to guess exactly where the pressure is coming from. It’s a very risky strategy from Bowles and the Bucs defense but when it pays off, it can result in splash plays for a defensive unit that’s done a really good job of creating those types of plays over the past few weeks.
The Patriots will have to have a plan to get the ball out of Maye’s hands quickly and stay on schedule to avoid 3rd and longs.
4. Who should the Patriots’ offense target in the run and passing games? Who should they avoid?
The Bucs run defense continues to remain one of the better units in the league so I’m not sure there is really one particular player to target running at. Yards can be gotten against this defense on the ground, but they won’t be easy to come by.
As far as the passing attack goes, linebacker SirVocea Dennis continues to be an issue for the Bucs in the middle of the field. He’s been solid as a run defender and even as a blitzer at times, but in pass coverage he has a lot of work to do.
I would avoid throwing too much toward Jamel Dean. The talented corner has been a very polarizing player for Bucs fans over the years with inconsistent play and injuries hampering him but so far this season he has been very good and leads the team in interceptions with three. Dean has had a big bounce back season.
5. What happened if the Patriots pull off an upset on the road? What happened if their six-game win streak is snapped?
If the Patriots win this game, it will be because the Bucs offense still cannot find much rhythm with the pieces they are missing and if they do, the deficit may be too big to come back from. They also win if Drake Maye is able to expose Todd Bowles’ blitzes and beat the Bucs over the top while staying out of 3rd and longs and avoiding turnovers.
If the Bucs are able to win, it will be because the offense was able to come back to life a bit and the defense was able to continue their their recent ways of forcing a turnover or two and turning those into points.
