Jalon Daniels, an undrafted rookie out of Kansas, will make his first NFL start Sunday for a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that will be without Baker Mayfield for at least three weeks after he dislocated his right thumb in the 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The Bucs are 0-3, and their losses to the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Vikings came by a combined 17 points. The Green Bay Packers, 1-2 after a 35-14 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons, visit Raymond James Stadium next. Here are four truths about Tampa Bay heading into Week 4.
The offense was broken before Mayfield got hurt
Tampa Bay ranks last in the NFL in offensive EPA per play, according to Sumer Sports. Mayfield’s PFF grade sat at 57.8 after two games, and he was taking sacks on more than 10% of his dropbacks, as ESPN’s Bill Barnwell pointed out after Week 2.
The Vikings sacked Mayfield six times and hit him 12 times Sunday, and the Bucs converted 2 of 17 third downs. Even Chris Godwin’s 85-yard touchdown was wiped out by a holding penalty.
That’s the situation Daniels walks into. Simplifying the game plan with quick throws, as Locked On Bucs host James Yarcho suggested, may be the only way to keep the rookie upright against Green Bay.
Bucky Irving has to carry the rookie
Irving averaged 5.4 yards per carry through two games, and Tampa Bay’s offensive line ranked second in the league in yards before contact over that stretch. The run game disappeared against Minnesota, though, as the Bucs finished with 57 rushing yards.
Green Bay just gave up 194 rushing yards to Bijan Robinson at Lambeau Field. If the Bucs commit to Irving early, Daniels gets manageable third downs and play-action looks instead of obvious passing situations.
The pass rush still isn’t getting home
Todd Bowles got the defensive additions he wanted this offseason, including first-round edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and linebacker Alex Anzalone, leaving no more excuses for an underperforming unit.
Through two weeks, Tampa Bay ranked 31st in pressure rate despite blitzing more than all but two teams, and the starting defensive line had zero sacks. Bowles is sending extra rushers and getting little back.
Jordan Love threw for 387 yards against Minnesota in Week 1, and the Packers lost right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele for the season against Atlanta. With a rookie quarterback on the other side, the Bucs can’t afford to let Love sit in a clean pocket.
Tampa Bay is still alive in the NFC South
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Bucs lost 23-19 to Cleveland and 33-27 to Cincinnati before Sunday’s seven-point loss. They haven’t been blown out, and they’re only one game behind New Orleans, Carolina and Atlanta, who are all 1-2.
Barnwell ranked Tampa Bay second among winless teams in playoff chances after Week 2, noting that “nobody is ever really eliminated from contention in that division.” Carolina won the NFC South last season after a 0-2 start.
The latest power rankings paint a bleak picture, but a win over Green Bay would get Tampa Bay back within striking distance with Mayfield still sidelined.
The Bucs host the Packers at 1 p.m. ET Sunday on Fox at Raymond James Stadium. Watch the injury report for Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who was evaluated for a concussion against Atlanta.
