Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay and Seattle will make historical past with the NFL’s first regular-season sport ever performed in Germany, and the Bucs will attempt to construct momentum from final week’s win in opposition to a streaking Seahawks groupScott Smith
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are about to take the longest regular-season journey in franchise historical past. What they’re hoping to show on the different finish of a 10-hour flight to Munich, Germany, is that their 2022 journey has lastly taken a flip towards the anticipated vacation spot.
The Buccaneers can relaxation a bit of simpler on that transatlantic flight after engineering a shocking last-minute comeback to beat the Los Angeles Rams, 16-13, in Week Nine. That win halted a three-game dropping skid and put the Buccaneers again into the highest spot within the NFC South, albeit with a sub-.500 file. It additionally may show to be an emotional turning level.
“You just keep digging deeper into yourself,” stated quarterback Tom Brady, who icily carved up a great Rams protection on a 35-yard march that turned his NFL-record fifty fifth profession game-winning drive in opposition to the Rams. “And you really see who the real competitors are. I think you see certainly what you’re all about. You’ve been beaten up and beaten down, lose your confidence – you have to gain confidence from one another. You have to figure out how to motivate people and inspire people when all the things aren’t great. A lot of that’s what we deal with in life.”
There are other ways to course of the Bucs’ comeback win, and it is truthful to level out that the 59-minute efficiency that made one other Brady miracle essential was uninspiring in some acquainted methods, together with a shocking lack of explosiveness on offense. But for the Buccaneers the result confirmed that they’re nonetheless battling extraordinarily laborious, and nonetheless believing that they’ll re-emerge as prime NFC contenders.
“Your adrenaline is extremely high, but it’s because, ‘Man, we were this close. We were this close to this not working out,'” stated huge receiver Chris Godwin. “But we stuck together as a team and we fought through whatever adversity we had to.”
The Seattle Seahawks, at 6-3 and in first place within the NFC West by 1.5 video games over the 4-4 San Francisco 49ers, are undoubtedly prime NFC contenders, and that would not have been a preferred prediction earlier than the beginning of the season. The commerce of franchise icon Russell Wilson to Denver within the offseason appeared to sign a transition section in Seattle, which had no lingering connections to its Legion of Boom protection after releasing linebacker Bobby Wagner. But the Seahawks believed in quarterback Geno Smith, who may have plausibly been labeled a ‘journeyman,’ and made a sequence of personnel strikes which have paid off handsomely in 2022.
Smith, who gained a preseason battle for the beginning job with newcomer Drew Lock, has been a revelation. Through 9 video games he ranks third within the NFL with a 107.2 passer ranking, finishing a shiny 73.1% of his passes and main the Seahawks to the league’s fourth-best scoring offense (26.8 factors per sport). Wilson could also be gone however star wideouts Tyler Lockett and D.J. Metcalf stay and Smith has settled right into a groove with these two, each of whom have already got over 500 yards and have scored 4 instances. Seattle misplaced lead again Rashaad Penny to a season-ending damage in Week Five however even that hasn’t slowed the offense down, as rookie Kenneth Walker has stepped in to hurry for 570 yards and 7 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per tote.
The Seattle protection acquired off to a really sluggish begin, permitting 30.8 factors per sport by way of the primary 5 weeks, which is why the Seahawks had been simply 2-3 to start out the season. But they’ve since gained 4 straight, and within the course of have allowed solely 16.5 factors per sport. The teaching staffs have made some schematic modifications up entrance to permit their linemen to get upfield extra aggressively, and offseason addition Uchenna Nwosu has been a menace off the sting with 7.0 sacks. Rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen, a fifth-round draft decide, has stepped proper right into a beginning function and has produced 4 of the group’s 5 interceptions whereas breaking apart a team-high eight passes.
The Buccaneers got here into the 2022 season as heavyweight contenders however at midseason are hoping to lastly pull out of a droop. The Seahawks had been a query mark in a gifted NFC West after transferring on from their franchise QB, however have seamlessly constructed a brand new sort of winner. The matchup is an intriguing one for an viewers at Allianz Arena that would be the first ever to look at a regular-season NFL sport performed in Germany. It’s as much as the Bucs and Hawks to placed on a present.
