Winston, Tandy lead Bucs to 4th straight win, 28-21 vs Bolts

We know we’ve got a tough road ahead, especially with where teams are in our division and really, teams in the conference.

The Buccaneers (6-5) are fresh off of a 14-5 win over the Seahawks giving them their third straight win. Tampa are conceding, on average, 115 yards on the ground this year, and given how much San Diego go to Gordon, you can expect that he’s going to be getting very close to achieving that landmark on Sunday. To see Tampa Bay win ATS and SU for the second week straight would be unsurprising. The Bucs did just that with a 19-17 victory over the Chiefs in Week 11. He played near flawless football during the Buccaneers (6-5) first two drives and then managed the game and allowed the defense to carry them to the win. The field goal unit has been somewhat troublesome, with Josh Lambo missing three extra points so far this season. (Lavonte) David at linebacker, they’ve got a lot of talented players. None of those limitations showed up on Sunday, and I would have forgotten he was on the field (this is a good thing) if it wasn’t for the game-clinching interception at the end. Jacquizz Rodgers got 14 back on the next play, but the Bucs had to try a 31-yard field goal and Roberto Aguayo pushed it wide right. Unlike normal Bucs fashion, Cameron Brate saw more receptions than Mike Evans who only had three catches for 38 yards while Brate had six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. For the fifth time this season, the Chargers squandered a lead in the final 15 minutes and on this occasion it all but eliminated them from the playoffs. He has 23 TD passes but has also thrown 12 picks and been sacked 26 times for a total lossage of 142 yards.

Hayward won’t be tasked with shadowing Evans for the entire game, but he will be assigned to the elite receiver more often than not.

Don’t let last week’s 13 point defensive performance by San Diego fool you. It will be a challenge to say the least. The Chargers had 2 weeks to prepare as they were coming off their bye week while Houston was coming off a gut wrenching loss in Mexico. Philip Rivers’ 12 interceptions are the second most of any quarterback.

“We have to take advantage of the opportunity”.

The same holds true for most everyone on the Buccaneers roster.

Tampa Bay’s offensive progress is not exactly unexpected.

Koetter said his team has rallied behind quarterback Jameis Winston.

Consecutive games in which the Bucs have forced multiple turnovers. But he may have outdone himself in their game against the Bucs today. We control our own destiny at this point but this is just the beginning.

Regardless, I’m not sure that Tampa Bay has enough on offense to match up with the San Diego. It was not ideal as the Chargers look to avoid their first losing season since 2012. In a season of sagging TV ratings and mishmash of mediocrity, the league is desperate for tasty matchups, and right now, one on the December 18 docket – besides New England-Denver – seems potentially lip-smacking.

This isn’t the first time the David has made a game changing play and it won’t be the last. “We’re playing one game at time”.