Three games into the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still searching for their first win, and things aren't getting any easier.
Tampa Bay will host the Green Bay Packers in Week 4 without Baker Mayfield, who is expected to miss at least three weeks after dislocating the thumb on his throwing hand late in the Bucs' 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. That means undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will make his first NFL start as Tampa Bay tries to stop the bleeding before an 0-3 start gets any worse.
Green Bay isn't exactly coming into Raymond James Stadium with much momentum. The Packers are 1-2 after getting blown out 35-14 by the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3, setting up a matchup between two teams trying to turn around slow starts.
For Tampa Bay,
everything starts with making Daniels' first start manageable. The Bucs allowed Mayfield to be sacked six times against Minnesota and have struggled to consistently keep their quarterback clean through the first three weeks. That's a problem with Lukas Van Ness waiting on the other side. According to Pro Football Focus, Van Ness has generated 10 pressures and 3 sacks over 3 games while earning an 80.5 pass-rushing grade.
Daniels brings a different element to the offense with his mobility, but the Bucs can't expect their rookie quarterback to constantly escape pressure when things break down. Tampa Bay needs a better performance from its offensive line and has to find ways to keep Daniels out of obvious passing situations.
There could be opportunities through the air if the Bucs give him time. Several members of Green Bay's secondary have received relatively low grades from PFF, including Keisean Nixon at 53.5, Xavier McKinney at 51.7, and Brandon Cisse at 51.0. Evan Williams and Javon Bullard have fared much better, earning overall grades of 75.1 and 74.7, respectively.
Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka should be Daniels' primary options, especially with Jalen McMillan expected to miss significant time with a PCL sprain. Ted Hurst III could also continue to see opportunities after scoring the first touchdown of his NFL career against Minnesota.
As much attention as Daniels will get, Tampa Bay's defense may have an even bigger role in determining whether the Bucs finally get into the win column.
The unit is coming off its best performance of the young season after holding Minnesota to 230 total yards and nine first downs. The Vikings also converted just two of their 15 third-down attempts.
Jordan Love has thrown six touchdowns against two interceptions through three games, but his PFF numbers show there have been opportunities for opposing defenses. Love has a 47.6 overall grade and a 47.9 passing grade while PFF has credited him with seven turnover-worthy plays compared with two big-time throws.
Getting pressure on Love could be one of Tampa Bay's biggest opportunities. PFF's individual pressure numbers point to several potential weak spots along Green Bay's offensive line. Jacob Monk and Jordan Morgan have each been charged with 11 pressures allowed through three games. Anthony Belton has allowed eight, while Jager Burton has surrendered 10 on 68 pressure opportunities and carries a 17.2 pass-blocking grade.
That's an area Todd Bowles and the Bucs should be looking to attack, although the status of two important pieces of the defense remains uncertain. Rueben Bain Jr. missed Week 3 with a groin injury, while Josiah Trotter was sidelined by a shoulder injury. Their availability will be worth monitoring throughout the week.
David Walker could once again have an increased role if Bain remains unavailable. Walker has recorded a sack in each of the last two games, including a nine-yard sack of Love's former Oklahoma teammate Kyler Murray on third down against Minnesota.
Tampa Bay should also have an opportunity to make Green Bay lean heavily on Love. The Packers rushed for only 17 yards on nine attempts against Atlanta, while their backfield has struggled to produce consistently over three games. PFF has Marshawn Lloyd with 68 rushing yards on 23 designed carries, Chris Brooks with 40 on 11 and Kaleb Johnson with 34 on 12.
That plays into one of Tampa Bay's biggest strengths. The Bucs are allowing just 76 rushing yards per game and 3.12 yards per carry through three games. Minnesota managed only 78 yards on 23 attempts against Tampa Bay in Week 3.
There is still plenty of talent on this Buccaneers roster, but that talent hasn't translated into winning football over three weeks. Tampa Bay has been within striking distance in each game and continues to find ways to come away without a win.
Now the Bucs have to figure it out without their starting quarterback.
Daniels doesn't need to be Mayfield for Tampa Bay to have a chance against Green Bay. The offensive line needs to protect him, the running game needs to keep the offense out of bad situations, and the defense needs to make life difficult for Love.
The Bucs don't need to reinvent themselves in Week 4. They need to stop making winning harder than it already is.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs look to stop the bleeding in Week 4 against Packers
