That was the first time I've seen a whole Bucs game since last season's playoff game against the Rams. Have seen various plays/drives. Had two main reactions.
First, Baltimore's been gnashed by opposing starting RBs all season. Ironically, Saquon Barkley's the only one who's posted less than 4.5 yards per carry. Yet after running the ball on six of their first nine offensive plays, Tom Brady threw on eight of the next nine. Then a 3-3 split on the next two failed drives. And then, right before halftime, six straight pass plays.
Yes, that was a two-minute drill. And it also failed, leaving enough time on the clock for Baltimore to march down and attempt a field goal. And worse, it shortened the Bucs' drive times, letting Baltimore's defense off the hook while forcing Tampa Bay's D to stay on the field for more than 38 minutes. The ripple effect of not establishing the run, especially when their opponent established it perfectly.
My other reaction is probably obvious, though some legitimately might disagree. Brady doesn't look good. By all accounts, he had time to throw. One pass to Mike Evans early on was underthrown, and thrown too late. These two have played together for 2 1/2 seasons. Evans put his arm up calling for the ball. Brady was looking his way, but didn't pounce on the opportunity. Other times Brady tossed it into crowds, like that late-game toss to the end zone that should have been picked off.
This is the first time Brady's lost five of six games. It's incredible to think their Week 18 matchup in Atlanta might decide the AFC South. Of course, it's a long time 'til then. But with remaining matchups against the Rams, (possibly healthy) Saints, 49ers, Bengals, and Cardinals, not to mention the emerging Seahawks, the 3-5 Bucs need to turn things around quickly to stay relevant, even in their sub-par division.
Fantasy-wise, Leonard Fournette ran terribly again. Since Week 2 he's rushed for 259 yards on 91 carries (2.8 YPC). There's no way to positively spin that, especially with Rachaad White's YPC improving each game since Week 2. As I shared this summer, every season since college when he's eclipsed 240 touches, he's regressed and/or had serious injuries the following season. His current struggles are not a coincidence. Maybe it's not just about his 2021 workload. But there's something going on, and it's not just the offensive line.
Cade Otton was #3 on the Bucs in targets. So don't get too discouraged (or do -- whatever you want) with his output last night. He's still a featured part of this offense. And interestingly, Julio Jones was #4 in targets. Perhaps he'll be a deep-league streamer going forward, though it's too soon to know.
For Baltimore, the news as of midnight was that Mark Andrews' shoulder injury and Gus Edwards' hamstring injury aren't expected to be serious. They'll get a long break before next taking the field, so that's the bright side. Honestly, Edwards ran better than I expected. That said, he is what he's always been: volume- and TD-dependent. White scored more PPR points, even though Edwards was far more impactful on the field. With Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill thriving in Edwards' absence, it will be interesting and/or concerning (depending on who you've rostered) how this backfield shakes out.
Also notably, Isaiah Likely stepped up when Andrews exited. In the DFS piece I wrote for PFN yesterday, I recommended a lineup featuring both Andrews and Likely. It wasn't exactly a hedge, but it turned out that way, and the lineup hit in-the-money (top 22%) in the DFS tournament as a result. Likely is the real deal. While he might not be useful most weeks when the receiving corps is healthy, he's probably the best backup TE in fantasy.
Finally, the closest-score competition. Special second-place recognition to Hector Chavez, Kevin McCabe, and Chris Hupe, who all guessed the Ravens winning 27-24. If only White had converted that two-point try! (Or if only the blocking had been better.) (Or if only the play had been a fake draw, with Otton peeling off and Brady finding him near the back corner of the end zone.
But it wasn't meant to be. So the winner is Jeremy Schwartz, who picked 27-23. Congrats, Jeremy. Few have deserved this prize more than you.
First, Baltimore's been gnashed by opposing starting RBs all season. Ironically, Saquon Barkley's the only one who's posted less than 4.5 yards per carry. Yet after running the ball on six of their first nine offensive plays, Tom Brady threw on eight of the next nine. Then a 3-3 split on the next two failed drives. And then, right before halftime, six straight pass plays.
Yes, that was a two-minute drill. And it also failed, leaving enough time on the clock for Baltimore to march down and attempt a field goal. And worse, it shortened the Bucs' drive times, letting Baltimore's defense off the hook while forcing Tampa Bay's D to stay on the field for more than 38 minutes. The ripple effect of not establishing the run, especially when their opponent established it perfectly.
My other reaction is probably obvious, though some legitimately might disagree. Brady doesn't look good. By all accounts, he had time to throw. One pass to Mike Evans early on was underthrown, and thrown too late. These two have played together for 2 1/2 seasons. Evans put his arm up calling for the ball. Brady was looking his way, but didn't pounce on the opportunity. Other times Brady tossed it into crowds, like that late-game toss to the end zone that should have been picked off.
This is the first time Brady's lost five of six games. It's incredible to think their Week 18 matchup in Atlanta might decide the AFC South. Of course, it's a long time 'til then. But with remaining matchups against the Rams, (possibly healthy) Saints, 49ers, Bengals, and Cardinals, not to mention the emerging Seahawks, the 3-5 Bucs need to turn things around quickly to stay relevant, even in their sub-par division.
Fantasy-wise, Leonard Fournette ran terribly again. Since Week 2 he's rushed for 259 yards on 91 carries (2.8 YPC). There's no way to positively spin that, especially with Rachaad White's YPC improving each game since Week 2. As I shared this summer, every season since college when he's eclipsed 240 touches, he's regressed and/or had serious injuries the following season. His current struggles are not a coincidence. Maybe it's not just about his 2021 workload. But there's something going on, and it's not just the offensive line.
Cade Otton was #3 on the Bucs in targets. So don't get too discouraged (or do -- whatever you want) with his output last night. He's still a featured part of this offense. And interestingly, Julio Jones was #4 in targets. Perhaps he'll be a deep-league streamer going forward, though it's too soon to know.
For Baltimore, the news as of midnight was that Mark Andrews' shoulder injury and Gus Edwards' hamstring injury aren't expected to be serious. They'll get a long break before next taking the field, so that's the bright side. Honestly, Edwards ran better than I expected. That said, he is what he's always been: volume- and TD-dependent. White scored more PPR points, even though Edwards was far more impactful on the field. With Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill thriving in Edwards' absence, it will be interesting and/or concerning (depending on who you've rostered) how this backfield shakes out.
Also notably, Isaiah Likely stepped up when Andrews exited. In the DFS piece I wrote for PFN yesterday, I recommended a lineup featuring both Andrews and Likely. It wasn't exactly a hedge, but it turned out that way, and the lineup hit in-the-money (top 22%) in the DFS tournament as a result. Likely is the real deal. While he might not be useful most weeks when the receiving corps is healthy, he's probably the best backup TE in fantasy.
Finally, the closest-score competition. Special second-place recognition to Hector Chavez, Kevin McCabe, and Chris Hupe, who all guessed the Ravens winning 27-24. If only White had converted that two-point try! (Or if only the blocking had been better.) (Or if only the play had been a fake draw, with Otton peeling off and Brady finding him near the back corner of the end zone.
But it wasn't meant to be. So the winner is Jeremy Schwartz, who picked 27-23. Congrats, Jeremy. Few have deserved this prize more than you.