It’s time for Scott Reynolds’ 2-point conversion postgame column. This column features two statements, two questions, and two predictions based on the latest Bucks games. It wasn’t perfect, but with the Falcons losing to the Vikings in Minnesota, the Bucks pulled away from the Raiders to win 28-13 and take first place in the NFC South. Tampa Bay is currently in control of its own destiny at 7-6, while Atlanta has lost four straight after starting 6-3 and is now 6-7.
The Bucs jumped out to a 14-0 lead and then trailed 14-10, but several Tampa Bay touchdowns pulled the game away in the fourth quarter. Baker Mayfield scored three touchdowns, including two to Jalen McMillan, but also had two interceptions, one fumble and three turnovers.
Two important statements
Statement 1. Jalen McMillan’s breakout game helps Bucks win
We’ve been spoiled with so many rookies making an immediate impact in Tampa Bay, haven’t we?
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
We saw Tristan Wirfs play like a Pro Bowl tackle from his first NFL game and Antwon Winfield Jr. became an instant playmaker in the secondary in 2020. We saw Cade Otton and Rashard White make big plays as rookies in 2022, and punter Jake thrived. Camarda was a rookie starter.
Kodi Mauch was a wire-to-wire starter at right guard last year, and Kaliyah Kansi and Yahya Diaby were impact starters on defense by midseason. And of course, this year’s rookie class features impact starters like center Graham Burton, nickelback Tykie Smith and running back Bucky Irving.
So if wide receiver Jalen McMillan, this year’s third-round pick, doesn’t follow a similar trajectory right away, we’ll be worried and concerned that he’s a potential failure. McMillan didn’t live up to the hype he generated in training camp and the preseason, and was largely disappointing from a production and availability standpoint.
The Washington product has had to grow up and learn what life in the NFL is like in terms of taking care of his body in terms of treatments and preventive maintenance.
But history suggests McMillan may not need to worry too much about his slow start to his career in Tampa Bay.
McMillan had a four-catch, 59-yard, two-touchdown performance against Las Vegas and now has 17 catches, 204 yards, and three touchdowns this year. Compare this to Chris Godwin’s rookie season in 2017, when Godwin had 23 catches for 298 yards and zero touchdowns through Week 14.
Bucks WR Jalen McMillan and C Graham Burton – Photo courtesy of USA Today
It’s also worth noting that McMillan missed five games with a hamstring injury, which brings his total to just over nine games, while Godwin didn’t miss a single game in his rookie season. . So in some ways, especially in terms of the score, McMillan’s work is actually better than Godwin’s.
McMillan has three touchdowns (with four to go) in nine games, while Godwin only scored one TD during his rookie season. So Sunday may have been a major turning point for the rookie receiver.
Godwin finished his 2017 rookie season on a high note, recording three catches for 98 yards against Carolina in Week 16 of the same year, and then had a season-best seven catches for 111 yards in a 31-24 win over Carolina. He scored the game-winning touchdown in the blink of an eye. They defeated the Saints in the final game of the season. McMillan will probably finish his rookie year on a high as well.
McMillan did indeed score a 29-yard touchdown on a third-and-6 screen pass to end the Raiders.
The Bucks are now back in contention for the NFC South title, and they need all the help they can get from McMillan.
“It’s just me trying,” McMillan said. “I just came in as a new employee and I watch Chris and Mike approach their work and I try to emulate how I approach them every day. It’s a process and everything It’s not going to be perfect, but at the end of the day you just have to count the wins and today was a win. So I’m just excited.”
Statement 2. To the rescue of Tykie Smith
Bucks NCB Tykie Smith – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs have been dropping safeties like flies this season. Jordan Whitehead injured his pectoral muscle in the 30-7 win over New York and will be out for several weeks, and his replacement Mike Edwards injured his hamstring last week against Carolina. Antwon Winfield Jr., who is out with a knee injury, will be out for “several weeks,” head coach Todd Bowles said Sunday.
Thankfully, rookie nickelback Tykie Smith was back in the lineup and came to the rescue. Without Winfield, Whitehead and Edwards, someone needed to make plays for a Tampa Bay defense that struggled to protect the middle of the field all day. As the Raiders took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched down the field during the first nine minutes of the third quarter, Aidan O’Connell fired a pass toward rookie sensation Brock Bowers at the Tampa Bay 7-yard line.
However, Smith covered well and dove in front of Bowers, who was guarding him at Georgia practice, and made his second interception of the year. Smith was the falconer that replaced Winfield last year, tying Zion McCollum for the team lead with two picks and tied with Lavonte David for the team lead with three forced fumbles.