GAME AND BROADCAST DETAILS
Seattle Seahawks (6-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
Sunday, November 13, 3:30 p.m. GMT/9:30 a.m. ET
Allianz Arena – Home of FC Bayern Munich (capability: 70,000)
Munich, Germany
Television: NFL Network
TV Broadcast Team: Rich Eisen (play-by-play), Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Kurt Warner (analysts), Jamie Erdahl, Sarah Walsh (reporters)
Radio: 98Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM), Flagship Station
Radio Broadcast Team: Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (analyst), T.J. Rives (reporter)
ALL-TIME HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES
The Buccaneers and Seahawks are enlargement twins, becoming a member of the league collectively in 1976 because the twenty seventh and twenty eighth franchises, respectively. They began off in separate conferences, with the Buccaneers really taking part in their first season within the AFC West, surprisingly sufficient, and the Seahawks beginning off within the NFC West. As deliberate, nevertheless, that association solely lasted one season, and the Bucs then switched to the NFC Central the next season whereas the Seahawks made the geographically-sensible transfer to the AFC West. As such, they remained interconference foes, and thus comparatively uncommon combatants till Seattle switched again to the NFC to accommodate the league’s enlargement to 32 groups and subsequent realignment into eight four-team divisions. Seattle and Tampa Bay met 5 instances within the first 26 years of their parallel existence and have since performed one another 9 instances in 21 seasons post-realignment.
The two enlargement groups had been paired up in that inaugural 1976 season, with Seattle getting the 13-10 win, and in reality the Seahawks owned the sequence by way of its first twenty years, although that solely included 4 video games. The Buccaneers lastly broke by way of in 1999, with a 16-3 win on the Kingdome that was instrumental within the group’s late push to the NFC Central title and a first-round bye, which finally led to a spot within the NFC Championship Game. Five completely different gamers, together with Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber, intercepted Jon Kitna and the Bucs gained with solely 156 yards of offense on the day. Tampa Bay did lose its personal beginning quarterback, Trent Dilfer, to a shoulder damage, which opened the door for rookie Shaun King’s noteworthy late-season run.
Seattle took management once more after that Buc win, although the subsequent assembly wasn’t till 5 years later. The Seahawks beat the Bucs in 2004, 2006 and 2007, the primary two of these three in Tampa. However, the Buccaneers have evened issues up a bit extra lately, profitable 4 of the final six contests to shut the general sequence hole to 9-5 within the Seattle’s favor. The Seahawks two wins in that span each had been performed in Seattle and went to extra time, in 2013 and 2019. That included a 27-24 determination 9 years in the past when the Buccaneers, 0-7 on the time, practically pulled off an infinite upset over the eventual Super Bowl champions at CenturyLink Field. Tampa Bay opened up a 21-0 lead within the first half, scoring their third landing on a trick-play leap move by operating again Mike James. However, the Seahawks got here storming again to tie the sport on a Russell Wilson landing move to Doug Baldwin with two minutes left in regulation after which win it on a Steven Hauschka 27-yard subject objective in extra time. The most up-to-date assembly between the 2 golf equipment was in 2019, when the Buccaneers tied the sport with lower than a minute much less on a Dare Ogunbowale landing run, solely to have Russell Wilson throw his fifth landing move of the day in extra time, a 10-yarder to tight finish Jacob Hollister.
Tampa Bay’s most up-to-date win over the Seahawks got here in Tampa in 2016, a 14-5 determination that was smack dab in the midst of a five-game profitable streak. Mike Evans scored each Bucs touchdowns throughout an epic battle with Richard Sherman and Wilson was picked off twice – as soon as by Bradley McDougald, who later turned Wilson’s teammate in Seattle.
NOTABLE CONNECTIONS
* Seattle defensive deal with Al Woods performed in 9 video games for Tampa Bay throughout the 2010 season.
* Seahawks long-snapper Carson Tinker carried out the identical duties for the Buccaneers for eight video games final season whereas Zach Triner was on injured reserve.
