Which staff member will nail their pick this week?
As the Buccaneers are set to take on the Chargers in Los Angeles, we here at Bucs Nation will dive into some picks and predictions for Tampa Bay’s big Week 15 matchup.
Check it all out below.
Predictions
Gil Arcia: Bucs hit a wall
It’s an odd game for the Buccaneers this week. Los Angeles has matched up and played its opponents well, but offensively their production has not amounted to much this season. As for the Bucs, we know how their offense has played all season long. Therefore, it’ll come down to the Bucs offense against a good Chargers defense. Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense will be held to under 300 total yards and be turn the ball over three times.
Mike Kiwak: Mayfield struggles mightily
Baker Mayfield is currently enduring his worst stretch of the season the last two weeks, even though he has clutched up both times. He’s been responsible for 5 turnovers and has gotten lucky at avoiding even more. Sadly, the Chargers have an incredibly solid defense, in fact they have the best scoring defense by a significant margin (just 15 points per game allowed). Mayfield will hopefully avoid game-breaking turnovers, but he commits at least one and posts a season-low in passing yards.
Will Walsh: Bucs run wild out west
Tampa’s rushing attack has flipped the script this year. Finishing dead last in each of the last two seasons, the Buccaneers had nowhere to go but up and up they have gone. The Bucs have the fourth-highest yards per carry average in the entire league (5.1). Tampa will be facing a good team this Sunday and they will need to lean on their strength— running the football. Tampa will run past, over, and through the Chargers’ defense, which is tied for the fewest rushing touchdowns allowed this season (6), solidifying that they can run the football as they please— 156 yards on the ground and a score.
Evan Wanish: Close, but no cigar
This is going to be a challenging game for Tampa Bay. Going from the east coast to the west coast is always a tough ask especially to play a good football team in the Chargers. This game will be back and forth the entire way, but the Chargers defense comes up with a critical turnover to seal the deal at the end and the Bucs three game losing streak is snapped. Baker Mayfield continues his struggles with turnovers of late, committing that final back breaking one to end it.
Week 15 Staff Picks
Gil Arcia (8-4): Chargers 23, Bucs 16
Mike Kiwak (8-4): Chargers 17, Bucs 14
Evan Wanish (8-4): Chargers 26, Bucs 20
Will Walsh (7-5): Bucs 22, Chargers 12