Full disclosure here, I'm a Bucs fan and I won't argue hat it's possible for you to win this. Division rivalry and your defense has improved but I really like this matchup for us.
We, just like most teams have improved since week one. But we have improved greatly on offense. We are punishing every team with offense. Use Martin to force safeties up and using Mike Williams and VJax to take advantage of it. Plus the fact that for some reason, the worst cover safety I have ever had the displeasure of seeing on an NFL field in Haruki Nakamura, is somehow still starting. That fact alone gives us a huge edge.
Freeman has thrown 13 TD's to one interception in the last 5 games. We have the highest scoring offense since week 6. We have two wideouts in the top 30 in yards for the season. The fourth leading rusher and an offensive line that hasn't missed a beat after losing our two pro bowl guards.
Defensively, our secondary is a bad joke, or good one depending on how you view things. Mark Barron has tons of talent and a monster in the run game but he is susceptible to making an error and getting beat deep. The only corner that doesn't look clueless on the field is Johnson who has started three games and has three picks (1 for a TD). But nothing tells me that the panthers are capable of punishing us for that.
Newton isn't playing as poorly as some make him out to be but even against a pass defense as bad as ours in Washington, Newton didn't generate that much offense passing wise. And other than Olsen and Smitty, no one is afraid of any other receiver. And Rush defense wise, we have shutdown most teams while the panthers aren't running well this year.
I think Tampa is the definite favorite here because your defense will slow our offense down but we will still get our points. I just don't think your offense is made to beat ours in the area we are weak at.
Oh you guys will beat us, we are in the same position now as you guys were last year. A team just going through the motions, in shambles and quit on our HC. We are coming off a demoralizing loss and are standing at 2-7, yu guys are going to be playing lights out for a wild card. Im stunned Vegas has the Bucs as just 2 point favorites, im taking that bet all day.
