Pewter Predictions For Week 15

BUCS at CHARGERS

WHEN: Sunday, December 15, 2024 | WHERE: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) | KICKOFF: 4:25 p.m. ET | TV: FOX

Recreation day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report workers to make its weekly sport predictions and supply up our sport preview of this week’s matchup. Tell us what you assume within the article feedback part and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds:

Bucs OC Liam Coen and QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

I’m involved that the Bucs protection hasn’t been fastened over the past three video games when the unit has surrendered a league-low 14.3 factors per sport, however moderately the problems on Todd Bowles’ unit have been merely masked by enjoying in opposition to lesser offenses. Holding the Giants, Panthers and Raiders – three of the worst groups within the league – to simply 43 complete factors is spectacular, but anticipated, proper? I simply don’t belief the protection, particularly with Tampa Bay dealing with an elite quarterback like Justin Herbert, who has an enormous arm and has solely thrown one interception in opposition to 14 touchdowns this yr.

But I do trust in Liam Coen’s offense placing up extra 20 factors or extra in Los Angeles in opposition to the league’s prime scoring protection, which permits a median of 15.9 factors per sport. The Bucs have solely scored lower than 20 factors simply as soon as this season – in a 26-7 Week 3 loss to Denver. Baker Mayfield must cease turning the ball over after throwing two picks in every of the final two video games to ensure that the staff to have an opportunity to tug off a West Coast upset.

The Chargers have an awesome purple zone protection and drive opponents to kick discipline targets moderately than rating touchdowns. That, mixed with a plus-11 turnover margin, which is third-best within the league, offers Los Angeles a determined benefit over Tampa Bay, which is minus-2 within the turnover margin. And will this sport come all the way down to discipline targets like I feel it can, Cameron Dicker is connecting at a 93% price, which rivals what Chase McLaughlin has completed kicking for the Bucs this yr. Sadly the Bucs’ successful streak stops at three video games with an in depth Week 15 loss to the Chargers.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Chargers 26, Bucs 23REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 9-4

Matt Matera: Bucs Win In Unordinary Approach

Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs and RB Rachaad White – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

This matchup between the Bucs and Chargers comes all the way down to which staff will get to regulate the tempo of play and enter their model of offense and protection. The Bucs wish to win with their offense getting out to an enormous lead, counting on their offense as they common 28 factors per sport. The Chargers, alternatively, have solely allowed greater than 20 factors twice this season. They wish to shield the soccer and get right into a rock combat with the opponent, seeking to win with working the ball and physicality.

What’s nice about this iteration of the Bucs is that they’ll win in numerous methods. With a future Corridor of Famer in Mike Evans, it’s straightforward to lean on him with the passing sport because the Bucs have completed earlier than. However the staple of Tampa Bay’s offense this yr has been the working sport. It’ll be more durable if Bucky Irving doesn’t play, however they’re nonetheless succesful with Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. I feel the Chargers will orchestrate their model of sport with floor and pound, however Tampa Bay not solely matches that however does it higher. An important issue of all of it isn’t any turnovers by Baker Mayfield. Be aggressive, however not too excessive.

One other factor that’ll assist the Bucs is that their greatest weak spot is move protection and stopping the tight ends. They need to welcome anytime the Chargers wish to run it in order to not exploit what they do the worst. Los Angeles is banged up with their talent place gamers. We’ll see if tight finish Will Dissly or extensive receiver Ladd McConkey can go, however this would possibly simply be the week the place move protection isn’t the largest concern. One thing flukey could occur on this sport. Perhaps a uncommon turnover by Justin Herbert or a blocked punt. It received’t be the prettiest of video games, however one the place the Bucs proceed their successful streak.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 22, Chargers 19MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 8-5

Bailey Adams: Bucs Cross Their Greatest Remaining Common Season Take a look at

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA In the present day

There’s little doubt that that is the Bucs’ greatest check left within the 2024 common season. They arrive in at 7-6 and with their remaining video games coming in opposition to two five-win groups (the Cowboys and Saints) and a three-win staff (the Panthers), a victory over the 8-5 Chargers would go a great distance of their quest for an NFC South title four-peat. It will additionally function one thing of a press release win, as it will show that Tampa Bay isn’t solely feasting on a weaker schedule down the stretch. However can they move this check and make that assertion?

I feel so. I’m trusting the Bucs’ fifth-ranked scoring offense (27.9 PPG) to discover a method in opposition to the Chargers’ top-ranked scoring protection (15.9 PPG allowed). Baker Mayfield has to play a clear sport, and Mike Evans has to indicate up in an enormous method and hopefully discover the tip zone. However maybe what’s much more urgent is the necessity for the Tampa Bay offensive line to say itself and out-physical a really powerful and gritty Chargers protection. Doing so would assist the Buccaneers run sport keep scorching and management the circulation of this sport.