SENIOR COACHING STAFFS
Tampa Bay:
Head Coach Todd BowlesAssistant Head Coach/Run Game Coordinator Harold GoodwinOffensive Coordinator Byron LeftwichRun Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach Kacy RodgersPass Game Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach Larry FooteParticular Teams Coordinator Keith Armstrong
Seattle:
Executive VP of Football Operations/Head Coach Pete CarrollOffensive Coordinator Shane WaldronDefensive Coordinator Clint HurttParticular Teams Coordinator Larry IzzoKEY 2022 ROSTER ADDITIONS
Buccaneers:
P Jake Camarda (fourth-round draft decide)WR Russell Gage (UFA)G Luke Goedeke (second-round draft decide)DL Logan Hall (second-round draft decide)T Fred Johnson (FA)WR Julio Jones (FA)TE Ko Kieft (sixth-round draft decide)G Shaq Mason (trade-NE)CB Zyon McCollum (fifth-round draft decide)OLB Carl Nassib (FA)S Keanu Neal (UFA)TE Cade Otton (fourth-round draft decide)TE Kyle Rudolph (FA)S Logan Ryan (FA)RB Rachaad White (third-round draft decide)
Seahawks:
S Joey Blount (UDFA)C Austin Blythe (UFA)CB Coby Bryant (4th-round draft decide)CB Artie Burns (UFA)T Charles Cross (1st-round draft decide)TE Noah Fant (T-DEN)WR Marquise Goodwin (FA)DE Shelby Harris (T-DEN)DT Quinton Jefferson (UFA)QB Drew Lock (T-DEN)T Abraham Lucas (Third-round draft decide)OLB Boye Mafe (2nd-round draft decide)OLB Uchenna Nwosu (UFA)RB Kenneth Walker (2nd-round draft decide)CB Tariq Woolen (Fifth-round draft decide)ADDITIONAL 2022 CHANGES OF NOTE
Buccaneers:
While the Bucs proceed to take care of enviable continuity on their teaching workers, there’s a new particular person within the nook workplace. In March, Bruce Arians stepped down after three years as the pinnacle coach and took on a brand new function as a senior advisor to the overall supervisor. Todd Bowles was promoted from defensive coordinator to take his place. Bowles beforehand served because the New York Jets’ head coach from 2015-18 earlier than rejoining Arians when the latter got here on because the Buccaneers’ head coach in 2019.With Bowles stepping up the Bucs wanted a brand new defensive coordinator and so they primarily named two of them. Defensive Line Coach Kacy Rodgers added the title of Run Game Coordinator whereas Outside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote switched to inside linebackers and added the title of Pass Game Coordinator. They are in impact co-defensive coordinators. Bob Sanders joined the workers to take over for Foote within the exterior linebackers room. Foote made his swap after Inside Linebackers Coach Mike Caldwell landed the defensive coordinator place in Jacksonville underneath new Head Coach Doug Pederson.The Buccaneers had two key gamers retire after the 2021 season, however solely considered one of them stayed retired. While quarterback Tom Brady finally elected to return 40 days after asserting he was stepping away from the sport, his long-time buddy Rob Gronkowski walked away for good, resulting in large modifications within the Bucs’ tight finish room. While veteran Cam Brate returned, O.J. Howard left in free company and the Buccaneers subsequently drafted Cade Otton and Ko Kieft and signed veteran Kyle Rudolph.Tampa Bay’s protection additionally noticed the departure of two front-seven stalwarts from the extraordinarily profitable 2020-21 seasons, as neither DL Ndamukong Suh nor OLB Jason Pierre-Paul was re-signed. The group signed veteran standout Akiem Hicks and drafted Houston’s Logan Hall thirty third general to deal with depth up entrance and are counting on 2021 first-round decide Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to step up on the sting.
