An early season winning streak is a distant memory for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have slipped to third in the NFC South after three straight losses. Against the Houston Texans in a battle of teams with 3-4 records, the Buccaneers have the opportunity to get back on track.
Keys to the game:
Get Mike Evans involved early
Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans have shown sparks of greatness throughout the season. A 24-yard fourth-quarter touchdown against the Buffalo Bills was a prime example of the connection that the quarterback and receiver are building.
During the Thursday Night Football loss to the Bills, Evans was quiet throughout most of the game. Three of his six targets were from the fourth quarter alone. Evans’ lack of involvement in the offense directly translated to a lack of successful drives. While facing the Texans, the Buccaneers will need to get the ball to their top playmaker early and often.
Red zone efficiency, on both ends
The Buccaneers’ defense and offense are opposites in the red zone. Unlike most teams, Tampa Bay’s defense plays best within the 20-yard line, allowing their opponents to score red zone touchdowns on a league-best 27.27% of attempts.
Offensively, the Buccaneers often end promising drives with three points, rather than seven. The unit’s red zone efficiency ranks 28 out of 32 teams. If the offense can start to find the end zone, they have a winning combination with an already clutch defense.
Pack on the pressure
Quarterback C.J. Stroud has had a strong rookie year, throwing for 1,800 yards, nine touchdowns, and an interception throughout seven outings. Impressively, Stroud has appeared poised and confident in the pocket. The quarterback is still adjusting to NFL-level pressure, however. When pressured, Stroud’s passer rating falls from 94.9 to 70.0.
The Buccaneers already blitz often. Against a young quarterback like Stroud, they shouldn’t hold back.
Continue to utilize Rachaad White
The running game hasn’t been a highlight for the Buccaneers. Against the Bills, Rachaad White found other ways to get involved. The running back surpassed 100 yards offensively, with 39 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards.
White came up big in first-down scenarios against the Bills, averaging 10-yard gains in the receiving game. Between White, Evans, and Chris Godwin, Mayfield shouldn’t have a problem finding open targets.
