Its a little bit of an odd schedule around the NFL because there are only two games currently featuring an AFC club assembly an NFC one. One is Pittsburgh in Arizona and then theres this one using all the Colts seeing the Bucs.
Being in conferences that are reverse, theres not a great deal of history between the groups since theyve played with a total of 13 times including two when the Colts were in Baltimore. The Colts won the latest assembly 25-12, in 2015 at home and lead 8-5. Indy had been coached Tampa Bay from Lovie Smith and by Chuck Pagano. Pagano has become the defensive coordinator in Smith along with Chicago the head coach at Illinois.
Theres thats Bucs head coach Bruce Arians and one current training tie between the franchises. He received his head coaching debut because the interim leader of the Colts in 2012 when Pagano was sidelined due to illness. Arians headed the team but these wins and losses go on the resume of Pagano, since he was an interim trainer. Arians will be hired because the Cardinals head coach for the 2013 season and stayed there through 2017when heretired That lasted until he was lured by the Bucs out of it.
Indianapolis sits third in the AFC South and ninth in the AFC standings, two behind first-place Houston and just one behind Tennessee. Long story short: Not planning this group makes the playoffs.
They might be 8-4 if the Colts needed a kicker that is different. Their guy is one of the finest in league history Adam Vinatieri and a future Hall of Famer. But Vinatieri has showed it this season with eight missed field objectives and six missed extra-point attempts and has been 46 years old. Because Kris Brown missed 17 at 2001 those 14 missed kicks are the most in the NFL. Vinatieri has made the NFL-record 599 field goals in his profession.
Vinatieri spoke about stopping this season but has been talked out of this. This author is surprised because Vinatieri was 1-for-4 on field goals in Sundays 31-17 home loss to the Titans they did following this writing — the Colts havent worked out kickers this week. Two were blocked, including one returned 63 yards that was returned to the game-winning touchdown. It was Indys fourth loss in the previous five games.
Even though QB Jacoby Brissett has had a season stepping in to your Andrew Luck that is retired, theres just so much Brissett can do. He had been No. 1 receiver in T.Y. Hilton and top running back in Marlon Mack from the Titans. Tight end Eric Ebron and rookie receiver Parris Campbell are also out. Thats a combined 1,155 yards receiving, 914 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The large issue entering this season for Tampa Bay has been that the future of former No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston because hes playing on his fifth-year rookie alternative. Therefore, the Bucs could need to slap the franchise tag on him later this season, re-sign him or let him walk.
Theres no doubt, although winston turns the ball over way too much using a league-high 20 interceptions and nine fumbles. Winston is next in the NFL with 3,659 yards death and tied for sixth with 22 TD passes. He has the getting duo in the NFL in breakout star Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. Godwin has 74 catches for 1,121 yards and nine scores and Evans 66 for both seven and 1,096 TDs.
Tampas problem remains lack of a porous pass defense and a running game. Nevertheless, the Bucs have won three of four — albeit beating teams Arizona, Atlanta and Jacksonville. As that Tampa defense forced four turnovers, together with one fumble returned with rookie linebacker Devin White to get a TD and a 15-0 first-quarter lead it was 28-11 on Sunday at the Jaguars. Over the past two months, White has had two sacks, an interception and that fumble.
Winston was really quiet with no TDs and 268 yards. He did lose one fumble but no choices. Peyton Barber had two TD runs. He normally had been behind Ronald Jones of late, to missing an assignment on a blitz pickup that led to a sack of that fumble and Winston, but Jones was benched in the third quarter.
Indianapolis surely dont trust Vinatieri and is too now to trust. Computer simulations Ive run have Tampa Bay winning 27-23, but we still recommend buying down to -2.5 to be secure.
Free NFL Pick: Bucs -3 (buy down to -2.5) at Sports Interaction.
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