Extra Point: Top Takeaways From The Buccaneers Victory Over The Falcons
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed to win their Week 14 matchup against the Falcons there was no way around it. Without their playoff chances plummeted. But the gritty Bucs found a way to get it done with a 29-25 victory over Atlanta.
With their destiny in the palm of their hands, the recipe is simple win your division games, split one against the Packers or Jaguars and the NFC South crown is theirs. Can they build on the momentum of their two-game win streak?
Here are my top three takeaways from the Bucs Week 13 win over the Panthers.
Buccaneers Run Game Coming Alive Down The Stretch
Don't look now but the Buccaneers might actually have a run game. For the third straight game, the Bucs' rushing attack has looked like it's turned the corner. Rachaad White now has two 100-yard rushing games in his last three contests and is inching closer to the 1,000-yard mark.
With his 102-yard performance on Sunday, he's now at 745 rushing yards on the year. He needs just 256 yards to reach the illustrious mark. That's an average of 64 yards over the next four games to become Bucs' first 1,000-yard rusher since Doug Martin in 2015.
Credit goes to the offensive line as well who has been much better in run fits especially since the insertion of Aaron Stinnie into the lineup at left guard. Rookie right guard Cody Mauch has improved tremendously in this area as well. While center Robert Hainsey went through his struggles early on has turned his season around at the right time.
Defense Still Giving Up Big Plays
Another week another blown coverage assignment by the Bucs defense. This time it was Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts who broke free for a wide-open 36-yard touchdown with no one in sight of him. Drake London had four explosive plays of 20 yards or more including a 45-yard catch that set up Atlanta's go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. While Bijan Robinson had a 33-yard catch and run that set up a touchdown.
The miscommunication on the back end could be attributed to injuries in the backfield but it's been an ongoing calamity for the Bucs defense all season. If they're going to make a legit run at a postseason berth they need to clean it up and fast as the top teams in the league will make them pay.
Bucs Drafted A Pair OF Studs On Defense
Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby have been wreaking havoc on offenses over the last few weeks and more of the same was on display on Sunday. Kancey recorded his fourth sack of the season and Diaby was all over the field making plays in the run game and coverage. Diaby recorded his highest defensive grade and pass rush grade of the season per Pro Football Focus and looks to be a building block on the edge for the Bucs.
Kancey is living up to the hype of his first-round selection with threes tops made on the day with head coach Todd Bowles lining him up all over the line. He proved that he isn't just a product of having Vita Vea next to him and forms a formidable duo with the Pro Bowler once he's back healthy.
Three Up, Three Down
UP
S Antoine Winfield Jr
AWJ has an almost permanent spot up here as he just consistently makes plays for the Bucs' defense. He did it again this week with a strip sack on Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder that led to a safety. And he also had an interception that was nullified due to a weak hands-to-the-face call.
RB Rachaad White
Eclipsing 100 yards on the day White was dynamic for the Bucs breaking a 31-yard screen pass all the way to the endzone for the score. He finished with a healthy 4.1 yards per carry and helped the offense close out the game with some tough runs.
CB Zyon McCollum
McCollum had his best game as a pro in Sunday's win over Atlanta. He made several clutch pass deflections including one on a deep ball to former Bucs wide receiver Scotty Miller. His tackling was on point and he showed he could be a starter in the league.
Down
QB Baker Mayfield
Back to Back weeks in this spot for Mayfield. Sure he did enough to win the game at the end and that deserves some credit. But he was inconsistent most of the game. The Bucs had only 85 yards in the first half and went 6-16 on third down. Not a recipe for success. While Mayfield did make some plays at the end of the game he struggled to get through his progressions and missed several open targets.
OC Dave Canales
While I get the want to establish the run, especially with a weakened front seven against the Falcons. There were some head-scratching calls made. But maybe none more than the fourth and 2 pitch that lost four yards and resulted in a turnover on downs.
Pass Rush
Just lumping the entire group together for lackluster play. At one point the Falcons were down four starting offensive linemen and the Bucs still couldn't get consistent pressure on Desmond Ridder. The defense only applied nine pressures on 45 dropbacks which is embarrassingly low.
You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.
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