Gameday Tampa Bay
September 27th, 2015
Game Three
Bucs at Houston
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: WTVT-TV Channel 13.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (WDAE-AM 620 and WFUS-FM 103.5 in Tampa-St.Petersburg region); SiriusXM Channel 134.
Weather: The game will played in a raucous dome with air conditioning, but for tailgaters, it will be a day with off and on rain, per Accuweather.com. Rain is expected in the morning up until kickoff. The sun will pop out at kickoff but rain is expected to resume in the second half. Temperatures will be in the low 80s and upper 70s.
Nuggets: Reliant Stadium will be break in new FieldTurf today. In the opener against the Chiefs, Kansas City complained so much to the NFL about the rotten grass, the Texans relented and put in turf. … Watt has 60 sacks in 66 career games, the second-fastest player to reach such a mark. … Watt has a sack in seven straight games. In five of those, he had multiple sacks. … LB Brian Cushing needs 10 tackles for 500 career tackles. … The Texans have never lost to the Bucs in Houston. … CB Johnathan Joseph is tied for second for most picks by a Texans corner. This is his fifth season with Houston.
Odds: Per FootballLocks.com, Texans -6.5.
Outlook: Joe has a hard time trying to gauge on this game because Joe isn’t sure which Buccaneers will show up. Will it be the one that shat in the bed against the godawful Titans at home, or the team that beat up Drew Brees and effectively moved the ball at New Orleans? That’s why trying to guess this game is hard. Either way, this will by far be the biggest test for the Bucs offense and America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston. Winston has struggled, mostly, against a 34 defense. Now you are facing a 34 defense with J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Vince Wilfork. Good luck on the passing game without getting your teeth beat in, and good luck running the ball. Maybe you haven’t heard of a talented linebacker like Brian Cushing? Earlier this week, Bucs coach Lovie Smith said the team with the best defensive line play will win. He’s right. If the Bucs have the same type of line play on the defensive side of the ball as they had last week, Joe can’t see the Texans and sloppy quarterback Ryan Mallett doing much of anything. Again, the two keys are trying to handle — not dominate, but handle — the Texans’ defensive line. If the same team that bullied the Saints last week shows up this afternoon, Joe thinks 17 points might win this game for the Bucs.
Nuggets: Since 2012, no defensive tackle has more sacks than Gerald McCoy (25). … If WR Mike Evans catches at least 10 touchdowns this year, he will be the first Bucs player to have consecutive seasons with double-digit touchdowns catches. … LB Lavonte David has 10 sacks. He needs 2.5 more to pass Kevin Murphy for sixth-most sacks by a Bucs linebacker. … RB Doug Martin needs one more 100-yard running game to pass Mike Alstott, LeGarrette Blount and Reggie Cobb for seventh-most in franchise history. … If DE Jacquies Smith can match his sack total of last week (three), he will be the first Bucs player to have consecutive three-sack games. … Winston needs two more touchdowns to surpass Bruce Gradkowski and Shaun King for fourth-most touchdown passes by a rookie in Bucs history. … Reliant Stadium will be breaking in new FieldTurf today. In the opener against the Chiefs, Kansas City complained so much to the NFL about the rotten grass, the Texans relented and installed turf last week. … Watt has 60 sacks in 66 career games, the second-fastest player to reach such a mark. … Watt also has a sack in seven straight games. In five of those games he had multiple sacks. … Cushing needs 10 tackles for 500 career tackles. … The Texans have never lost to the Bucs in Houston. … CB Johnathan Joseph is tied for second for most picks by a Texans corner. This is his fifth season with Houston.
September 27th, 2015 at 11:16 am
God bless texas!
September 27th, 2015 at 11:20 am
On paper, we should win this… But like last week, I’m expecting the worst (blown 4th qtr lead), but hoping for W!
ITS GAMEDAY BABY! GO BUCS!!!!
September 27th, 2015 at 11:22 am
Expect the worst……
…..pray for the best
September 27th, 2015 at 11:30 am
Rejoice for the kingdom of Jameis is here!!!
September 27th, 2015 at 11:34 am
Never won against the Texans in Houston! Oh My! Let’s Go Bucs! Let’s Go Bucs! Let’s Go Bucs! Let’s Go Bucs!
September 27th, 2015 at 11:34 am
That Texans Cheerleader has a bigger camel toe then Bucs 1987
September 27th, 2015 at 11:38 am
Obviously the Oline will need to step up. We see lots of screens and runs. Not worried about the defense at all. Let’s hope our rookie left tackle can raise his game up from the first two weeks. Bucs 20 Titans 10 Go Bucs!
September 27th, 2015 at 11:38 am
I just want the defense to get some pressure and Jameis to play smart. It’ll be a treat to watch Marpet try to stonewall J.J. Watt, that’ll get heated, heard Mongo has a mean streak to him.
September 27th, 2015 at 11:44 am
Any updates on McCoy, If I was the Texans OC, I would test his shoulder early!! Maybe some toss sweeps to the right with zone blocking to isolate his bad shoulder to see if he can use it and just how stiff it is!!!!
September 27th, 2015 at 11:46 am
she’s a beaut clark..
September 27th, 2015 at 11:46 am
GMC is active
……the bucs should bench him cause he won’t be 100%
Melton would do better
September 27th, 2015 at 11:49 am
PYT! DAM!
September 27th, 2015 at 11:58 am
There’s a few Buc fans out there that Mike Evans has to stfu today, because they are really worried about a sophomore jinx. I’m not one of them.
September 27th, 2015 at 11:59 am
Wow that girl almost makes me want to root for the texans..
and lol @WyomingBucsFan i think the Bucs Titans game is already over and that prediction is way offffff
September 27th, 2015 at 11:59 am
There’s a few Buc fans out there that Mike Evans has to s-t-h-u today, because they are really worried about a sophomore jinx. I’m not one of them.
September 27th, 2015 at 12:00 pm
Key to the game will be Martin’s running outside & screens to Martin & Sims….maybe even a bit of Humphreys in the slot….short passing game…..
September 27th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
What’s the filtered word Joe? Comment won’t through.
September 27th, 2015 at 12:03 pm
57 minutes to go…
September 27th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Humphries out…..using 3 TEs……look for action from Murphy…..
September 27th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
39 minutes till game time!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!
September 27th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
Go Bucs!! Let’s get that 2nd win early and be above .500 for the 1st time in what seems like forever.
You can do it Jameis!!!
I have faith that if the score is close in the 4th Quarter that Winston can lead us to a victory. If dramatics on offense are needed at the end of the game – we now have our difference maker behind center. He might be young – but the kid is GOOD and today is a perfect day for Jaboo to start working towards that legacy of GREATNESS.
Make it so #3. Be the ball. Shananananana.
September 27th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
Let’s go Bucs!! Show me last week wasnt a fluke!
September 27th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
I’m wit you when right Realist!!!