Zyon McCollum has spent the opening stretch of the season looking less like a solid piece in Tampa Bay’s secondary and more like a true difference-maker.
That matters now more than ever, because the Buccaneers are heading into Sunday Night Football with their defense carrying the team back into the playoff picture over the last two weeks. Todd Bowles’ group is sitting near the top of most defensive metrics, and McCollum has been right in the middle of that surge.
The fifth-round pick out of Sam Houston State, who recently landed a new extension, has been matching up with some of the league’s best receivers and making life difficult for them. Ja’Marr Chase, Ceedee Lamb, Drake London, and DK Metcalf are all on the list of pass-catchers McCollum has helped hold in check during the first half of the season.
He’s already tied his career high with two interceptions, and his technique has stood out as one of the biggest reasons why. McCollum has done a strong job of taking away shots over the top, which has forced quarterbacks to look elsewhere.
That showed up again in Tampa Bay’s dominant defensive outing against the Atlanta Falcons. The Buccaneers picked off Michael Penix Jr. three times, with veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone getting two of those interceptions. McCollum grabbed the final one, giving him picks in back-to-back weeks.
The Bucs made history in that game, becoming the first team in NFL history to record more interceptions than completions allowed in a first half, finishing the opening two quarters with three picks and just two completions surrendered.
McCollum’s work has not gone unnoticed. After Tampa Bay beat the Carolina Panthers in Week 7, former NFL defensive back and analyst Ryan Clark praised the secondary and singled out McCollum as the “1st quarter of the season All Pro Corner” via X.
Now comes another test. Chicago brings a dangerous passing attack into Tampa, and Caleb Williams is coming off what the source described as the best football of his NFL career. The Bears also put up 34 points against the Seattle Seahawks’ stout defense.
McCollum has already shown he can handle the spotlight, too. In his last primetime appearance, against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, he broke up two passes and helped hold Dallas to 16 points, despite the Cowboys’ self-proclaimed “Greatest Offense There Is” (GOTI).
The Buccaneers can move to the top of the NFC South with a win on Sunday night at 8:20 p.m.
In Other News...
Bucky Irving Faces A Run Defense That Could Define The Bucs
Bucky Irving has become a central piece of Tampa Bays rushing attack, giving the Buccaneers a more reliable ground game and helping balance an offense that has leaned on his burst and efficiency. He has averaged 5.0 yards per carry and has turned in multiple 100-yard games recently, a stretch that has made the run game look more like a strength than a supplement.
The next test comes against Chicago, and it is the kind of matchup that can say a lot about where this offense really stands. The Bears are giving up very few rushing yards overall, but they have been more vulnerable on a per-carry basis, and Tampa Bays improved offensive line will have to sort out a defensive front featuring players such as Devin Bush and Jeffery Simmons if Irving is going to keep the momentum going. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Backfield Suddenly Has A Sunday Night Fantasy Twist
Sunday nights matchup between the Buccaneers and Bears has a DFS feel to it, with the game setting up as the kind of spot where one overlooked role player can swing a lineup. Tampa Bays backfield is part of that conversation because Bucky Irving is drawing attention again, while the other side brings a running back in Kenny Gainwell who has quietly become relevant in the same conversation. Even the kickers are in play here, which says plenty about how tight this one could be from a fantasy standpoint.
Chase McLaughlin is getting a look as a captain option, and Cairo Santos belongs on the short list as well given the way both teams have been producing value through the kicking game. There is also room for Rome Odunze to matter if his usage keeps trending the right way, especially with the red-zone opportunities that can turn a modest snap count into a DFS difference-maker. For Buccaneers fans, the bigger question is whether this game stays in the range where the backfield and the special teams can decide more than the headline names. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers About To Face Chicago's Toughest Test Yet
Sunday nights matchup with Chicago comes with a little more intrigue than the usual prime-time measuring stick, because the Bears are being framed as a team that could push Tampa Bay in ways few opponents have managed this season. The case for Chicago starts with its defense, where Jeffery Simmons is being projected for a disruptive night up front, and it extends to a Bears offense that could finally find some rhythm against a Buccaneers unit that has generally been hard to crack.
The bigger question is whether Tampa Bay can answer with its own identity intact, especially if the Bears turn this into a game where the Bucs are forced out of their comfort zone. Colston Loveland is also being pegged for his best outing of the year, which would only add to the pressure on a Buccaneers defense already facing a tough test, and the outcome may hinge on whether Chicago can keep Bucky Irving from getting loose on the ground. [Read more 🡒]