12-17-2022, 10:07 AM
I don't love Brady going against our banged up secondary without Trey in the lineup to get pressure. Someone will have to step up to fill that role. Best case scenario is Reader and Hill pushing the interior into Brady's lap, which is absolutely doable.
I think the injury to watch for the Bucs (with Vea already ruled out) is Whirfs. Smith sucks, and if Whirfs can't go that's a legit bad o-line. Tampa can't run the ball for shit, but they have to try in order to keep their 45 year old qb from taking shots. This plays to our strength, obviously. If Lou can find a way to get any pressure at all on the Goat, then I think this game heavily favors the Bengals.
If either Tee or Tyler can be full go, I feel really good. Doesn't need to be both. Tampa's secondary is banged up badly and as much as we hate to see our depleted group run out there vs Brady, I think they are in a worse position. They are dealing with a newly potent two-headed run monster plus an elite qb playing the best ball of his young career. Oh, and also the best receiver in the game who just proved that he can be every bit as elite without his running mates to draw attention from opposing defenses.
Bengals win with long drives and a couple deep shots when the Bucs secondary tries to load up and stop the run. If Jodean and Samaje get going, it will get ugly for them quickly.
Bengals 34, Bucs 23.
I think the injury to watch for the Bucs (with Vea already ruled out) is Whirfs. Smith sucks, and if Whirfs can't go that's a legit bad o-line. Tampa can't run the ball for shit, but they have to try in order to keep their 45 year old qb from taking shots. This plays to our strength, obviously. If Lou can find a way to get any pressure at all on the Goat, then I think this game heavily favors the Bengals.
If either Tee or Tyler can be full go, I feel really good. Doesn't need to be both. Tampa's secondary is banged up badly and as much as we hate to see our depleted group run out there vs Brady, I think they are in a worse position. They are dealing with a newly potent two-headed run monster plus an elite qb playing the best ball of his young career. Oh, and also the best receiver in the game who just proved that he can be every bit as elite without his running mates to draw attention from opposing defenses.
Bengals win with long drives and a couple deep shots when the Bucs secondary tries to load up and stop the run. If Jodean and Samaje get going, it will get ugly for them quickly.
Bengals 34, Bucs 23.
