BucsGameday Staff Score Predictions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers At Buffalo Bills
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened up the season as a surprise team in the NFL but the franchise has fallen back to earth over the last two weeks. Following an early BYE week, the Buccaneers offense failed to show up in disappointing home defeats to the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons. The two-game losing streak forced the franchise out of first place in the NFC South.
READ MORE: Mike Evans Points Out One Main Reason For Buccaneers' Offensive Problems
Things won't get any easier for Tampa Bay with the team traveling to Buffalo on a short week. The Bills have dropped two of their last three games, including an upset loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. Quarterback Josh Allen has tossed an interception in four of five games entering the matchup against the Buccaneers.
Thursday night games provide the opportunity to introduce some weirdness into the game with both teams having played less than a week ago. It remains to be seen what version of Tampa Bay and Buffalo show up in a game that is massive for the direction both teams will be headed after this contest.
Our staff provides their predictions and analysis as the Buccaneers and Bills prepare to face off in Highmark Stadium.
Dustin Lewis (@DustinLewisNG)
Tampa Bay is quickly proving to fans and the media that its ballyhooed start was simply a fluke. Baker Mayfield and the offense played above their potential during the first four weeks of the season. The performances against the Eagles, Lions, and Falcons are probably closer to who this team really is.
There's simply not enough firepower under first-year offensive coordinator Dave Canales. It also doesn't help that the playcalling seems to be simplified whenever the Buccaneers play a big game. Tampa Bay finished with the worst rushing 'attack' in the league last season after averaging 76.9 yards per game and 3.4 yards per rush. Somehow those numbers have waned further to 77.8 yards per game and 3.1 yards per rush.
Frankly, this team isn't going to go far if they don't find a spark on the ground soon. If there's a chance to bounce back, it's going to come against a Buffalo team this is allowing 128.3 yards on the ground per game. Unfortunately, I just don't see it happening this week as the Bills have to find life quickly to meet the high expectations that were floating around during the preseason.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 4-2
Bills 31, Buccaneers 13
Logan Robinson (@LogansTwitty)
The Buccaneers are coming off a rough two-game losing streak with a lot of consistency in the problems they continue to display on the field. Run game is not there. Penalties continue to hurt them. And Baker Mayfield is in a rut after a solid start to the season.
What will it take for Tampa Bay to turn it around? I think this short game week comes at a brutal time. The only advantage I can see in this game is Bucs’ OC Dave Canales taking the opportunity to experiment with other schemes and giving different opportunities to other players.
Something has to change because right now the Buccaneers on offense are too easy to predict with a lot of game film for defensive coordinators to work with. With that being said, I don’t see them coming away with a win in a hostile Thursday Night Football Bills mafia crowd.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 2-4
Bills 27, Buccaneers 16
David Harrison (@DHarrison82)
Thursday night rarely goes the way people expect it to, and with just about everyone expecting the Bucs to fade into nothing it’s the perfect time to send Buffalo to a third loss in four games.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 3-3
Buccaneers 22, Bills 17
Collin Haalboom (@SI_Buccaneers)
Both the Buccaneers and Bills are coming off tough divisional losses. Which means both teams will be chomping at the bit to get back in the win column. Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, the Buffalo Bills are at home... and despite being just one game above .500, they remain one of the few teams in the league that have the potential of hoisting the Lombardi trophy at the end of the season.
Although the Bills are missing a few key pieces on defense, I have trouble seeing the Bucs offense putting up enough points to win this game.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 3-3
Bills 24, Buccaneers 14
Caleb Skinner (@chsnole)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a rough week last week against the Atlanta Falcons and now will have another tough test on a short week when they head to Orchard Park to take on the Buffalo Bills. The running game has become a huge issue for the Buccaneers this season, but are hopeful to get Chase Edmonds back in this one to help out.
If Edmonds is ready to go the Bucs' run game can possibly find some signs of life against the Bills' rush defense that ranks near the bottom of the league. The Buccaneers defense has played like a top-10 unit through six games this season but will have their hands full against Josh Allen and company. The Buccaneers should look to stuff the run and force Allen into putting the ball in the air.
If Tampa Bay can win the turnover battle they will once again place themselves in a position to possibly win the game. The Buccaneers have been close to putting things completely together and will need to have a well-balanced game on both sides of the ball to have any chance this week.
Unfortunately, it is a short week and on the road so I believe the Bucs will drop their third game in a row.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 2-4
Bills 24, Buccaneers 14
JC Allen (@JCAllenNFL)
The Buccaneers are bound to bounce back after two disappointing losses to the Lions and Falcons, it just won’t be this week. The Bills, while struggling, are in a different class than the Bucs. Josh Allen is one of the league's best quarterbacks, while Baker Mayfield has regressed throwing interceptions in four straight games.
Buffalo is scoring the third most points per game, averaging 28.3 points a contest. While the Bucs have scored more than 20 points just once and are averaging just 17.2 points good for just 26th in the NFL. Scoring points is the name of the game, and Tampa Bay has just not been efficient or consistent at doing it.
While the Buccaneers' defense is averaging near a league-low 17.3 points per game they have given up over 246 yards passing on average to teams per contest. The Bills have put up over 263 yards per game against opponents and will look to take advantage of a Bucs team that has let up explosive plays over the past few weeks.
It’s going to be an uphill grind for Tampa Bay to try to win this game on a short week with a three-game losing streak potentially looming.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 5-1
Bills 26, Buccaneers 17
Kade Kimble (@kadekimble)
While the Buccaneers are coming off a tough loss to the Falcons, they’re going to be able to bounce back against the Bills, sort of. The Bills often play down to their competition and the Buccaneers will give them a run for their money on Thursday night.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 3-3
Bills 27, Buccaneers 24
Ben Meyerson (@ByBenMeyerson)
Tampa is on a short week against a Bills team that has come down to earth due to injuries and Josh Allen playing turnover-prone football. Allen will have a tough against a really good Bucs defense and have some turnovers but also make some timely electric plays.
The Bucs' offense will have a chance to get back on track against the Bills' defense ranks which ranks 28th in EPA/play since Week 4. They will look better but fall just short.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 3-3
Bills 23, Buccaneers 20
Cody Haynes (@codyh33)
The Bucs had yet another embarrassing loss Sunday against the Falcons. The defense played fantastic at times but the offense couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities given to them. This was a tough loss against a divisional opponent. With a win, the team could have stayed on top of the division.
However, the Bucs now have to travel to Buffalo on a short week to face the Bills. I wouldn’t expect much change in this game. Tampa Bay needs to get the offense going, especially the ground game. The Bills have an underwhelming rush defense which could be a plus. We’ll see how the Bucs respond in a short week.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 0-2 (joined in middle of season)
Bills 28, Buccaneers 10
Matthew Hewitt (@bucs_tracker)
The Buccaneers have struggled the past two weeks and unfortunately, I don’t see it changing in a short week. I think this game will be a low-scoring battle but the Bills will be a little too much in the end.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 1-1 (joined in middle of season)
Bills 17, Buccaneers 14
CONSENSUS: Bills (9-1)
READ MORE: Buccaneers Designate Running Back For Return, Run Game Help Coming?
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