Seahawks:
The Seahawks made one of the outstanding roster strikes in all the NFL throughout the 2022 offseason, buying and selling their long-time beginning quarterback, Russell Wilson, to the Broncos for 2 first-round draft picks, two second-round choices, one fifth-rounder, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive deal with Shelby Harris and tight finish Noah Fant. Seattle additionally included a fourth-round decide within the deal. The Seahawks used the primary and second-rounders they gained within the 2022 draft to pick out deal with Charles Cross and outdoors linebacker Boye Mafe, each of whom are actually starters as rookies. Seattle then held a preseason competitors between Lock and Geno Smith for the beginning quarterback job, which was gained by Smith, who presently ranks third within the NFL with a 107.2 passer ranking.In January, the Seahawks fired Ken Norton following his fourth season as their defensive coordinator, by which Seattle ranked twenty eighth in whole protection and thirty first in move protection. Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Andre Curtis was additionally dismissed. The Seahawks then promoted Defensive Line Coach Clint Hurtt to the coordinator publish and introduced in former Vikings assistant Karl Scott to take over the passing sport coordinator place. Roughly a month after letting Norton go, the group additionally fired Offensive Line Coach Mike Solari, who had crammed that function for six seasons over two completely different stints in Seattle. Andy Dickerson, previously the group’s operating sport coordinator underneath Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron, took over the offensive line.The Seahawks additionally introduced in a single new voice to assist with the coordination of the protection, hiring Sean Desai away from the Bears to function affiliate head coach – protection. Desai beforehand labored with Hurtt in Chicago and was a candidate for a number of coordinator jobs throughout the 2022 hiring cycle.Wilson wasn’t the one perennial Pro Bowler with whom the Seahawks parted methods in 2022. Seattle launched linebacker Bobby Wagner in March after he spent a full decade with the membership, incomes first-team AP All-Pro honors six instances. A second-round decide in Seattle’s legendary 2012 draft class – which additionally included Wilson within the third spherical – Wagner performed in 158 video games as a Seahawk and produced 1,434 tackles, 25.5 sacks and 11 interceptions. He didn’t go far after his launch, staying within the NFC West by signing with the L.A. Rams.The Seahawks noticed each of their beginning tackles from 2021, Duane Brown and Brandon Shell, hit free company and didn’t attempt to re-sign both of them. Instead, they used a first-round decide on Mississippi State’s Charles Cross and a third-rounder on Washington State’s Abraham Lucas and instantly inserted each into the beginning lineup. With Cross at left deal with and Lucas on the other finish, the Seahawks have fielded the NFL’s Eleventh-ranked offense and are averaging greater than 130 dashing yards per sport.TOP STORYLINES
5,000 Miles – On Tuesday, Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll stated that it was “an honor” to play within the first NFL regular-season sport in Germany, and the Buccaneers absolutely really feel the identical approach. On Sunday, the 2 groups will take the sphere at Allianz Arena with the hopes of not solely incomes a victory but in addition of leaving an enduring impression on an viewers seeking to get an increasing number of of the NFL. All of that stated, including an abroad flight to an NFL group’s week of preparation would not make issues simpler. It’s a problem for each groups, so there isn’t any explicit benefit for both aspect, however which group meets that off-field problem the perfect will enhance its probability of profitable on Sunday. The Buccaneers have performed three different International Series video games, all in London and all losses. On the opposite hand, Tom Brady is 3-0 exterior of U.S. soil, with two victories in London and one in Mexico City. The Buccaneers shall be within the air for about 10 hours, the Seahawks even longer. As famous above, it is the longest journey Tampa Bay has ever confronted within the common season (the group went to Tokyo within the 2003 preseason), coming in at about 5,000 air miles. The Buccaneers will arrive in Germany on Friday and may have methods in place to handle the time distinction and optimize efficiency. It’s a problem, however a welcome one.
Turning the Turnover Tide, Take Three – It is changing into an increasing number of tough to provide you with alliteration or turnover puns to explain what is going on with the Buccaneers’ protection, however that does not make it any much less of a narrative this week than it was the final two or three. These are the details: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gone 5 straight video games with out forcing a turnover. That’s the primary time that has occurred within the franchise’s 47-season historical past, and that features a group that went 0-26 between 1976 and 1977. It’s a completely beautiful drought, provided that Todd Bowles’ protection since his arrival in 2019 has been one of many league’s greatest at taking the ball approach. Some of it’s fluky – the Rams fumbled thrice within the Bucs’ win on Sunday however acquired all of them again, and a pair passes appeared like certain interceptions alongside the best way – but it surely’s a confounding run general. The solely factor that has stored this takeaway drought from being disastrous is that the Bucs’ offense additionally hasn’t dedicated a single turnover in that very same five-game span. The Bucs misplaced the ball as soon as on a muffed punt in Week Eight however in any other case hasn’t put its protection in a foul place. It appears nearly inconceivable that such a vacuum of takeaways may proceed for much longer and, as Todd Bowles has famous on a number of events, when turnovers arrive they have a tendency to occur in bunches. Will the drought finish Sunday?
