The Bucs offense caught fire on a fourth-quarter drive, including a fourth-and-4 conversion on a throw to tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
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Erickson adds that a young Saints defense that started five rookies or first-year players is still learning to identify plays by formation, and improved communication has allowed the defense to start playing a little faster. Winter is fast approaching and the teams in the north are already feeling it. Please tell me you understand the reference I’m making now.
“The first half was unfortunate – first play, explosive, but we get called for holding”, quarterback Jameis Winston said.
He didn’t light the world on fire, averaging 3 yards per carry, but he got the yards he was supposed to gain and took advantage of the opportunities afforded to him. But following their 24-17 loss to New Orleans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are anxious to play at St. Louis against the Rams and erase the sting from Sunday’s letdown.
A challenging stretch run continues Sunday against struggling NFC South rival New Orleans, which, despite a four-game losing streak, has an offense capable of giving any opponent fits. Evans has reeled in two touchdowns in the last three games and faces a New Orleans club that has yielded an NFL-high 20 scores to wideouts this season. The Saints were allowing a league worst 31.7 points per game, were last in run defense and next to last in pass defense. He also made a key pass breakup in the second half on a third down for Tampa Bay. Carter said he is ready.
“He just wants to win, whether it’s him handing off, or him scrambling, or him throwing a touchdown pass”, offensive lineman Logan Mankins said. I’m a vet. I’ve been around for a while. He went through offseason workouts and the beginning of training camp as the Buccaneers’ man in the middle. “Bruce of course wanted to play all along but sometimes your roles change during the course of the year, during the course of a game sometimes. We were able to make the plays that we needed to defensively, and offensively take advantage of the field position”.
“Normally you play your best ball when this much is on the line, but it’s awesome we lost by (only) seven points”, Smith said. “It just works out that way”.
“We’re right in the mix, which is exciting”. Whether we go Bruce (or) Danny, everybody moves up a slot right now. But after a lethargic performance in all three phases of the game, the Buccaneers are going to need a lot of help.
Within the walls of One Buccaneer Place, of course, the 2015 campaign won’t be particularly satisfying if that playoff berth eludes the team.
“We’ve just got to find a way to win, limit the mental areas, mental mistakes – the same thing we’ve been preaching all year”, Vaccaro said.
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So, upon further review, here are a few things Lovie Smith and the rest of us learned from – and/or what new questions were raised by – the Bucs’ most recent contest.
