Tampa Bay has played too poorly in every facet of the game throughout the season to think the team is going to be able to put up any points against a solid Bengals defense or stop quarterback Joe Shiesty Burrow and this explosive offense that just got back juggernaut receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Maybe it’ll end up being closer than, but I think the Bengals take this one 24-6, with the Bucs failing to reach the end zone.
Joey B is playing at an MVP-caliber level right now, and if not for some absolutely ridiculous stats from other superstar QBs in the NFL like Jalen Hurts (a 22:3 TD to INT ratio with his team posting the best record in football) and Patrick Mahomes (4.1K yards through the air and a whopping 33 TDs) he would be in serious consideration for the award.
Regardless, the Bengals are coming off a Super Bowl run and don’t look like they’ve slowed down one bit. Their offensive line is finally starting to catch up and at least be average (only 38 sacks given up so far this season, a bit of an improvement from the 55 given up last year) as the rest of the offense continues to be as dynamic as advertised.
I will take a miracle, throwback performance by the Bucs that I simply doubt they possess.
Let’s focus our attention on some more productive topics, such as who stays on the roster moving forward assuming the Bucs enter a rebuild season. There might even be a new head coach as Todd Bowles continues his quest to be the most disappointing coach in Bucs history.
First the players. On offense it seems obvious; tackle Tristan Wirfs cannot go anywhere unless the return is multiple first round picks, and no team is going to give up that much for an offensive lineman (rightfully so).
Looking at the defense, it seems as if the obvious choices to keep around would be Antoine Winfield, Jr. and maybe Vita Vea if you really want to continue the culture of a solid front-seven in Tampa Bay.
Otherwise, everyone else has to be considered expendable. It’s a difficult thing to let go of guys like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Devin White, but barring some strange turn of events where Brady sticks around or they trade for another superstar QB, it’s going to be a tough go for the next few years here in Tampa. We lack a true franchise QB until Kyle Trask proves otherwise, and Tampa Bay will be in salary cap hell for a while.For the head coaching search that could happen this offseason (unless the Bucs are taking the tanking route for a chance at drafting this year’s Heisman winner, QB Caleb Williams out of USC), there are always some solid candidates that deserve a chance. Personally, I’d love to see them give a fresh face a chance. Someone that hasn’t been a head coach before. I don’t want Frank Reich, or some other bland, ran-through coach.
Someone like 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, who is head of the best defensive unit in the NFL, or Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who has headed the best offense of the past five years and is still in the same position for some reason. Sure, he doesn’t call plays, but the players love him and he still seems to have a significant input into an offense that is setting new records on an annual basis.
Given, these guys could be hired this offseason by other teams while the Bucs stand pat with Bowles. Plus the Bucs wouldn’t be totally unwise to see what they have with Trask, then go forward from there.
Buckle in. It could be a tough ride.
This article appears in Dec 15-21, 2022.