I think it’s safe to say the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not the best team in the NFC, as coach Raheem Morris proclaimed earlier this season. They are, however, still in the NFC playoff hunt with a 7-5 record.
The Buccaneers look to snap a two-game skid when they visit the 5-7 Washington Redskins in Week 14. NFL odds makers are expecting a nailbiter, listing the Buccaneers as a slim one point favorite with the total set at 41.
Tampa Bay will be happy to look across the field and see a team with a losing record. After all, it has won seven consecutive games against teams that are below .500. The Bucs will also be happy to look across the field to see no Albert Haynesworth. The All-Pro tackle has been suspended for the rest of the season.
Tampa Bay looked poised to take down division rival Atlanta last week, but it gave up 14 unanswered fourth-quarter points to lose 28-24.
The Bucs will need some help, of course, but their schedule does shape up nicely for them to stay in the postseason hunt. Following this week’s contest, the Bucs host Detroit and Seattle before ending the season at New Orleans.
With a win Sunday, Tampa Bay would be ensured of its first winning road record in five years.
The Tampa Bay offense is no juggernaut, but it has been able to do some damage on the ground. The Bucs ranks 11th in the league in rushing offense at 119.2 yards per game. Led by LeGarrette Blount, they have broken the century mark on the ground in six of their last seven games.
Washington is the worst defensive team in the NFL, allowing 397.3 yards per game. It has especially struggled to stop the run lately. Without Haynesworth, the Skins were gashed for 197 yards on the ground in last week’s 31-7 loss to the Giants. They currently rank 28th against the run at 137.0 yards per game allowed.
With this in mind, Blount and the Bucs could be poised for a big day.
It is certainly worth noting that the Buccaneers are 10-1 against the spread in their last 11 road games.
The Redskins haven’t lost four in a row at home since 2004, but they are in danger of doing so Sunday.
You hate to give up on a player with the talent of Haynesworth, but perhaps the Redskins can get back to playing football now that the distraction has been dealt with.
While Washington’s defense must be ready to step up, the offense must also play better, and that includes six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb.
McNabb will go down in the history books as one of the all-time greats at the position, but he has not performed to expectations. He has been intercepted a career-high 15 times and has a passer rating of 75.2—the lowest of his career.
It is also worth noting that the Buccaneers are 3-13 against the spread in their last 16 games as a road favorite of 3.0 or fewer points.
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