Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back to .500 on the season with a chance to get back into the green next week in Cincinnati. First things first
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hoodie , let’s take a look at five key moments which helped secure the Bucs’ third win of 2018.THE PLAY: The good incompletion.It’s not often you’re happy to see an incomplete pass, but in this case, I certainly was.With a 9-2 lead and the ball on the Cleveland side of the fifty-yard line, Jameis Winston dropped back and scanned the field looking for an open receiver.He saw nothing. So he did what most quarterbacks do and started to get happy feet. He eventually moved up and outside of the pocket.Then, suddenly, it appeared the fourth-year quarterback was going to run the ball and Cleveland defenders started closing down on him. Just as suddenly Winston flicked his arm and wrist and the ball flew towards wide receiver Adam Humphries who had suddenly come open just slightly due to the defense reacting to Winston’s running action.Alas, the ball fell to the ground. Incomplete. For me it was a sign of what we’ve all been wanting to see out of the Buccaneers’ still young franchise quarterback.Solid field awareness, good decision making, and decisiveness. He’s not all the way there yet. But he’s improving.The pass fell incomplete, but later in the same drive when Winston attacked the line of scrimmage on a similar play the defense hesitated. They didn’t react as fast as they had the first time. Perhaps the memory of Winston throwing after running towards the line of scrimmage cost the defenders precious reaction time. Because by the time they realized Winston wasn’t interested in throwing this time, he was in the end zone for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ second touchdown of the game.THE PLAY: Kwon Alexander leaves the game.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had put up points on three straight possessions. The Browns had punted on five. Minus the safety early in the first quarter, there weren’t really any red marks yet. But then the storm clouds began to roll in.First came the interception. With O.J. Howard running free behind the defense and with nothing between him and the end zone but a pass over the top, Winston fired a bullet right into the hands of linebacker Christian Kirksey on the Browns’ 27-yard line.Then, following another Cleveland punt, Cameron Brate fumbled his first catch of the afternoon on the Bucs’ own 19-yard line.But daylight broke and appeared to shoo away the clouds as Lavonte David poked the ball free from the clutches of quarterback Baker Mayfield as he tried to convert a clutch first-down for his team. Just then
Customized Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jerseys , everyone realized there was a Bucs player laying on the field. Injured. It was Kwon Alexander, and it was as if the foundation itself holding Raymond James Stadium sunk about six inches.Alexander hasn’t had his best season as a pro this year. We all know it and I’m sure he knew it too.But his energy was undeniable and was likely just one of the things which led to his being selected as a team captain ahead of this weekend’s game.Early reports aren’t good as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweeted out shortly after the second-half began.Without Alexander, the Buccaneers moved forward without two of their starting three linebackers; already missing the services of Kendall Beckwith.Energy felt lower coming out of the locker room. Nick Chubb had more room to run. The Browns offense found more success over the middle of the field.Alexander wasn’t having the best season of his career, but the drop-off following his injury was visible and painful. Without a doubt, his absence is one thing which directly led to the Browns’ comeback bid and near victory.THE PLAY: O.J. and Rojo combine for the score.Up just one score, Tampa Bay had held the ball for just three minutes when they got the ball back with seven left in the third quarter.Momentum was slipping and the team needed someone to find a way to spark the offense.Alan Cross helped on the drive, converting a big fourth-down with the ball outside of field goal range but too close to punt.But the daggers came from the 26-yard line when Winston found O.J. Howard for a 24-yard gain putting the ball on the Cleveland two. On the very next snap, Ronald Jones scored the first touchdown of his career running the ball in and putting the Bucs back up by two scores.In a game which ended in overtime, and for a team who has struggled to score in the red zone, the two plays breathed new life into the team and kept the pressure on Cleveland and their rookie quarterback.THE PLAY: O.J. misses the ball.Cleveland answered Tampa Bay’s touchdown run with one of their own when rookie Nick Chubb punched it in from one-yard out.With renewed confidence in their own abilities though, the Bucs offense took the field looking to push the lead right back to two scores.Six plays later, Winston had his offense at midfield again and despite several penalties on both sides, the Bucs looked like they were orchestrating another scoring drive.On third-and-three, the quarterback targeted Howard again to make a big catch and move the ball into Browns territory.This time though, the ball sailed through Howard’s hands and fell harmlessly to the ground.Tampa Bay punted and Cleveland marched right back down the field against a stunned Bucs defense.With the ball on the one-yard line
www.authenticstampabaybuccaneers.com , head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley put the game in the hands of Mayfield on a quarterback sneak. The Buccaneers defensive line stood up and stopped him, and all was forgiven for Howard.Or was it? Three plays later the Bucs punted again, and Jabrill Peppers brought the ball all the way back to the Tampa Bay 16-yard line. On the very next snap, Mayfield made good on his second opportunity and found Jarvis Landry for a touchdown.The game was tied, and one can’t help wonder if the usually sure handed Howard had pulled in the third-down pass two possessions prior if the Browns would have ever gotten within reach of tying the game at all.THE PLAY: JPP’s prediction comes true. Almost.Earlier in the week Jason Pierre-Paul talked about the Browns’ rookie quarterback and his ability to beat you with his legs and his arm.JPP lamented about how he wished NFL quarterbacks would just stay in the pocket because it would make his job much easier. Don’t we all.Mayfield made good on Pierre-Paul’s comments though, and facing 2nd-and-26 the quarterback escaped the defense and ran downfield for 35-yards and a new set of downs on the Tampa Bay 41-yard line. As mentioned previously, the drive ultimately ended with a failed fourth-down sneak by the same player, but had the Buccaneers defense been able to contain his legs here the entire drive could have had a much different outcome.In the end, the Browns got the first down, firmly grabbed hold of momentum and would turn it into a touchdown just eleven plays later.The Crow’s Nest: Woes in Saints backfield, a bold prediction, and a tough camp Forget The Defensive Line Rotation - JoeBucsFan.comIt’s not happening! Not now anyway.”We Set Out To Have A Tougher Training Camp” - JoeBucsFan.comWe’re three days from kickoff, the real stuff, and that means Dirk Koetter is sitting down with a private chat.Buccaneers battling Brees, Saints' home dominance minus Winston | ReutersNEW ORLEANS - For the last four seasons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers T-Shirt , the New Orleans Saints have started the regular season 0-2, and only last year were they able to climb out of that deep, early hole, to make the playoffs, winning eight consecutive games to get there.Saints could have just two running backs vs. Bucs, but it'd be 'hard to do' | NOLA.comTeam has just two running backs following roster moves this weekBrees Has Earned The Respect Of Bucs' McCoy | Pewter ReportWith just three days until the Buccaneers play their first game of the season in New Orleans, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy spoke to the media about their upcoming game. And about a certain player who has been to a few Pro Bowls of his own.Bold Predictions - ESPNCould Dalvin Cook be the NFL's rushing champ? Our reporters make fearless forecasts on Super Bowl teams, MVPs and more.NFL odds 2018: 4 bets worth your money in Week 1, plus a college bonus! - SBNation.comRetired NFL lineman and gambling man Geoff Schwartz has a five tips to get you ready for Week 1 of the 2018 NFL season.Steelers won't be rescinding tag for Le'Veon Bell - NFL.comAs Le'Veon Bell's holdout continues, the Pittsburgh Steelers don't intend on rescinding the standout's franchise tag, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports. When will he report?The situation with Le’Veon Bell and his Steelers teammates is complicated - SBNation.comRetired NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz explains why it’s a unique ordeal that can’t be boiled down to simple conclusions on Twitter.