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Defense Lead The Way


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers come in today with a 4 game winning streak and find themselves right in the thick of the playoff race. Controlling their own destiny, they have to win our or have a few teams behind them lose a few games. The resurgence of the Bucs has been heavily on the defense who's carried the team by making some plays against some really good teams. Aside from the Chicago Bears who have been struggling the whole season. They shut down Seattle to 5pts, Went into Kansas City and got a huge stop on the goalie with a Chris Conte INT going into the end zone which turned into a TD for the Bucs as the offense drove down and scored. Then went into Sad Diego and won against the Chargers. which in that game. Its was a pass defense by rookie CB Vernon Hargraves that was tipped up and intercepted by LB Lavonte David that was run back for a touchdown which help swing the momentum in that game to give the Bucs the lead and some confidence leading into the 2nd have of that game.

The defensive line has been doing a great job of getting pressure on the QBs they have faced not allowing them to get comfortable in the pocket and Knife through their secondary. DT Gerald McCoy is leading the charge once again with another great season leading ALL defensive tackles in the NFL with 7 sacks on the year. Robert Ayers the free agent pick up from the Giants this past off season who was nursing some injuries early in the season is finally healthy and showing why he was brought in to add some veteran leadership to area the really needed it. Rookie DE Noah Spence who early in the season looked a little lost out there is finally showing that explosion that many have said made him on of the best pass rushers in the NFL Draft this past yr. Coming off a stellar month where he has won NFL defensive Rookie of the Month Tallying 11 tackles 2.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles while the Bucs have been on their run. Tampa bay defense last season was one of the worst defenses in the NFL on 3rd down and this season under new DC Mike Smith are one of the best in the NFL with a 34.5% conversion rate. If the Buccaneers and going to keep this run going. They have to continue to play this type of defense to give the Bucs the best chance at continuing the winning streak. Every game from this point forward is huge and it starts today against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

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