Are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Baker Mayfield at the helm, the #1 team in the NFC? Now that the Minnesota Vikings and quarterback Sam Darnold lost to the Detroit Lions and Jared Goff, the question arises: “Who is the “Best team in the NFC” to date?”
While the Minnesota Vikings, also now 5-1, losing a close game to the Lions, 31-29, remain as one of the top teams of the NFC, the fact is they have been dethroned of that claim. But “on any given Sunday yesterdays score could have been reversed.
If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are Victorious Tonight, they have a Legit Claim to the Title as Best Team in the NFC
If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are victorious tonight on Monday Night Football, against the Baltimore Ravens, they may have a legitimate claim to that title, this, despite having two losses.
Certainly the Lions, at 5-1 can make a convincing case to claim to the title after beating the Vikings 31-29 to remain 5-1. Lions ‘ quarterback, Jared Goff, has a 83.5 completion percentage in his last four games. His acute awareness of situational football and clock management was on display yesterday versus the Vikings. His “field general” qualities shined during the last drive of the game against the Vikings in which the Lions milked the clock, forcing the Vikings to use all their time outs, leading to a Jake Bates 44 yard field goal and the victory for the Lions. Goff finished the day completing 22/25 pass attempts for 280 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a n 87.3 QBR.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a Better Offense the the Detroit Lions When they Played Head to Head
But the Detroit Lions lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, by a score of 20-16 with Jared Goff under center. In that game, Goff threw for 307 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Tampa Bay’s defense shined that day. The Buccaneers are the only team to beat the Lions this season. Baker Mayfield had an average day against Detroits defense, running for 2 touchdowns and throwing for another finishing 12/19 passing attempts, 185 yards, fumbling twice for a 57.7 QBR.
Tampa Bay had a Better Defense in the Match Up Against Detroit
The difference in that week 2 game was the Buccaneers defense. Tampa Bays’ defense had 89 tackles (TOT), four tackles for a loss (TFL), nine pass defended/deflected (PD), and two interceptions, (Christian Izien, Zyon McCollum). While the Lions had five sacks, seven tackles for a loss, and one interception (Brian Branch) against the Buccaneers, they had 46 tackles, and four pass defended/deflections. But the deciding factor was their failure to contain Baker Mayfield on the run.
Tampa Bay has a Tough, “Must-Win” Game Tonight Against the Baltimore Ravens
But that was Week 2. It’s Week 7. We now know, from yesterdays game, where the Detroit Lions sit in the NFC. We also know Tampa Bay must win tonight to keep pace. The Baltimore Ravens will be a tough test for Tampa Bay. In fact, the handicappers have the Buccaneers as underdogs at home by 4.0 points.
As for Mayfield’s run abilities, Coach Todd Bowles puts Mayfield as only the fourth-best running quarterback in the league behind Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels and Buffalo Bills‘ Josh Allen:
He’s (Mayfield) fourth. Let’s just say, behind those three guys…He’s mobile enough to get the yards we need…You don’t have to be a fast quarterback to be a mobile quarterback…He understands when he has to run, and he’s great at that” (Credit: AP)
Lamar Jackson is arguably the best quarterback in the league. He is playing some of the best football of his career winning four straight after losing the first two games. Jackson has 1529 yards and has thrown 10 touchdowns. But he has also rushed for 403 yards and two running touchdowns this season.
Baltimore also leads the league in rushing with 1,232 yards and leads total offense with 2,762 yards. The Ravens have scored 10 passing and 10 rushing touchdowns (for a total of 20 team TDs), 10 field goals and 21 pats. Notably, their defense has 387 total tackles19 sacks, 27 tackles for loss, 29 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions. Their leading tackler is Roquan Smith (LB) with 56 total tackles.
As for Mayfield, so far this season he has thrown for 1,489 yards. He he leads the league in touchdown passes with 15. He has been intercepted five times and sacked 17 times. But he has run the ball 21 times for 136 yards, including nine first downs and two touchdowns.
The Buccaneers offense has only 821 rushing yards and total yards of 2,310. They have scored 15 passing and 5 rushing touchdowns, ( for a total of 20 team TDs), 11 field goals and 19 pats. Tampa Bay’s defense has, 429 total tackles, 17 sacks, 27 tackles for loss, 34 pass deflections, and five interceptions. Their leading tackler is is Lavonte David (LB) with 46 total tackles.
Despite being the “Underdog”, Tonight’s Statistic Comparison Tips in the Bucaneers’ Favor
Tonight’s “game fortunes” will focus on containment of the quarterbacks. But the Buccaneers defense will be severely tested by the Raven’s running game. Expect both quarterbacks to have a good day. But if Tampa Bay’s defense has a good day, the Buccaneers will prevail, and it follows that if Tampa Bay beats one of the current hottest teams run the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens, after having already beaten the Detroit Lions, the Buccaneers can legitimately lay claim to the title: “Best team in the NFC” (to date).