The Buccaneers took a flier on 24-year old rookie RB LeGarrette Blount signing him after the Titans cut him before opening day.  Blount has really repaid the Bucs for giving him a big chance to get his career started on the right track.  Blount has played in 12 games for the Buccaneers so far this year and he has carried the ball 182 times for 941 yards (5.2 ypc) with 6 TD runs.  He has also caught 3 passes for 12 yards (4.0 avg) so far this year.  Blount has rushed for over 100 yards in a game 4 times so far this year for the Bucs.  Blount has really been hot lately.  In his last four games, Blount has carried the ball 68 times for 445 yards (6.5 ypc) with 2 TD runs and he also has caught 1 pass for 3 yards.  He has the look of an NFL featured RB so the Bucs hit the jackpot taking a chance on him.

The Buccaneers can still make the playoffs with a win this week over the Saints and losses by the Giants (at Washington) and the Packers (at home against the Bears).  That is a lot to have happen but look for the Bucs to come out fighting this Sunday.  The Saints pounded the Bucs earlier this year 31-6 and the Bucs are 0-5 against teams with winning records this year.  The Buccaneers are 5-2 on the road this season but they could be in trouble because the game is also important to the Saints who can possibly win the AFC South with a win this weekend.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Buccaneers have the ball:  The Buccaneers need to control the clock if they want to have a good chance to win this game.  That means they are going to have to feed the rock to LeGarrette Blount against a Saints’ D that is allowing 114.2 yards rushing per game and 4.3 yards per carry.  Josh Freeman has only thrown six interceptions this year and the Saints only have 9 so he should feel confident throwing the ball down the field to Kellen Winslow and Mike Williams.  Cadillac Williams could also have a big role catching passes out of the backfield this Sunday.

When the Saints have the ball:  The Saints are averaging 282.8 yards passing per game so the Bucs need to stop Drew Brees’ passing and take their chances with the Saints’ running game.  The Falcons blitzed Brees into making big mistakes so maybe the Bucs will try the same thing.  That might be hard for them to achieve though as they only have 23 sacks so far this year.  Brees moves the ball around to a lot of receivers which is going to give the Bucs problems in this game due to the injuries they have suffered in the secondary.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 31, BUCCANEERS 17

The Buccaneers have lost 22-year old WR Arrelious Benn for the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury.  He has been placed on the Injured Reserve List.  Benn played in 15 games for the Buccaneers this year and the rookie caught 25 passes for 395 yards (15.8 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Benn was a 2nd round pick (#39 overall) last April out of Illinois and he was playing his best football of the year when he got hurt.  Benn has a nice upside and his role will likely expand next season for the Bucs.

The Buccaneers dominated the Seahawks on both sides of the ball at Raymond James Stadium yesterday!  Josh Freeman was almost perfect as he completed 21 of 26 passes for 237 yards with 5 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 4 times for 23 yards (5.8 ypc) in this game.  Josh Johnson was also perfect as he was 2 of 2 passing for 15 yards in this game.  RB LeGarrette Blount was a beast for the Bucs in this game with 164 yards rushing on 18 carries (9.1 ypc) yesterday.  Cadillac Williams pitched in with 21 yards rushing on 4 carries (5.3 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 22 yards (7.3 avg).  TE Kellen Winslow (7 rec, 98 yards, 2 TDs), WR Mike Williams (3 rec, 44 yards, 2 TDs) and WR Maurice Stovall (3 rec, 12 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Bucs yesterday.  The Buccaneers finished up with 208 yards rushing on 26 carries (8.0 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 28 passes for 231 yards in this game.

The defense was outstanding for the Bucs in this game.  LB Geno Hayes (9 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks and 2 QB hits), DT Frank Okam (7 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss) and LB Barrett Ruud (6 tackles, 1 sack and 1 QB hit) led the way for the Bucs’ D in this game.  The Seahawks finished up with 90 yards rushing on 28 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 22 passes for 84 yards in this game.  The Buccaneers are now 9-6 on the season and they need to beat the Saints in New Orleans and pray for some help to get into the playoffs next week.

The Buccaneers really slipped up bad last weekend in losing to the Lions.  The injuries have been mounting on the defense but they Bucs can still make the playoffs if they win out and get some help.  The Seahawks have lost four of their last five games (the only win was over the Panthers) by an average of 17 points per game.  But, they are still tied for first place in the NFC West and they will win that division if they can win out.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Buccaneers have the ball:  The Buccaneers would be smart to come out pounding the ball with LeGarrette Blount & Cadillac Williams against a Seahawks’ D that is allowing 117.7 yards rushing per game and 4.0 yards per carry.  If the Bucs get off to a good start running the ball it’s going to make things easy when Josh Freeman drops back to pass the ball.  WR Mike Williams & TE Kellen Winslow are likely going to give the Seahawks’ secondary fits.

When the Seahawks have the ball:  With the Bucs having problems in the front seven due to injuries they better be ready to stop Justin Forsett & Marshawn Lynch.  The Bucs also better blitz a lot in this game because if Matt Hasselbeck gets comfy in the pocket, he’s going to make some plays down the field in the passing game.  WRs Mike Williams & Ben Obomanu are going to be Hasselbeck’s top targets in this game.