Tougher Test for Improving Defense – The neatest thing in regards to the Buccaneers’ dramatic comeback win over Los Angeles on Sunday, apart from it placing Tampa Bay again right into a first-place tie within the NFC South, is that it permits us to focus positively on the various good issues that occurred in Week Nine. Tops on that listing, apart from an otherworldly efficiency by rookie punter Jake Camarda, was a protection that produced its greatest all-around effort of the season. The Bucs held the Rams to 206 whole yards, 9 first downs, one landing and 4 conversions on 15 third-down makes an attempt. Most importantly, the protection acquired stronger as the sport neared its finish, versus some latest second-half letdowns. That stated, the Rams weren’t precisely firing on all cylinders heading into that Week Nine matchup. They had been having vital difficulties operating the ball and weren’t producing a lot constant offense exterior of Cooper Kupp. The subsequent project for the Bucs’ protection appears to be like fairly a bit more durable on paper. Geno Smith is third within the NFL in passer ranking, Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf can stress any secondary on the perimeters and rookie operating again Kenneth Walker has been a revelation. Has the Bucs’ protection turned a nook? Seattle’s third-ranked scoring assault will assist present the reply.
Playoff Race Heating Up – Things went effectively for Tampa Bay in Week Nine, as their very own mighty comeback in opposition to the Rams adopted early-afternoon losses by Atlanta and Carolina. Then, on Monday night time, the Baltimore Ravens walloped the Saints. The outcome was a first-place tie with the Falcons at 4-5, with the Saints dropping to 3-6 and the Panthers sinking to 2-7. The Buccaneers have already got head-to-head wins over Atlanta and New Orleans and would win the NFC South if the season ended immediately. The lead is tenuous, nevertheless, because the Falcons have usually been aggressive in all of their video games – they play at Carolina on Thursday night time – and the Buccaneers are dealing with a red-hot opponent in Seattle in Munich. Then there may be the matter of the NFC playoff hunt as an entire. With three groups within the NFC East at 6-2 or higher and the San Francisco 49ers approaching sturdy, it might be robust for an NFC South runner-up to seize a Wild Card berth. Sunday’s sport might be a mini-referendum on the relative power of the convention contenders, with the Buccaneers attempting to sluggish the Seahawks’ momentum. And nevertheless issues shake out on the finish of the season, the head-to-head end result between Tampa Bay and Seattle may show to be an necessary tiebreaker.
Offense Taking Shape? Tom Brady and the Buccaneers doubtless aren’t going to recapture the offensive machine that produced greater than 30 factors per sport over the 2020-21 seasons. Personnel modifications, accidents and an general league dip in manufacturing have modified the group’s panorama, however that does not imply the Bucs have to stay mired in an offensive droop. As the Bucs seek for a repeatable identification on offense, it’s encouraging when among the gamers on the perimeters start to tackle greater roles. It’s indeniable that the perfect factor the Bucs have occurring offense is Brady throwing to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. However, when opposing defenses are profitable in slowing these connections down, there have to be different solutions, and Brady discovered these late within the Week Nine win over Los Angeles with repeated connections to rookie tight finish Cade Otton and huge receiver Scotty Miller. With the offense gaining no traction on the bottom, the reply might be supplementing the Evans/Godwin assault with affordable contributions from the likes of Otton, Miller, Julio Jones and rookie operating again Rachaad White.
