The Buccaneers are feeling good after finally snapping a three-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Rams and head to Germany for an early Sunday Morning matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
This is a Buccaneers home game on the schedule even though it will be played in Munich, Germany, as the NFL continues to grow the game abroad.
The NFL every year has played a handful of games in Europe, but this will be the first NFL game played in Germany.
The Buccaneers will take on the Seattle Seahawks, who have shocked everyone with their 6-3 record and first-place ranking in the NFC West.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith has breathed new life into a stagnant Seattle offense, and this will be a challenge for the Bucs to win this game.
Through the first nine games this season, Smith has a 102.2 passer rating and is completing 73.1 percent of his passes. With Smith under center, the Seahawks are averaging 26.8 points a game, good for fourth in the NFL.
Give Geno Smith time, and he can pick you apart. The Bucs will have to find a way to get pressure on Smith. This is where the Bucs will miss Shaq Barrett, who is excellent at applying pressure off the edge.
Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf have over 500 yards receiving this season, and Seattle could have two 1,000 yards receivers by the end of the season.
The Seahawks have been hit by injuries like the Bucs, losing their top running back Rashad Penny to a season-ending injury. But Rookie Kenneth Walker has done a great job in Penny’s absence rushing for 570 yards, seven touchdowns, and 5.1 yards per carry.
The Seahawk’s defense struggled out of the gate as they gave up 30.8 points a game through the season’s first six games. This was also reflected in the Seahawk’s record as they started the season 2-3.
Since then, the Seahawks have a record of 4-0, and the defense is giving up 16.5 points a game.
One name that no one talks about on the defensive side of the ball is Uchenna Nwosu, who has seven sacks off the edge.
Rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen has stepped into a starting role and has four of the team’s five interceptions.
For the Buccaneers, wide receiver Russell Gage, guard Luke Goedeke, and linebacker JJ Russell did not make the trip. The good news is that safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Has cleared concussion protocol and should play against Seattle.
This will be another test for the Buccaneer’s run defense. After holding the Rams to 68 yards last week, here come the Seahawks averaging 134 yards a game on the ground, with Kenneth Walker leading the attack at 5.1 yards per carry.
Devin White will again be under the microscope, as he will have a bit of responsibility on Sunday in limiting the run game of the Seahawks.
Right tackle Tristan Wirfs will be matched up against edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu who leads the NFL with 39 quarterback pressures. Wirfs has not allowed a sack this season but will face a formidable opponent in Nwosu.
With Akeim Hicks back last week, we saw the impact on Vita Vea’s game as he had two sacks of Rams quarterback Matt Stafford. Vea will look to continue to add to his career-high 6.5 sacks on Sunday against Seattle.
Tom Brady discussed this game’s importance at his Friday Media session. “This is a very important game for us. We have a bye week after this, and it gives you a chance to kind of evaluate where you’re at, and I’d much rather evaluate being 5-5 than 4-6.”
Brady also added, “Seattle’s going to challenge us. They have very talented players. Good-skill players. They’re great on defense. They’re creating a lot of sacks and turnovers. It’s a very good team, and it’s going to be a very tough, hard-nosed game.”
The Buccaneers are 2.5-point favorites against Seattle.
It looks like Tom Brady found his mojo last week in the last few minutes of the game against the Rams. Brady took the Bucs on a 65-yard drive with 58 seconds to play to give the Buccaneers the 16-13 win.
Brady is beginning to look like his old self, which is bad news for the rest of the league. However, if Byron Leftwich can stay out of the way, this is a game the Bucs will win.
Final Score Buccaneers 24-Seahawks 21.