The Los Angeles protection has solely allowed greater than 21 factors twice this season, giving up 27 to Joe Burrow and the Bengals and 30 to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. So, I’m placing lots of religion in Mayfield and the Bucs by predicting them to attain 24. On the identical time, I feel I’m placing lots of religion (an excessive amount of?) in Todd Bowles’ protection to carry Justin Herbert and the Chargers underneath 24. Not that L.A. is scoring at a excessive clip, in fact. It’s simply that it is a banged-up protection that has been suspect even within the uncommon instances when it has been wholesome this season. And I don’t actually belief this group anymore. Ah, however. The Bucs win a fourth straight by toughing one out on the West Coast. Why not?

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Chargers 20ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 9-4

Josh Queipo: Bucs Win Canine Combat In Final-Minute Trend But Once more

Bucs Cb Jamel Dean - Photo By: Cliff Welch P/R

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photograph by: Cliff Welch P/R

The Bucs have been profitable in current weeks on the backs of a protection benefiting from struggling offenses. Effectively, I’ve some information for you. Since Week 12 the Chargers offense is twenty first in EPA/play and twenty eighth in success price. This can be a group that tries to ascertain the run and hit shot performs behind it. And whereas it has labored sufficient, in tandem with a stout protection, I don’t see them rattling off 24 or extra factors in opposition to a Bucs protection that may nonetheless cease the run effectively.

Tampa Bay’s protection has a plethora of accidents however ought to nonetheless have the three most necessary items to stopping a Chargers receiving corps that isn’t excellent behind a dinged-up Ladd McConkey. Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum and Tykee Smith all look to be wholesome to assist negate Los Angeles’ passing assault. And after some optimistic man-to-man reps in Week 14 I wouldn’t be stunned if Todd Bowles dialed up extra Cowl 1 to problem Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston to win in opposition to huge bodily corners.

Now about that stout Chargers protection. They’re a High 10 unit that can probably give the Bucs points. However don’t depend out Tampa Bay’s means to attain. The Bucs have confronted 4 of the highest 11 defenses, as measured by EPA/play, within the NFL. In these video games they’ve averaged 20 factors per sport. Take out the Broncos, who play a totally completely different model of protection than the Chargers and that common jumps to 24.33. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen has been cooking all season, and the run sport is at its peak. I anticipate a bounce-back sport from quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Bucs to safe a high quality win late within the season.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Chargers 19QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 8-5

Adam Slivon: Bucs Lack The Jolt To Win In Los Angeles

Chargers QB Justin Herbert and HC Jim Harbaugh – Photograph by: USA In the present day

Sunday’s sport marks the largest remaining check for the Bucs this season. Coming off the bye week, Tampa Bay defeated the Giants, Panthers, and Raiders. Because it stands, these three staff’s mixed data are simply 7-32. Even coming off an in depth, 19-17 loss to the Chiefs, the Chargers stand at 8-5 and can be seeking to play their model of soccer again house. It’s a mode of soccer that has fashioned underneath Jim Harbaugh throughout his first season on the helm. The Chargers’ identification has developed to being a staff that doesn’t put factors up lots of factors to defeat opponents; moderately, they win video games by outmatching groups bodily on offense and protection.

Co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers mentioned it finest this week when discussing how the Chargers’ offense operates, saying that it poses “a multitude of challenges” for the Bucs’ protection. The unit has performed higher in current weeks in opposition to groups which have struggled offensively, however that can change when dealing with Justin Herbert. Though Herbert doesn’t must be the gunslinger, he has develop into a extremely environment friendly quarterback working the present whereas nonetheless possessing the bodily traits that hold defenses sincere. What works in Tampa Bay’s favor is that Herbert, Gus Edwards, Ladd McConkey, and Will Dissly are all battling accidents. Already lacking J.Ok. Dobbins and missing extensive receivers, Todd Bowles may have a plan to cease Los Angeles’ remaining weapons.

The Bucs’ personal offense has been high-flying, however they face the league’s stingiest scoring protection with expertise on all three ranges. With Bucky Irving but to observe this week and sure out of motion, that places extra on Rachaad White’s shoulders. Baker Mayfield can have his palms full shopping for time and discovering holes in a protection with 39 sacks and 17 takeaways, and his means to not flip the ball over would be the deciding issue. All season, I predicted the staff would fall quick and lose this sport down the stretch. I see this matchup being extra at the same time as of late, however the Chargers have the protection to maintain this low-scoring whereas the Bucs’ protection is just too under-manned to anticipate the identical.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Chargers 20, Bucs 17SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 9-4

Source link