Bucs vs. Seahawks: Pewter Preview And Predictions

It’s GAME DAY at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux – Come watch Bucs football all season long!

BUCCANEERS vs SEAHAWKS

WHEN: Sunday, November 13, 2022 | WHERE: Allianz Arena – Home of FC Bayern Munich | KICKOFF: 9:30 a.m. ET | TV: NFL Network

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Rich Eisen |ANALYSTS: Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Kurt Warner | SIDELINE: Jamie Erdahl, Sara Walsh

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: There’s A Reason Why The Seahawks Are 6-3 And The Bucs Are 4-5

As much as I want to believe the Bucs are going to turn this season around based on last week’s win against a struggling Rams team I have to remind myself that Los Angeles was leading for 59 minutes and 51 seconds. Tampa Bay was fortunate to pull out a must-win. The defense did play well for four quarters for a change and that made all the difference. But I’m still not a believer in this Bucs offense and its play-caller Byron Leftwich. Three field goals for most of the game and a clutch touchdown at the end. That type of production, which has the Bucs averaging a paltry 18 points per game, is not going to get this team very far.

There is a reason why the Bucs are 4-5 and why the Seahawks are 6-3. Seattle is a smart team that doesn’t make many mistakes and it plays hard. The Bucs’ effort has been lacking this year, and was called out this week by quarterback Tom Brady. And Tampa Bay hasn’t played a lot of smart, complementary football this year, especially during a recent three-game losing streak. The fact that Geno Smith has playing as well as – if not better than – Tom Brady is telling. The Bucs will have to try to stop Kenneth Walker III and the Seahawks’ potent rushing attack, while covering DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Seattle has a very balanced offensive attack.

The Bucs can only dream of having the Seahawks’ balance on offense. Tampa Bay struggles to run the ball and will need Cade Otton and Julio Jones to step up to help Tom Brady. Mike Evans has been inconsistent lately, and Chris Godwin has yet to return to his old form before his ACL injury. The Bucs are 0-3 in international games, while Brady is 3-0 in games outside of America (all with the Patriots). Something’s got to give, but unfortunately the Bucs lose another a close game.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Seahawks 23, Bucs 20
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 4-5

Matt Matera: Same Problems Continue To Hurt The Bucs

Although the Bucs are coming off of a huge comeback win over the Rams last week, the drive with under a minute to go doesn’t erase the overlying issues with the Bucs offense. Maybe a change of scenery going international to Germany to play the Seahawks could change things, but it’s not going to just magically appear. If the Bucs offense wants to move the ball they have to continue using Cade Otton as a third option in the passing game.

One touchdown isn’t going to be enough for the Bucs. They’re averaging 18 points a game and even that feels like they’re overcoming hurdles and hurdles to get the bare minimum. Tom Brady trusts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but after that it’s few and far between. The running game is a mess and while the Bucs will continue to feed MIke Evans, the Seahawks have a formidable secondary that will look to take him out, including rookie corner Tariq Woolen, who has impressed everyone. Where is the help going to come from? Hopefully that’s Otton and more playing time for Rachaad White on Sunday.

 

The Bucs get a huge addition back with the return of safety Antoine Winfield Jr. He’s been without question their best defensive players this season. This is the week we’ll find out if the Bucs’ defense has legitimately gotten back on track or if they just benefited from playing the Rams. We’ll see how much Vita Vea can continue from his great performance with the help of Akiem Hicks for the second week in a row. The Seahawks offense has a balanced attack with D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett at receiver, but I think it’s the ground game with Kenneth Walker that’s going to get the better of the Bucs, who still haven’t righted all the wrongs of their run stopping issues.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Seahawks 24, Bucs 20

MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 3-6

JC Allen: Bucs Find A Way To Win Another Close One

After barely escaping Week 9 with a win, the Bucs have a tall task ahead of them when they take on the 6-3 Seahawks in Germany this Sunday. Seattle — surprisingly — has been one of the better teams in the NFC during the first half of this season and record wise, Pete Carroll’s team will be the best that Tampa Bay will see in the second half of the year. The Bucs need this one, as getting to 5-5 heading into their bye week would set them up well for a rebound down the final stretch of the season.