Smith had missed the last three games because of swelling in his knee after colliding with another player during practice before the 49ers’ game. The swelling has limited my range of motion for the past few weeks, but eventually the swelling has subsided to the point where I can run without any problems. Smith didn’t even start Sunday against the Raiders and wasn’t originally scheduled to play this much.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said, “We wanted to put a spotlight on him and play him early to see how he felt and how he was moving around.” “When he came to the sideline and said he was go, Winfield Jr. went down, so I’m glad he was go right then and there. It just helped us out. He gave it to me. [Smith] Saw [Bowers] There are many in practice. I think he’ll be proud when they return to Georgia. ”
2 Detailed questions
Questions 1. Where was the Bucs pass rush?
Bucks DT Vita Vea and Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Tampa Bay had a good pass rush on Sunday, but it didn’t show up in the sack department. Outside of the occasional blitz by Bucs defensive tackles Vita Vea and Kaliyah Kanci, and inside linebacker Lavonte David, who had his fourth sack of the season, the Bucs have not had much success, especially from the outside linebacker position. There aren’t many sacks.
But even Baer and Cuncey were held without a sack Sunday. According to Pro Football Focus, Baer had one tackle and Kancey had two stops, but Kancey, along with Yaya Diaby, contributed six quarterback pressures and the second-year defensive tackle had three quarterback pressures. He led the team in back hits. But given the talent on Tampa Bay’s defensive line, the lack of sacks is both surprising and disappointing.
Cunce and Baer each lead the team with six sacks, while Diaby has just two and second-round pick Chris Braswell has half a sack on the season. The most likely footballer among the outside linebackers is Anthony Nelson, a six-year veteran who has played in three to 13 games.
If Todd Bowles returns next year, they will have to fire outside linebackers coach George Edwards and find a replacement. Edwards was depleted by Dallas due to lack of development among the Cowboys’ edge rushers, and the Bucs made a mistake in using him. Unfortunately, I don’t think Tampa Bay’s pass rush off the edge will improve as long as Edwards is leading the way. It’s time for a change.
Question 2. Will Baker Mayfield stop throwing interceptions?
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Hopefully. The Chargers’ defense isn’t messing around. Los Angeles defenders hit Kirk Cousins four times just two weeks ago against Atlanta, giving him 13 goals on the year. baker mayfield He has thrown four interceptions in the last two games combined, and his season total of 13 is second in the league behind Cousins’ 15.
Mayfield went three games without an interception. They will be playing against Kansas City, San Francisco, and the New York Giants, so they definitely have the ability to play error-free football. And he scored four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) during that span.
The Chargers boast the NFL’s top-ranked scoring defense, allowing an average of just 15.9 points per game, while also ranking 11th in total defense with 323.7 yards per game. LA’s pass defense ranks eighth, allowing just 206.1 yards per game. Beating the Chargers in Los Angeles isn’t impossible, but the Bucs can do it by leaving “Bad Baker” at home in Tampa and taking “No-Turnover Baker” on the road to the West Coast. There is a need.
2 Bold predictions
Prediction 1. The Bucs could advance to their fourth Punter of the Year award.
Bucks P Jack Browning – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Bucs practice squad punter Jack Browning, who was promoted to the gameday roster on Sunday, had a shaky NFL debut. Browning punted three times against Las Vegas, averaging 42.7 yards and netting 32.7 yards. None of Browning’s punts went down inside the 20, but neither did any touchbacks.
Browning completed three kickoffs that resulted in touchbacks and two of his other kickoffs were returned for an average of 29.5 yards. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was asked how he thought the rookie’s first NFL game of any kind went on Sunday.
“I’ve only seen a little bit of it, but it’s a work in progress,” Bowles said with a laugh. “We’ll wipe away the rookie anxiety and go from there.”
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs add another punter to their practice squad this week in case Browning isn’t the right fit. Tampa Bay can promote him two more times this season before signing him to the active roster or finding someone to punt, hold and kickoff.
Prediction 2. Chargers snap Bucks’ 3rd straight win
Bucks head coach Todd Bowles – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Tampa Bay continues to perform well, winning three games in a row against teams without a winning record. However, the Chargers are a very good team that could make the playoffs with an 8-5 record. I think Tampa Bay’s winning streak ended on the West Coast. Los Angeles’ defense is one of the best in the league, and Justin Herbert is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.
That’s not to say the Bucks can’t win this game, especially if they’re healthy. But Tampa Bay is incredibly solid, especially defensively, and I think a healthier team would give them a better chance of winning. This Bucks team has proven it can beat the likes of the Commanders, Eagles, and Lions at full strength, or near full strength. In fact, Detroit has only lost one game this year, a 20-16 home game against Tampa Bay in Week 2.
However, with so many reserve players in the lineup, it will be difficult for Tampa Bay to win and return home with an 8-6 record.
