(Photo: Seattle On Tap)
NFC Game Of The Week
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks
Buccaneers (3-1):
When I saw the first half of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, I immediately said to myself, “Okay, the defending champs are back.” Then came the second half. Give Todd Bowles’ team credit for fighting to get back into the game and making things as interesting as they did, but they still fell short. It marked their first loss of the young season. Out of every division in the league today, this is the one I feel confident locking in for the Buccaneers. With that being said, let’s look at the rest of the NFC South. The Panthers play hard but remain inconsistent. You never know which version of the Atlanta Falcons is going to show up. As for the Saints—well, they play in a city where the food is amazing, and I’ll leave it at that. This is the Buccaneers’ division to lose as far as I’m concerned, and they could realistically dominate it for the next four or five years. Even with injuries to key players, this group continues to play hard and embraces a next-man-up mentality. Sunday was by far their toughest game of the year, especially considering their first three opponents (Falcons, Texans, and Jets) have a combined record of 3-9. But wins in this league are hard to come by, and they got them—so it is what it is. As we head into Week 5, the Bucs will look to get back into the win column in Seattle.
Seahawks (3-1):
I’ve been impressed with them early on this season. Week 1 was a tough loss, and they tend to struggle against the 49ers at home, which is wild considering Seattle is one of the hardest places to play for visiting teams. What really made me pay attention was their Week 2 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road—and here’s why: It’s already tough for a West Coast team to fly across the country and play in the early 1:00 PM window, yet they came away with a win no one expected. Since then, they’ve won three straight. Divisional games are always tough, and they had their hands full on Thursday night against the Arizona Cardinals. For most of the game, Seattle looked ready to run away with it—until Arizona found their rhythm and tied it up. Despite blowing a 14-point lead, the Seahawks held on for a three-point victory. There were still questions around Sam Darnold coming into the season—even after the best year of his career with the Vikings—but so far, he hasn’t looked bad. He’s thrown five touchdown passes and just two interceptions. The NFC West might be the toughest division in football, and all four teams beat up on each other regularly. Looking to improve to 4-1, the Seahawks will welcome the leaders of the NFC South to town.
Buccaneers X-Factor: Antoine Winfield Jr.
He reminds me so much of Rodney Harrison with the intensity he brings every snap. Antoine has become one of the league’s best playmaking safeties. He can blitz (which Todd Bowles loves to call), cover tight ends—no easy task in today’s NFL—and force turnovers when teams challenge him. He can be the spark plug for Tampa on Sunday. It’s critical that Seattle always knows where he is on the field.
Seahawks X-Factor: Kenneth Walker III
I loved him in college at Michigan State, and he’s carved out a great role in Seattle. I’ve always said the Seahawks are at their best when they run the football and control the tempo—this goes back to the Russell Wilson days. Walker is a workhorse with the quickness and agility to make defenders miss, but he also has the power to reach the second level. Establishing him early will keep the Bucs’ defense honest and open up opportunities for Darnold and the receivers.
Final Thoughts:
Can you believe it’s already Week 5 in the NFL? We wait months for the season to arrive, and then it flies by. Here, we have two 3-1 NFC teams set to square off. The Buccaneers are looking to bounce back after falling short against the Eagles, while the Seahawks have rattled off three straight wins after losing their opener. For Tampa Bay, the key will be controlling the ground game on both sides of the ball. Rachaad White needs to set the tone—not just as a runner, but as a receiver. Defensively, they must contain Kenneth Walker and force Seattle into a one-dimensional offense. Seattle’s pass rush, led by Leonard Williams, Boye Mafe, and Uchenna Nwosu, has been outstanding. Keeping Baker Mayfield upright will be crucial. This unit can collapse pockets quickly and disrupt timing. Execution in the red zone will also be critical for the Bucs—field goals won’t cut it. They need touchdowns. As for the Seahawks, they should take full advantage of Darnold’s mobility. He’s averaged 13.2 yards per play when scrambling, and that ability to extend plays will be vital. Seattle needs to start fast—Tampa has allowed scores on 62% of first-quarter drives, the second-worst rate in the league. Capitalize early, stay disciplined defensively, and don’t let the Bucs’ offense find rhythm with explosive plays. I like Seattle to win their fourth straight game on Sunday.