KEY MATCHUPS
1. Buccaneers T Tristan Wirfs vs. Seahawks OLB Uchenna Nwosu
The commerce of Russell Wilson has labored out stunningly effectively for the Seahawks, given the spectacular play of quarterback Geno Wilson, however that is not the solely offseason transfer that has panned out for Seattle. The signing of former Chargers’ edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu to an affordable two-year deal in free company did not precisely break the web, but it surely seems as if Seattle has landed an under-the-radar standout who provides them precisely what they want in a transition to extra 3-4 ideas. Nwosu has 7.0 sacks already and is third within the NFL with a stress fee of 17.9%. He leads the NFL with 39 quarterback pressures general. The Chargers rush Nwosu from each side, which suggests he ought to get loads of motion in opposition to the Buccaneers’ celebrity proper deal with Tristan Wirfs. According to Pro Football Focus, Wirfs has not allowed a sack this season, and he is an anchor on a entrance line that ranks second within the NFL with a sacks allowed fee of three.52%. Wirfs has unimaginable athleticism for a person his measurement and really nimble ft however he shall be examined by a rising star in Seattle’s defensive entrance.
2. Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker vs. Buccaneers ILB Devin White
Former first-round decide Rashaad Penny completed the 2021 season with a flourish and was constructing on that with a robust begin to 2022, gaining 346 yards within the Seahawks’ first 5 video games and averaging 6.1 yards per rush. A fractured fibula ended his season in Week Five in miserable style, however the Seahawks’ floor sport hasn’t missed a beat as a result of excellent play of second-round rookie Kenneth Walker. Walker has excellent burst to the opening and if he will get into the open subject he can speed up shortly into one other gear. He has already racked up 570 dashing yards and 11 touchdowns and is averaging 5.1 yards per tote. Bucs linebacker Devin White took some warmth for his efficiency in a Week Eight loss to Baltimore however rebounded with a robust displaying within the win over the Rams, serving to maintain Los Angeles to 68 dashing yards, 2.8 yards per carry and 206 yards of whole offense. White, who made his first Pro Bowl in 2021, is extraordinarily fast to hit his run gaps and can be wonderful in pursuit when the play is operating away from his aspect of the sphere. The Buccaneers’ run protection has had its ups and downs in 2022 after three straight seasons of rating among the many league’s greatest, and will probably be examined in Munich by a Seattle group averaging 133.9 floor yards per sport, however a resurgent White may assist put the breaks on the Seahawks’ spectacular rookie.
3. Buccaneers WR Scotty Miller vs. Seahawks CB Tariq Woolen
This is to not say that Scotty Miller is the number-one concern for the Seahawks’ secondary. Rookie nook Tariq Woolen is bound to get examined continuously by Mike Evans, with whom he matches up excellently by way of measurement and velocity however has a extreme deficit by way of expertise. But in an general sense, the Buccaneers’ passing assault has but to come across a constant third risk in “11” personnel, thanks partly to persistent accidents to Russell Gage and Julio Jones. In the Week Nine win over Los Angeles, Miller emerged as that third man down the stretch, after Jones was shaken up. Miller made two large catches throughout the game-winning drive and was the goal on a failed try into the tip zone on the earlier possession. If Jones is proscribed on Sunday in Munich, Miller may see a big quantity of taking part in time once more and would function a severe deep risk on the surface in three-receiver threats. That could be a problem for Woolen, who has actually met these effectively to date in his debut marketing campaign. The 6-4, 205-pound nook with 4.3-speed has secured 4 of Seattle’s 5 interceptions and has additionally pressured two fumbles. He’d have a measurement benefit over Miller however must work laborious to match the short-area quickness of the Bucs’ receiver.
4. Seahawks C Austin Blythe vs. Buccaneers DL Vita Vea
The offensive line has not precisely been a core power for the Seahawks, even throughout their future of Super Bowl rivalry with Russell Wilson. That may have been a difficulty once more in 2022 with the free company departures of beginning tackles Duane Brown and Brandon Shell, however Seattle appears to have hit on first and third-round draft picks Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, each of whom have instantly stepped into beginning roles. In addition, the Seahawks discovered a brand new beginning middle in free agent Austin Blythe, the previous Ram who spent one season in Kansas City backing up younger standout Creed Humphrey. Blythe moved again right into a beginning function in Seattle and has overcome a pair nagging accidents to start out all 9 video games and provides the Seahawks, a sensible man on the pivot who can acknowledge opposing fronts and direct the remainder of the road. Blythe will hand over fairly a little bit of measurement to the 347-pound Vea on Sunday however he does a great job of retaining greater linemen at bay together with his size and fast hand placement. Vea is on a roll for the Buccaneers, together with his two sacks in Week Nine giving him a career-high 6.5 on the season. With Akiem Hicks again to take off among the double groups, Vea is getting extra possibilities to get into the backfield and he is making them repay.
