As the Buccaneers head into Monday night’s game against the Chiefs, they are in danger of slipping below .500 for the first time since December of 2023 when they were 6-7 heading into Lambeau Field to face the Packers. Now, they could find themselves at 4-5 after starting the season 3-1 for the second straight year.
The overwhelming question is can this team succeed without Chris Godwin in the long term and Mike Evans in the short term - and while they had opportunities to beat the Falcons last week, they came up short.
So what are the three biggest questions heading in this matchup against the undefeated Chiefs?
Can They Effectively Run The Ball?
The Bucs faced the league’s best run defense two weeks ago - also on a Monday night - and had surpassed their average rush yards allowed by the start of the second quarter. Now, they face the league’s second best rushing defense and if there was ever a week where they needed to lean on the run, it’s this one.
The Bucs’ defense is in the bottom quarter in the league almost across the board and going up against Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes - regardless of Mahomes’ struggles - that’s a dangerous proposition. The Bucs allowed two touchdown passes to Kyle Pitts last week and now they have to face Travis Kelce? That’s bad news.
The Bucs have to run the ball, run the clock, and control the tempo. This not only allows them to stay in the game while not having to rely on pass catchers that aren’t there, but it keeps their defense on the sideline for extended periods of time while simultaneously wearing down the Chiefs’ defense.
It’s no coincidence that the run game has vastly improved since the starting offensive line reunited, the Bucs’ run game has been much more effective. Now, they need to keep that going this week against the Chiefs.
Has Todd Bowles Made Any Adjustments?
This defense has been a sieve. There’s no alpha pass rusher, there’s inexperience at cornerback, and Lavonte David can’t play both inside linebacker positions at the same time - so what has Bowles done about it?
You would think dime packages would help a little in coverage, but this cornerback group is so beat up that you don’t have the personnel to send out there. Tyrek Funderburk showed last week he has a long way to go, Jamel Dean is still out - the Bucs don’t have a lot of options to trot out there in the secondary. So what do they do? How does Bowles compensate for a combination of inexperience, non-starting caliber talent, and a defense that is giving up yards - and points - by the bunches? Because it sure as heck can’t all be miscommunication.
Is Cade Otton Legit?
Otton has been the clear beneficiary of the losses of Evans and Godwin, leading the team in receiving the last two weeks. Against the Ravens he had his first career 100 yard game then last week against the Falcons he had his second career multi-touchdown game. He’s been the go-to guy for Mayfield on third down and in the red zone - but is it a flash in the pan?
That’s not to say Otton’s abilities are a flash in the pan, but teams are going to start game planning for him far more than the last two games because, well, he’s been the top option. The best defenses eliminate, to the best of their ability, the top receiving option of the opposing team. So what happens this week when Spags is surely going to try and force Mayfield to pass to someone else, but the Chiefs are also the 30th in the NFL against the tight end? NBA JAM rules in full effect here - three in a row and he’s on fire.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
Monday, November 4, 8:15 p.m. ET
Arrowhead Stadium (capacity: 76,416)
Kansas City, Missouri
Television: ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN2 (ManningCast)
TV Broadcast Team: Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analyst), Erin Andrews (reporter)
Radio: 98Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM), Flagship Station
Radio Broadcast Team: Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (analyst), T.J. Rives (reporter)
Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente
Spanish Radio Broadcast Team: Carlos Bohorquez (play-by-play), Martin Gramática (analyst)
As the Buccaneers head into Monday night’s game against the Chiefs, they are in danger of slipping below .500 for the first time since December of 2023 when they were 6-7 heading into Lambeau Field to face the Packers. Now, they could find themselves at 4-5 after starting the season 3-1 for the second straight year.
The overwhelming question is can this team succeed without Chris Godwin in the long term and Mike Evans in the short term - and while they had opportunities to beat the Falcons last week, they came up short.
So what are the three biggest questions heading in this matchup against the undefeated Chiefs?
Can They Effectively Run The Ball?
The Bucs faced the league’s best run defense two weeks ago - also on a Monday night - and had surpassed their average rush yards allowed by the start of the second quarter. Now, they face the league’s second best rushing defense and if there was ever a week where they needed to lean on the run, it’s this one.
The Bucs’ defense is in the bottom quarter in the league almost across the board and going up against Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes - regardless of Mahomes’ struggles - that’s a dangerous proposition. The Bucs allowed two touchdown passes to Kyle Pitts last week and now they have to face Travis Kelce? That’s bad news.
The Bucs have to run the ball, run the clock, and control the tempo. This not only allows them to stay in the game while not having to rely on pass catchers that aren’t there, but it keeps their defense on the sideline for extended periods of time while simultaneously wearing down the Chiefs’ defense.
It’s no coincidence that the run game has vastly improved since the starting offensive line reunited, the Bucs’ run game has been much more effective. Now, they need to keep that going this week against the Chiefs.
Has Todd Bowles Made Any Adjustments?
This defense has been a sieve. There’s no alpha pass rusher, there’s inexperience at cornerback, and Lavonte David can’t play both inside linebacker positions at the same time - so what has Bowles done about it?
You would think dime packages would help a little in coverage, but this cornerback group is so beat up that you don’t have the personnel to send out there. Tyrek Funderburk showed last week he has a long way to go, Jamel Dean is still out - the Bucs don’t have a lot of options to trot out there in the secondary. So what do they do? How does Bowles compensate for a combination of inexperience, non-starting caliber talent, and a defense that is giving up yards - and points - by the bunches? Because it sure as heck can’t all be miscommunication.
Is Cade Otton Legit?
Otton has been the clear beneficiary of the losses of Evans and Godwin, leading the team in receiving the last two weeks. Against the Ravens he had his first career 100 yard game then last week against the Falcons he had his second career multi-touchdown game. He’s been the go-to guy for Mayfield on third down and in the red zone - but is it a flash in the pan?
That’s not to say Otton’s abilities are a flash in the pan, but teams are going to start game planning for him far more than the last two games because, well, he’s been the top option. The best defenses eliminate, to the best of their ability, the top receiving option of the opposing team. So what happens this week when Spags is surely going to try and force Mayfield to pass to someone else, but the Chiefs are also the 30th in the NFL against the tight end? NBA JAM rules in full effect here - three in a row and he’s on fire.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
Monday, November 4, 8:15 p.m. ET
Arrowhead Stadium (capacity: 76,416)
Kansas City, Missouri
Television: ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN2 (ManningCast)
TV Broadcast Team: Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analyst), Erin Andrews (reporter)
Radio: 98Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM), Flagship Station
Radio Broadcast Team: Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (analyst), T.J. Rives (reporter)
Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente
Spanish Radio Broadcast Team: Carlos Bohorquez (play-by-play), Martin Gramática (analyst)
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