Tag: Keys to victory

Bucs vs. Saints: Three keys to victory in Week 17

The Bucs put a beatdown on the Saints the last time the two teams played — here’s how they can do it again.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one win away from winning the NFC South and a playoff berth. Standing in their way is their second matchup with the New Orleans Saints, who have underwhelmed this year but are still formidable.

In their first game back in Week 4, Tampa Bay stomped the Saints 26-9, holding Derek Carr to an absurd 3.7 yards per attempt. While the Bucs likely will not be able to perfectly replicate that kind of defensive dominance, their goal will no doubt be to make life as difficult as possible for the New Orleans quarterback.

On offense, the Bucs have been surging behind quarterback Baker Mayfield and a steadily improving run game. Tampa Bay will want to control the tempo of the game and impose their will on one of their last roadblocks to the postseason.

Here are the Bucs’ three keys to victory over the Saints this week:

Bucs vs. Jaguars: Three keys to victory in Week 16

The Bucs can win Sunday’s battle by paying attention to these three things in Week 16:

Now firmly in the driver’s seat atop the NFC South, the Buccaneers are two wins away from a third-straight division title and fourth-straight playoff berth. The Jacksonville Jaguars are arguably the best team left on Tampa Bay’s regular season slate, but they are by no means unbeatable.

The biggest question for both teams heading into their matchup is Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s game status. He has been in the concussion protocol all week and as of Friday, has not yet cleared it. As the centerpiece of Jacksonville’s offense, Lawrence’s absence would be a massive blow to their chances against the Bucs.

The Bucs will look to continue their late season improvement after posting their strongest offensive outing yet last week in Green Bay. With the offense on the rise, head coach Todd Bowles will need his defense to follow suit.

Here are the three keys to victory for the Bucs’ week 16 matchup with the Jaguars:

Colts’ keys to victory vs. Steelers in Week 15

Here’s how the Colts can come away with a win over the Steelers.

The Indianapolis Colts (7-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) are set for a crucial matchup in Week 15 that will play a heavy role in determining the playoff odds in the AFC.

Both teams are coming off brutal losses and will be looking to bounce back with backup quarterbacks under center. The Colts just snapped a four-game winning streak with their worst loss of the season while the Steelers have lost three of their last four.

Here’s how the Colts can come away with a home win against the Steelers on Saturday:

Bucs at Packers: Three keys to victory in Week 15

Here are three things the Bucs can focus on in their quest to continue their division lead with a win over Green Bay.

Now leading the NFC South, the Buccaneers face one of their biggest hurdles down the home stretch to the playoffs: the Green Bay Packers. Despite losing to the New York Giants last week, the Packers have been one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL for the past month, winning three straight largely in part to the improved play of Jordan Love and the offense.

The Packers still have their vulnerabilities. The defense struggles to stop the ball on the ground and Love can be careless with the ball at times. Nevertheless, Green Bay brings an explosive offense that could very well overwhelm Tampa Bay’s porous pass defense. The Bucs’ margin for victory is likely very narrow so discipline will be key.

Here are the Bucs’ three keys to victory over the Packers:

Bucs vs. Falcons: Three keys to victory in Week 14

Here are a few things the Bucs can do to better their chances in a crucial NFC South matchup.

In what has become a pivotal game for the NFC South, the Buccaneers’ Week 14 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons could very well decide whether Tampa Bay goes to the playoffs. After losing to the Falcons 16-13 in Week 7 on a walk-off field goal, the Bucs will be looking to avoid another close game decided by whoever holds the ball last.

The Falcons are currently on a two-game win streak but are looking far from invincible. Quarterback Desmond Ridder is not looking all that improved since Week 7. The defense appears more formidable, but that may be a mirage induced by Derek Carr and Tim Boyle.

Tampa Bay has not been any better, squeaking by the 1-11 Panthers last week. The Bucs offense has struggled to properly leverage all its playmakers and get in the end zone. Something will have to change this week if the Bucs hope to retake control of the division.