INJURY REPORT
Key:
DNP: Did not take part in follow
LP: Limited participation in follow
FP: Full participation in follow
NL: Not listed
Buccaneers:
QB Tom Brady (relaxation) – WEDS: NL; THURS: LPTE Cameron Brate (neck) – WEDS: FP; THURS: FPWR Mike Evans (ribs/ankle) – WEDS: LP; THURS: LPWR Russell Gage (hamstring) – WEDS: DNP; THURS: DNPG Luke Goedeke (foot) – WEDS: DNP; THURS: DNPWR Julio Jones (relaxation/knee) – WEDS: DNP; THURS: FPG Nick Leverett (ILLNESS) – WEDS: NL; THURS: DNPG Shaq Mason (private/ankle) – WEDS: DNP; THURS: LPILB J.J. Russell (hamstring) – WEDS: DNP; THURS: DNPS Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion) – WEDS: FP; THURS: FP
Seahawks:
S Joey Blount (quad) – WEDS: FP; THURS: FPRB DeeJay Dallas (knee) – WEDS: FP; THURS: FPTE Will Dissly (chest) – WEDS: FP; THURS: FPDE Poona Ford (sickness) – WEDS: DNP; THURS: FPLB Cullen Gillaspia (knee) – WEDS: DNP; THURS: DNPWR Marquise Goodwin (groin) – WEDS: LP; THURS: LPDE Shelby Harris (elbow) – WEDS: FP; THURS: FPWR Penny Hart (hamstring) – WEDS: FP; THURS: FPS Ryan Neal (ankle) – WEDS: LP; THURS: LPOLB Darrell Taylor (groin) – WEDS: FP; THURS: FPNT Al Woods (sickness) – WEDS: DNP; THURS: FPWEATHER FORECAST
Sunny with passing clouds, excessive of 55, low of 37, 12% probability of rain, 74% humidity, winds out of the ESE at 5 mph.
GAME REFEREE
Head referee: John Hussey (twenty first season, eighth as referee)
BETTING LINE
* Favorite: Buccaneers (-2.5)
* Over/Under: 41.5
INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS
Buccaneers- Points Scored: Ok Ryan Succop, 76
Touchdowns: RB Leonard Fournette, 5
Passing Yards: QB Tom Brady, 2,547
Passer Rating: QB Tom Brady, 90.5
Rushing Yards: RB Leonard Fournette, 405
Receptions: WR Mike Evans, 44
Receiving Yards: WR Mike Evans, 617
Interceptions: CB Jamel Dean, 2
Sacks: DL Vita Vea, 6.5
Tackles: ILB Devin White, 67
Seahawks- Points Scored: Ok Jason Myers, 79
Touchdowns: RB Kenneth Walker, 7
Passing Yards: QB Geno Smith, 2,199
Passer Rating: QB Geno Smith, 107.2
Rushing Yards: RB Kenneth Walker, 570
Receptions: WR Tyler Lockett, 51
Receiving Yards: WR Tyler Lockett, 598
Interceptions: CB Tariq Woolen, 4
Sacks: OLB Uchenna Nwosu, 7.0
Tackles: ILB Jordyn Brooks, 90
TEAM STAT RANKINGS
Buccaneers- Scoring Offense: twenty fifth (18.0 ppg)
Total Offense: 19TH (331.8 ypg)
Passing Offense: Fifth (271.1 ypg)
Rushing Offense: thirty second (60.7 ypg)
First Downs Per Game: t-Seventeenth (19.8)
Third-Down Pct.: twenty third (35.9%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt Allowed: 2nd (3.52%)
Red Zone TD Pct.: thirtieth (44.4%)
Scoring Defense: Fifth (18.2 ppg)
Total Defense: Ninth (313.0 ypg)
Passing Defense: Fifth (187.8 ypg)
Rushing Defense: twenty third (125.2 ypg)
First Downs Allowed Per Game: Third (17.2)
Third-Down Pct. Allowed: 18th (40.3%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt: 4th (9.80%)
Red Zone TD Pct. Allowed: twenty fifth (64.0%)
Turnover Margin: t-Ninth (+2)
Seahawks- Scoring Offense: 4th (26.8 ppg)
Total Offense: Eleventh (359.8 ypg)
Passing Offense: 14th (226.0 ypg)
Rushing Offense: tenth (133.8 ypg)
First Downs Per Game: t-Eleventh (20.8)
Third-Down Pct.: Fifth (45.8%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt Allowed: nineteenth (7.39%)
Red Zone TD Pct.: twenty sixth (48.3%)
Scoring Defense: twenty third (24.4 ppg)
Total Defense: twenty fourth (364.6 ypg)
Passing Defense: twentieth (225.9 ypg)
Rushing Defense: twenty seventh (138.7 ypg)
First Downs Allowed Per Game: twenty third (20.8)
