The Bucs need a win... BAD.
Then again, so do the Jags.
Something has to give Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
There are a lot of similarities between both teams. Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith is on the hot seat even though he has three years left on his deal. Meanwhile Jags coach Gus Bradley has his 1-3 Jaguars coming off one of the worst losses in team history. Jacksonville was leading 13-10 over the Indianapolis at the half, but failed to score on any of their final 8 possessions in the fourth quarter and in overtime. The week before, the Jaguars were flattened 51-17 by the New England Patriots.
“I think it starts with me,” Bradley said. “I put us in a couple of tough positions.”
Lovie continues to talk about the posititves.
He still believes his 1-3 Buccaneers are getting better, even though the scoreboard doesn’t show it.
“They (Carolina) got a little bit of pressure once we got in the passing game, but when we were able to do what we wanted to do, we ran the football,” said Smith on his offensive line.
Woulda, shoulda, coulda.
The Bucs have not yet won a home game during Lovie Smith's tenure as head coach.
I watched all the fans walking into Raymond James Stadium last Sunday, pumped up to see the Mike Alstott halftime Ring of Honor ceremony. I saw a lot of Jameis Winston jerseys, and then to lay an egg like that was definitely deflating.
The Jaguars on the other hand haven’t won on the road for 11-straight games. Again, something’s gotta give.
QB Blake Bortles has a deep group of receivers to utilize as deep threats. For Tampa, Jameis Winston has two good recievers as well in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. Bortles is still learning in his second year but seems more in control in the offense. Winston has thrown for six TD’s and seven INT's so far this season.
The crowd won’t be as big as last week, and the Weather is not expected to be a factor.
Whoever loses, the heat will be on.
My prediction: Bucs win a close one, 17-16.