Thanks to a 2-0 start
Cheap Chris Godwin Jersey , Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bucs are riding high and now they get to show everyone that they are for real when they play the
Steelers on Monday Night Football. Both teams are similar in the fact that they
are the top two offenses in the league, but they also are in the bottom seven on
defense.There will be matchups galore to watch in this game and it could be
another offensive shootout like we saw in Week 1 against the Saints.
OverviewAll-time series record: Pittsburgh leads the series with 8-2 record
against the Bucs. However, Tampa Bay won the most recent meeting, 27-24 in 2014.
The Bucs are 1-5 at home and 1-3 on the road against the Steelers.Longest win
streak: The Steelers won four in a row from 1976-1989 and from 2001-2010.The
Bucs will need another big game from FitzpatrickPhoto by Michael Reaves/Getty
ImagesLargest victory: Like every other team, Pittsburgh trounced the Bucs 42-0
in their 1976 inaugural season.2018 offensive and defensive rankings: Tampa Bay
owns the league’s best offense (1st pass, 27th run) and the 27th ranked defense
(31st pass, 2nd run). The Steelers aren’t too far off in offensive production
compared to the Bucs. They have the second best offense (2nd pass, 20th run) and
the 25th ranked defense (14th pass, 30th run)What to watch for:The Bucs’
receiving corps against the Steelers’ secondary: This is a matchup nightmare for
Pittsburgh. Tampa Bay has four receivers (including Cameron Brate and O.J.
Howard) that are all 6-foot-1 or taller. The tallest corner on the Steelers is
Artie Burns, who barley checks in at six feet tall. The Steelers’ receiving
corps against the Bucs’ secondary: While the Steelers don’t have the biggest
receivers
Bryan Anger Jersey , they are all extremely talented and have an excellent rapport with Ben Roethlisberger. JuJu Smith-Schuster should have a big
night. Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard: The Steelers have allowed 10 receptions
for 123 yards and two touchdowns through two games to opposing tight ends.
Granted, most of that was given up to Travis Kelce, but one could argue that
Howard is just as athletic as Kelce and that Brate is just as effective in the
redzone.Steelers’ defensive line against Bucs’ offensive line: Cameron Heyward
and Stephon Tuitt are no joke. The Bucs had issues at times with the Eagles’
pass rush last week, especially with Fletcher Cox. Caleb Benenoch better be
ready.Tampa Bay’s running game: Opponents are currently averaging 150 yards per
carry against the Steelers. Having a quarterback that can run helps as well.
Patrick Mahomes and Tyrod Taylor combined for 13 carries for 95 yards and a
touchdown - and we all know that Fitzpatrick can run, too.Impact PlayersTampa
BayQB Ryan Fitzpatrick: For the third consecutive week, Fitzpatrick makes the
list. WR DeSean Jackson: The NFL’s leading receiver should have another big game
if he’s matched up with Cameron Sutton in the slot. TE O.J. Howard: Howard
should have another big game on Monday night.CB Brent Grimes: It looks like
Grimes will suit up for the first time this season. How much he plays is
unknown, but Tampa Bay will need him at his best.S Justin Evans: He will be
responsible for not letting Antonio Brown get past the defense. K Chandler
Catanzaro: More of a liability than an impact player - despite the knock -
Chandler will need to hit ALL of his kicks.Grimes should see his first action of
2018 on MondayPhoto by Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesPittsburghQB Ben Roethlisberger:
With Leveon Bell off the roster, this is Ben’s offense.WR JuJu Smith-Schuster:
Smith-Schuster is already the league’s best slot receiver and you saw what
Nelson Agholor did to M.J. Stewart last week.RB James Connor: Bell’s backup had
a great Week 1, but not so much in Week 2. A lot of that had to do with game
flow, but the Bucs will need to contain him. DT Cameron Heyward: As mentioned
earlier
Womens Bryan Anger Jersey , Heyward will be unleashed on the Bucs’ offensive line and they will need to figure out how to slow him down. LB T.J.