Third-Down Pct. Allowed: twenty second (41.8%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt: sixth (8.85%)
Red Zone TD Pct. Allowed: twenty third (60.7%)
Turnover Margin: t-Fifth (+3)
WHAT TO WATCH FORQuarterback Tom Brady has ripped off 12,496 passing in two-and-a-half seasons since becoming a member of the Buccaneers, already the sixth most by any passer in franchise historical past. He can transfer into fifth place on that listing with 153 extra on Sunday in Munich, which might push him previous Doug Williams (12,648).WR Mike Evans heads into Sunday’s sport with 9,818 receiving yards, a franchise file. If he will get 82 extra he would change into the 51st participant in league historical past to achieve 10,000 receiving yards.With 35 receiving yards, Evans would surpass Chad Johnson (9,952) for the tenth most in league historical past in a participant’s first 9 seasons.RB Leonard Fournette snared his third landing reception of the season in Pittsburgh in Week Six. He wants only one extra to equal the Buccaneers’ file for scoring catches in a season by a operating again. Charles Sims set the mark at 4 in 2015.Lavonte David performed in his 158th sport in Week Nine, all as a Buccaneer, which put him in a tie for seventh place in video games performed in group historical past. Assuming he performs in opposition to the Seahawks, David will break that tie with Mike Alstott and take over seventh place by himself.NOTABLY QUOTABLE
* Head Coach Todd Bowles on how the Buccaneers are accounting for the journey and time change for Sunday’s sport: “You try to adjust to it as best you can. We get over there, we try to catch up on our sleep on Friday and Saturday. We have sleep things and glasses and all that stuff for the plane. I guess everybody is going to be different. We just understand we have to kick off at that time, body-clock-wise, early in the morning. We’ve got to be ready to play Sunday.”
* Tight finish Cade Otton on how this week has been after a much-needed win: “I think the vibe in here is really good. Guys are really excited to get to work again and go get another one. There’s no satisfaction with just one win here – we want to keep it going.”
* Pass Game Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote on how good it was to see the protection crack down within the fourth quarter of the Rams sport: “It was great. We’ve been stressing ‘Finish 60 minutes,’ and it was good to get guys back healthy on the field and guys played a complete game – [it] wasn’t perfect but they definitely excelled. Especially in the red zone, making them kick field goals, and you guys know that made the difference.”
* Cornerback Jamel Dean on how motivated he’s to play in opposition to the Seahawks once more and the way he is modified since a tough first outing in 2019: “I treat it like a milestone for me to, like, redeem myself. Because I know, for the first game, it was unexpected – that was like my ‘Welcome to the NFL’ game, so now we’ll see how I hold up with the experience I have. It’s going to be a good game. I’m up for the challenge.”
* Bowles on what the Seahawks do this makes them such an efficient dashing group: “They’re blocking up front very well. They have two great runners – well, [Rashaad] Penny got hurt, but with [Kenneth] Walker they have a heck of a runner. He’s got great vision, he was great in college [and] he’s good now. The receivers can run the ball doing jet sweeps and everything. Then you’ve got the quarterback runs, so they spread it around pretty much. They always threaten you outside with speed, so you’ve got to play them honest.”