For now, there are no signs that a change is imminent entering Sunday’s home game against Tampa Bay.
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Tampa Bay won the last meeting, 27-7 on the road November 16.
Evans sat out most of the preseason with a sore hamstring that also sidelined him for the regular-season opener.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored 22.0 points compared to allowed 29.6 points with point differential of -7.6.
“I talked to our team last night about the alumni being here, and these guys paved the way for us being here, as athletes and as professional football players for the Washington Redskins”, Gruden said. “But everyone on the sideline had the confidence that we were going to score and win the game”. The Bucs had two takeaways in that 38-31 victory and, just as importantly, didn’t turn it over once. Confident under pressure and passing the ball accurately but most importantly, not throwing interceptions. “That was the turning point in the last game”.
The score was the first of the season for Evans, who caught 12 touchdown passes last season as a rookie.
Winston is still young and there’s plenty of time for him to improve. Neither will play against Tampa Bay. Because this is a game for Kirk Cousins to silence the critics and take a step forward instead of taking another giant step back.
The Buccaneers also have a few turnover issues under center. “It’s an opportunity for someone when you do have injuries”.
“Play of the day”, Gruden said of Breeland’s touchdown-saving tackle. Scherff’s short arms and sub-par strength, things that scouts were concerned with leading up to the draft, allow defenders to get into his body and beat him in the passing game. Technically that field goal came in the fourth quarter, though, making the third quarter quite possibly the worst quarter of football the Bucs have played this year. Sims is second on the team in receptions and receiver yards and has rushed 37 times. “They can do what they want”, Cousins said. “We’re giving up way too many points”.
Defensively, the Buccaneers are sort of an enigma.
Washington is still trying to overcome a rather lengthy list of injuries.
– Defensive tackle Tony McDaniel (groin) and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder) did not practice, while tackle Reid Fragel has a concussion and is undergoing concussion protocol. The QBs in that game are both no longer starters, in RGIII and Josh McCown (now starting with Cleveland). Trent Williams and Kory Lichtensteiger are probably out as well, which makes life incredibly more hard for the ground game as well as Kirk Cousins. The Buccaneers extended their lead to six on a Connor Barth 45-yard field goal early in the quarter, but the Redskins responded right back with a Hopkins 35-yard kick.
“[Reed] did a great job of winning man-to-man matchups, whether it’s under routes or slant routes like he did at the end of the game”, Gruden said. They play different schemes and things like that. My family is really loving it. I’ve got mom and dad, aunts and uncles and nephews coming out to the stadium.
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The Buccaneers take on the Redskins on Sunday afternoon with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET. He then played the second game of the season on a snap count.
