Game Overview ::
By mike johnson >>
- Tampa Bay’s defense faces the second-highest number of pass attempts per game in the league and Los Angeles has struggled to run the ball without J.K. Dobbins.
- This game has huge playoff implications for both teams, as Tampa tries to hold onto their division lead over the Falcons and the Chargers look to secure a playoff berth.
- A total of 10 of 13 Chargers games this season have had under 40 points scored, while 10 of 13 Bucs games have had more than 40 points scored.
- Chargers rookie WR Ladd McConkey, their leading receiver, is expected to return this week after missing Week 14 with a knee injury.
How tampa bay Will Try To Win ::
The Bucs are in control of the division and their destiny as they have a one game lead over the Falcons, but they are working with a short leash due to the fact that they lost both head-to-head matchups. This is the toughest remaining on-paper matchup for the Bucs, as their remaining schedule features the Cowboys, Panthers, and Saints. Tampa has been very good on the road this season and has yet to lose a road game in regulation.
Tampa Bay’s offense is known for their passing game thanks to the resurgence of QB Baker Mayfield’s career and their elite WR duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. They lost Godwin for the year with an ankle injury several weeks ago and their running game has been critical to keeping them afloat ever since. The Bucs rank 7th in the NFL in rushing offense DVOA while their offensive line has been terrific with the 3rd highest adjusted line yards per rush attempt in the league. They have a stable of running backs who are highly capable in rookie Bucky Irving, veteran Rachaad White, and talented backup Sean Tucker. Irving has now come out of consecutive games with new injuries since the Bucs increased his role and he was unable to finish last week’s win against the Raiders. He has yet to practice this week and his status for this matchup is highly in doubt. If he is out, we can expect White and Tucker to form a relatively split backfield and have a strong chance of success against a Chargers defense that has been much weaker against the run than the pass this season.
Even with a strong emphasis on the running game and likely success doing so, the Bucs passing game will be critical to their sustained offensive success and ability to turn long drives into scores. Veteran WR Sterling Shepard seems likely to miss this game, which should increase the role of trusted TE Cade Otton in the short to intermediate areas of the field. The Chargers rank 3rd in PFF coverage grade and play zone coverage at a top-5 rate in the league. Mike Evans is capable of making contested catches and that skill will likely be necessary against a strong coverage unit that is unlikely to give him much separation, especially with limited options around him. Otton and Evans are likely to be the focal points of the Bucs passing game, but rookie WR Jalen McMillan is coming off the best game of his career and, along with the RBs, will have to step up if the Bucs want to consistently move the football. Tampa’s PROE for the season is slightly above average and ranks top-10 in the league, but we may see them take a more run-balanced approach this week due to the matchup and dwindling weapons in the receiving game.
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