Watt: Watt has been as disruptive as they come since he entered the NFL.CB Joe
Haden: He will most likely be matched up against Mike Evans, which will be fun
to watch. Cool stats:Tampa Bay’s 75 points scored, 810 passing yards and 965
total yards are all the most through two games in franchise history. The team’s
810 passing yards are the most in any two-game stretch in team history, while
the 965 total yards are the second-most in any two-game stretch in team
history.The 75 points scored are the second-most in any two-game stretch in team
history.Fitzpatrick has four touchdown passes of 50+ yards through the first two
games of the season, tying N.Y. Jets QB Joe Namath (1972) for the most 50+ yard
touchdown passes through the first two games of the season in NFL
history.Fitzpatrick is the first player in the NFL to post consecutive games
with a passer rating of 140 or higher since 2015 and he is the first Buccaneer
in history to do so. On Tampa Bay’s first play of the game against Philadelphia
(9/16), WR DeSean Jackson caught a 75-yard touchdown - the longest opening play
from scrimmage in franchise history. It was Jackson’s 23rd career touchdown of
at least 60 yards, tying Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most such touchdowns
in NFL history.DeSean Jackson should have another big gamePhoto by Mike
Ehrmann/Getty ImagesGame OutlookTampa Bay has an opportunity to send one of the
NFL’s proudest franchises into total dismay in front of a national audience.The
Bucs are on fire while the Steelers are not. Both teams have faced their share
of distractions in the early weeks. From the Jameis Winston suspension/lawsuit
to the ever-growing rift between Pittsburgh’s management and Leveon Bell/Antonio
Brown - plus a 0-1-1 record - each team needs to win to keep the distractions at
bay.This game is pretty much a toss-up and will come down to who can execute
better. So far, the Bucs have been far more efficient and impactful on offense
than the Steelers. Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay have both struggled on defense, so
expect another shootout Monday night.Then again this is the NFL and it probably
wouldn’t surprise anyone if this ended up as a 20-17 game.The Crow’s Nest: The
Batmobile, setting Buccaneers passing records
http://www.tampabaybuccaneersteamonline.com/jameis-winston-jersey , and on-field protests Bucs’ Gerald McCoy shows off Batman-themed Rolls Royce -
Tampa Bay TimesGerald McCoy will pull up to training camp in a new Rolls Royce
sporting a Batman logo on the hood.Yes, Jameis Winston can set Bucs career
passing records in 2018 | tbo.comBucs QB Jameis Winston, still only 24 years
old, can set franchise career records for passing yards and touchdown passes
this season.Year Three Goals for Noah Spence and the 2016 Draft Class -
Buccaneers.comJust as members of the Bucs' Class of 2017 have a chance to make a
Year Two leap in 2018, several 2016 draftees could make a bigger impact by
meeting some reasonable goals for this season.The Future Of Kwon -
JoeBucsFan.comIf one is to take a gander past the 2018 season, there are all
sorts of question marks with the Bucs.Jurrell Casey plans to protest on field
during anthem - NFL.comTennessee Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey says he
plans to protest on the field during the national anthem before games this
season and "take my fine."Former Jets CB Darrelle Revis retiring after 11
seasons - NFL.comThe starry, wondrously unique career of Darrelle Revis has come
to an end. The seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback announced his retirement from the
NFL on Wednesday.Antonio Brown is the 'Madden 19' cover athlete -
NFL.comBusiness is boomin'. The Steelers All-Pro WR is the latest NFL star to
grace the cover of Madden. Hear AB's thoughts on the honor and see what makes
his cover historic.Salute to Darrelle Revis, a cornerback who won big even when
he lost - SBNation.comDarrelle Revis called it quits, so we took a look back at
his careerRandy Gregory is back in the NFL; Brandin Cooks won’t be traded again
- SBNation.comBrandin Cooks’ third team in three years decided to pay him like a
No. 1 receiver and lock him up for the long-term. Wednesday’s Rise ‘n Grind
takes a look at Cooks’ new deal in comparison to other top receivers.
