Saturday, 4 a.m.
The hardscrabble road begins now for a pretty good Bucs’ team. There will be bruises, and there will be lacerations, and there will be challenges.
How the Bucs maneuver the next month, frankly, may have a lot to do with just where Tampa Bay finishes the season. On Monday night, they face an always tough Baltimore Ravens team. Then there is a rematch against Atlanta. Then there is a trip to the champion Kansas City Chiefs. Then the team is home against the 49ers.
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So what’s possible? Two wins would be a success. Three would be a triumph. Four would be a direct path into the NFL’s elite.
It will be hard enough to get one against Lamar Jackson, Kirk Cousins, Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy. The secondary is suspect, and the pass rush is weak, and the opposing defenses are sound.
Still, if the Bucs have the post-season in mind, they need to start showing it.
Oh, the Bucs have some weapons. Baker Mayfield is off to a good start, the offense with it. But can it move against the defenses? Can it hold up to the opposing quarterback? Can it run the ball partially as well as it did last week against the Saints?
On Monday night, if the Bucs can contain Jackson, and if they can hold up across both lines, they can make it a game.
Still, it’s hard to say they aren’t an underdog.
Prediction: Baltimore 28, Tampa Bay 20.
In other NFL games:
Atlanta 23, Seattle 21.
San Francisco 24, Kanas City 23.
Detroit 30, Minnesota 28.
Washington 34, Carolina 16.
Pittsburgh 27, N.Y. Jets 17.
And in the college games:
USF 21, UAB 17.
Duke 27, FSU 14.
Florida 24, Kentucky 23
Louisville 26 , Miami 21.
Tennessee 26, Alabama 24.