Here are the three keys to victory for the Bucs in their Week 13 game against the Falcons:

3 keys to a Chiefs victory over the Packers in Week 13

Check out these three keys to a #Chiefs victory over the #Packers in Week 13 when Kansas City plays on ‘Sunday Night Football’

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to take on the Green Bay Packers at  Lambeau Field on Sunday Night Football in a game that could have serious implications for their standings in the AFC playoffs.

Both teams are coming off impressive wins, especially Green Bay, who defeated the Detroit Lions on the road in a divisional Thanksgiving showdown.

The Chiefs proved that their offense still has some firepower in their last game, overcoming a 14-0 deficit against the Las Vegas Raiders to secure victory with a final score of 31-17.

While Kansas City is certainly the more established contender in this primetime matchup, the Packers are expected to put on a show in front of their home crowd with Jordan Love under center. This will be a hotly contested meeting between one team with everything to lose, and another that is essentially playing in its Super Bowl.

Here are three keys to a Chiefs victory over Green Bay in Week 13:

Bucs vs. Panthers: Three keys to victory in Week 13

Here are three ways the Bucs can beat the Panthers and get back in the win column on Sunday:

The Buccaneers have lost six of their last seven games, but the home stretch looks considerably easier than the road behind, starting with a home game against the Carolina Panthers. With just one this season, the Panthers are one of the worst teams in the league and have already moved on from head coach Frank Reich. That does not mean the Bucs are assured victory, as they are far from flawless themselves.

Few would argue that the Panthers have one of the least talented rosters in the NFL, particularly on offense. 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young has looked nothing like the top pick of the draft, and the rest of the offense has done next to nothing to help.

By most metrics, the Bucs are the superior team, but they have struggled with consistency all season. Even head coach Todd Bowles appears baffled how baffling and pervasive the team’s mistakes have been (via Fox Sports’ Greg Auman):

The self-inflicted wounds guarantee that every Bucs game will, at minimum, be interesting. Carolina is flawed enough that Tampa Bay has a better-than-average chance of getting back into the win column.

Here are three keys to victory for the Bucs in their home game against the Panthers:

5 keys to a Jaguars win in Week 10 vs. 49ers

What’s the path to victory for the Jaguars on Sunday against the visiting 49ers?

A month ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ mid-November matchup against the San Francisco 49ers looked like a nightmare. Things have changed since then.

The Jaguars are on a five-game win streak, the NFL’s longest entering Week 10, while San Francisco has lost three straight.

Suddenly, it’s 6-2 Jacksonville with the better record than the visiting 5-3 49ers. While the Jaguars are somehow an underdog in the EverBank Stadium matchup, there’s plenty of reason to think the team could get to 7-2 with a sixth straight win Sunday.

If Jacksonville plans to pull off the “upset” at home in Week 10, here are five things they’ll need to accomplish against San Francisco:

4 keys to victory for Commanders vs. Patriots in Week 9

We’ve identified four keys to victory for the Commanders in Week 9 vs. the Patriots.

The Washington Commanders will look a bit different this week for their Week 9 game against the New England Patriots. For the first time since the end of the 2018 season, neither Montez Sweat nor Chase Young are a part of Washington’s roster.

The Commanders traded their starting defensive ends ahead of this week’s NFL trade deadline, opening the door for James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill and Efe Obada to replace Young and Sweat.

While Washington will miss Young, Sweat and their combined 11.5 sacks, the Commanders couldn’t be any worse on defense without the duo. Washington currently ranks No. 29 in total defense.

What must the Commanders do to defeat the Patriots?

Here are four keys to victory for Week 9.

Colts vs. Saints: Keys to victory in Week 8

Taking a look at the keys to victory in Week 8.

Welcome to Week 8 of the 2023 NFL season. The Indianapolis Colts (3-4) welcome the New Orleans Saints (3-4) to Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.

Both teams are on a two-game losing streak and desperately need a win to push the team back .500.

Dating back to 1967, when the franchise was in Baltimore, the Saints own an 8-5 overall record over Indianapolis. However, there are things the Colts can do to gain ground and pick up the victory.

Here are the keys to victory for the Colts in Week 8: