Nope. But in this case, the Bucs are facing backup Jacoby Brissett. If they don’t win by at least 10, or if they give up more than 20… yeesh.
Regardless, the Bucs should win 28-13 this Sunday at Raymond James, despite their defense being depleted by injuries.
Their injury report for practices this week have been looking more and more full, with Carlton Davis III and Antoine Winfield, Jr. being the most notable additions. Davis has been placed on IR and will miss a minimum of 3 games, and with Winfield, Jr. not practicing at all so far this week due to a concussion he seems unlikely to suit up for Sunday’s game as well.
Gronk is also going to be out for a second straight week with the ribs injury he suffered in the Week 3 matchup against the Rams.
On the Dolphins’ side, their major loss injury-wise has been starting QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been out since their Week 2 game against the Bulls with a rib injury. Jacoby Brissett has filled in for the second-year man out of Alabama, and while he hasn’t been awful, he’s also a backup on the Dolphins for a reason.
With the Bucs pass rush finally showing signs of life and the Dolphins trotting out an incredibly inexperienced offensive line, they should be able to cover for the Bucs’ banged-up secondary.
As for the Bucs offensively, the Dolphins’ defense is bottom-5 against the run and isn’t exactly stellar through the air either. The Bucs shouldn’t have any problem putting up a huge number of points.
But as always, you never know what to expect with the NFL (“any given Sunday” and all that shit), so it’ll still be worth tuning in at 1 pm for the Bucs’ first home game since their romping of the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2.
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This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 7, 2021.