PREDICTION:  BUCCANEERS 23, SEAHAWKS 20

The Buccaneers’ defense failed them big-time in this game.  The Lions drove 58 yards on 10 plays to set up Dave Rayner with the game tying field goal as time expired on Sunday.  The Lions then won the coin toss in O.T. and they marched 63 yards on 9 plays to set up Dave Rayner with the game winning 34-yard field goal!

Josh Freeman was solid in this game for the Bucs as he completed 21 of 32 passes for 251 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 5 times for 29 yards (5.8 ypc) in this game.  LeGarrette Blount led the way on the ground for the Bucs with 15 carries for 110 yards (7.3 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Cadillac Williams pitched in with 7 carries for 38 yards (5.4 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 26 yards (13.0 avg) in this game.  WR Mike Williams (6 rec, 96 yards, TD) and TE Kellen Winslow (4 rec, 46 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Bucs.  The Buccaneers finished up with 176 yards rushing on 28 carries (6.3 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 33 passes for 227 yards. 

CB Ronde Barber (9 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit), LB Barrett Ruud (8 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss) and safety Corey Lynch (8 tackles) led the way for the Bucs in this game.  The Lions finished up with 181 yards on 28 carries (6.5 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 38 passes for 252 yards.  The Buccaneers are still alive for the playoffs at 8-6 but this loss definitely hurts.

The Buccaneers still have high hopes of making the playoffs and to do that they can’t overlook the Lions who have lost 26 games in a row on the road.  The Buccaneers are 8-0 against teams with losing records so it’s looking good for them tomorrow.  The Lions beat the Packers 7-3 last weekend in a shocker.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Buccaneers have the ball:  The Buccaneers are going to mix things up on offense tomorrow as the Lions have issues stopping both the run (122.7 yards per game) and the pass (220.2 yards passing per game).  The Bucs will likely come out running the ball with LeGarrette Blount.  But, make no mistake, Josh Freeman is going to be putting the ball a lot in the air tomorrow.  It will be up to the O-Line to give him time to throw the ball as the Lions have 36 sacks already this year.  If the O-Line gives Freeman time to throw the ball then he’s going to make some big plays down the field to Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn and Kellen Winslow.

When the Lions have the ball:  The Lions are going to likely mix up things on offense.  With Drew Stanton at QB, they should run more than usual against the Bucs who are giving up 133.1 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry.  Still, Jahvid Best & Maurice Morris are not a very scary combo at RB.  Drew Stanton is very mobile but he makes both mistakes and big plays when he’s on the run.  The Bucs would be smart to double Calvin Johnson and make Stanton beat them by throwing to other players.

PREDICTION:  BUCCANEERS 23, LIONS 13

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost 22-year old DT Gerald McCoy for the rest of the season due to a torn right triceps.  McCoy played in 12 games for the Bucs this year and he had 28 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 tackles for a loss, 4 passes defensed and 2 forced fumbles.  The Bucs will look to 23-year old rookie Al Woods or 25-year old Frank Okam to replace McCoy in the starting lineup.  Woods has played in 6 games for the Bucs so far this year and he has 10 tackles and 1/2 a sack.  Okam has yet to play in a game for the Bucs.  This is really going to hurt the Bucs’ run defense as McCoy was really starting to play well.

The Buccaneers will be without 26-year old linebacker Quincy Black for the rest of the year due to a fractured forearm.  Black played in 11 games for the Bucs so far this year and he had 60 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 3 passes defensed, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.  26-year old Adam Hayward and 22-year old Dekoda Watson will try to replace Black.  Hayward has played in 13 games for the Bucs so far this year and he has 18 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed.  Watson has played in 12 games for the Bucs this year and he has 20 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed.  The Bucs will miss Black a little bit but they are confident that either Hayward or Watson will step up.

The Buccaneers got out of Washington with a hard fought win.  The Redskins scored a TD with nine seconds left in the game but a bad snap on the extra point gave the Bucs a win!  Josh Freeman completed 15 of 25 passes for 266 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 6 times for 10 yards (1.7 ypc) and he also lost a fumble.  LeGarrette Blount led the way on the ground for the Bucs yesterday with 68 yards rushing on 15 carries (4.5 ypc) but he also lost a fumble.  Cadillac Williams only carried the ball 3 times for 6 yards (2.0 ypc) but he did catch 4 passes for 34 yards (8.5 avg) in this game.  Rookie WR Arrelious Benn stepped up big time for the Bucs yesterday with 4 catches for 122 yards (30.5 avg) and 1 carry for 17 yards.  Kellen Winslow pitched in with 2 grabs for 52 yards (26.0 avg) with a TD grab.  The Buccaneers finished up with 103 yards rushing on 26 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 25 passes for 265 yards.

CB Ronde Barber (10 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 2 QB hits), safety Corey Lynch (9 tackles) and LB Barrett Ruud (9 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) led the way for the Bucs’ D.  LB Adam Heyward pitched in with 3 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 forced fumble.  The Redskins finished up with 188 yards rushing on 28 carries (6.7 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 35 passes for 211 yards.  The Buccaneers are now 8-5 and alive and well in the playoff chase.