The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t have much room for error anymore, and the clearest path out of their 0-2 hole is staring them right in the face.
Sunday’s matchup with the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings comes with plenty of problems for Tampa Bay, especially against a defense run by coordinator Brian Flores. But if the Buccaneers are going to pull off the upset, they need to lean into the one area that has actually shown some life: the ground game.
Through two weeks, Tampa Bay has been one of the better rushing teams in the league on a per-play basis. The Bucs rank fifth in yards per carry at 5.0, ninth in rush EPA/play at 0.028 and seventh in rushing success rate at 48.89%.
The issue isn’t efficiency. It’s volume.
Tampa Bay has run the ball on just 39.47% of its plays, which ranks 25th in the NFL.
That imbalance matters because the passing game has not carried its weight. The Buccaneers sit 23rd in pass yards per game at 184.5, leaving Baker Mayfield and the offense searching for something more stable. A heavier commitment to the run could ease that pressure and put more of the load on Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell.
The challenge is obvious. Minnesota has been stout against the run, allowing 3.8 yards per attempt and 100.0 rushing yards per game, and it has not given up a rushing touchdown yet this season. That makes the matchup difficult, but it also makes the need for balance even sharper for Tampa Bay.
If the Buccaneers can stay away from the traps that come with Flores’ blitz-heavy approach and get traction on the ground, they can slow the game down and give themselves a real chance. If they can’t, Sunday could turn ugly in a hurry at Raymond James Stadium.
The Bucs and Vikings kick off at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Fans Have A Week 3 TV Map Problem To Watch
Week 3s TV map is one of those Sundays that can make Buccaneers fans do a little channel surfing before kickoff. The NFLs broadcast slate is spread across CBS and FOX with different early and late windows, and the leagues regional assignments mean what shows up on the screen can depend as much on where you are watching as on who you are hoping to follow. Add in the international matchup between Baltimore and Dallas in Rio de Janeiro, and the day has the kind of odd setup that can leave viewers checking listings more than once.
For Tampa Bay fans, the wrinkle is in the regional coverage, where market shifts can change which game is easiest to find and which one gets bumped to the background. CBS has the bulk of the early and late action, while FOX carries a single window, and each network has its own set of broadcast teams attached to the games. It is the sort of Sunday that rewards a quick look at the map before settling in, especially for anyone trying to keep tabs on more than one NFC storyline. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers May Have Found A Defensive Difference-Maker Faster Than Expected
Josiah Trotter has wasted little time turning himself into one of the early stories of Tampa Bays season. The rookie linebacker has piled up 24 total tackles through the first two weeks, putting him among the league leaders right away, and hes already made an impression far beyond simple production. His debut was memorable enough on its own, and the Buccaneers have reason to feel encouraged by how quickly he has fit into the defense.
Trotters opening act has been strong enough to keep him in the weekly awards conversation, with Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week nominations in both of the seasons first two weeks. He has also drawn positive grades from PFF, a sign that the impact is showing up on the tape as well as the stat sheet. For a Tampa Bay defense looking for reliable difference-makers, the bigger question now is whether the rookies rapid rise is just the start of something even more disruptive. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers May Need To Reconsider How Theyre Using Rueben Bain Jr
Rueben Bain Jr. has been on the field enough to get a feel for how Tampa Bay wants to use him, but not enough to look fully like himself. Through 76 defensive snaps, the rookie edge defender has just one tackle and no sacks, and his PFF grade has landed near the bottom of the edge-defender group. For a Buccaneers defense that expected more impact from one of its more intriguing young pass rushers, the early returns have been muted.
Health appears to be part of the equation. Bain dealt with an AC joint injury in training camp and then picked up a groin injury in a recent game, and Todd Bowles acknowledged that he is not fully healthy even if he is still available to play. With other edge defenders on hand, Tampa Bay may need to decide whether pushing Bain through the bumps is helping the defense now or whether a little time off could do more for him in the long run. [Read more 🡒]