But how can a team this inconsistent beat a Seahawks squad that has won four straight? It would help if the offense went more up-tempo, especially early in the game to establish a rhythm and start hot. Tom Brady and the offense has found it hard to score points this season, but the hurry-up offense has proven effective at different times throughout the season, including the final minute of last week’s win over the Rams. More Rachaad White would help the Bucs as well, as he just looks more explosive and comfortable with the ball in his hands than Leonard Fournette does right now.

Defensively, the Bucs have to limit Kenneth Walker’s explosive plays. The rookie running back out of Michigan State has been a stud for Seattle so far this season, so keeping him in check will be a big key for Todd Bowles’ defense. Akiem Hicks being back in the lineup next to Vita Vea should help there, as should the return of defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. This game could be a close one, but I have the Bucs pulling out another narrow victory to hit the bye week off of back-to-back wins.

ALLEN’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 27, Seahawks 23
ALLEN’S SEASON RECORD: 3-6

Bailey Adams: It Makes No Sense For Me To Buy In To Bucs’ Rebound, But I Am

This feels applicable: “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” Seriously, I was pretty much done expecting this team to turn it around after they lost three straight — including two to the Steelers and Panthers — and five of six overall. And I’m fully aware that it makes no sense to buy back in after Tampa Bay squeaked by an equally disappointing Los Angeles team thanks to some late heroics from Tom Brady. But I think, in an odd way, this is my last stand?

This feels like the last time I’ll go out on a limb for this team. If the Bucs get to 5-5 ahead of the bye week with a big win over the Seahawks, they’ll be in good shape. But if they fail me again here, they’ll be 4-6 and I’ll keep my distance from any ideas that they’re ever going to put it back together this season and make a run. For some reason, I just see Sunday’s game in Germany working out in Tampa Bay’s favor. Brady is undefeated outside of the U.S., the Buccaneer defense is getting healthier and there’s just enough hope left to trick myself into believing.

The Seahawks are a well-coached team and the Bucs haven’t been this season, so that’s an obstacle to overcome. But Tampa Bay’s defense getting Akiem Hicks and Carlton Davis back last week made a difference, and we’ll see an even bigger boost if Antoine Winfield Jr. returns on Sunday after finally clearing concussion protocol late this week. I like that unit to do enough defensively to keep Geno Smith and the Seattle offense in check, and I know asking Byron Leftwich’s offense to score 24 points is a big ask, but here we are. I’ve got Ryan Succop’s leg making the difference late in a big Bucs win.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Seahawks 21
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 4-5

Josh Queipo: Bucs Beat A Good – But Not Great – Seahawks Team

In a season full of surprises, one of the biggest has been the Seahawks. After trading Russell Wilson, it was widely thought the team was entering a rebuild phase. Someone forgot to tell Seattle that. And don’t get me wrong. The Seahawks have been good. But when you look at their schedule and the quality of their wins, I would argue they haven’t been great. And I think the Bucs can take advantage of that.

Against a good Denver defense, they mustered just 17 points. Similarly, Seattle’s offense struggled against a very good 49er’s defense to the tune of just 7 points. They hung 23, 48, and 37 against poor defensive units in Atlanta, Detroit and San Diego. And they managed just 19 points against a poor defense in Arizona. Their lone quality offensive performance when you stabilize for the quality of opposition is the Saints, who the Seahawks dropped 39 on.

Couple that with the fact that Seattle’s defense is fair-to-middling with a lackluster pass rush and questions at cornerback across from rookie Tariq Woolen and you have a recipe for a Bucs win. The Bucs have an opportunity to create havoc on the interior of the Seahawks offensive line, while sporting cornerbacks who can hang with Seattle’s top receivers. On offense the Bucs can create some mismatches with their own weapons while the offensive line has an opportunity to make a statement against a lackluster Seattle pass rush. The end result should mean the first NFL win in Germany belongs to Tampa Bay.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 21, Seahawks 17
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 5-4

Kasey Hudson: On The Way To Germany!

I’m boarding my flight to Germany as I type this – the Bucs make it two in a row. Guten tag!

HUDSON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 21, Seahawks 17
HUDSON’S SEASON RECORD: 4-5

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