If the NFC South race was a fable it would be the tortoise and the hare. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers jumped out to a quick lead at 6-2, but the Carolina Panthers have been plodding along all the while. Now, both sit at 7-6.
If the Buccaneers want to change their fate from that of the hare and hold onto what once seemed an unassailable division lead, they need a change. And quick. Luckily, they have a huge one on the way for their massive divisional tilt with the Atlanta Falcons (4-9).
And just in time, because if the Bucs lose in Week 15 with the Panthers taking on the lowly New Orleans Saints, they could drop out of the top spot in the division altogether.
Prior to the season, Tampa Bay’s receiving corps was supposed to be one of its strengths. But three quarters of what was supposed to be the best quartet in football have been injured for most of the year. But they’re all back now.
Rookie Emeka Egbuka has held it down for a while, with Chris Godwin slowly playing himself back into shape after returning from an absence of his own three weeks ago.
And that pair will finally be joined by Jalen McMillan, and arguably more importantly, Mike Evans for this Week 15 Thursday Night Football clash. Baker Mayfield is the happiest man in America right now.
Both McMillan and Evans have been activated from injured reserve after stays of 15 and eight weeks, respectively. Evans returns from a broken clavicle and McMillan from a broken bone in his neck. Serious stuff, but both are supposedly at true 100 percent, though Evans is expected to be on a pitch count.
Mike Evans’ return could be more important for Bucs than people think
The Bucs lost the game in which Mike Evans was injured 24-9 to the Detroit Lions. They beat up on the New Orleans Saints the next week, but they’ve gone 1-4 since then. And while there are a lot of reasons for Tampa’s month-long slip, there’s definitely correlation between Evans’ absence and the slip.
Mayfield will now have four elite options to throw to rather than the one or two he’s been dealing with for most of the last couple of months. That makes a huge difference anyway, but especially against this Falcons defense right now.
Overall this year, Atlanta is a top 10 pass defense. But a closer look at their recent results shows that they have been one of the worst pass defenses in the league over the last month.
During this most recent four-week span, Atlanta has allowed just over 257 passing yards per game, third-most in the league over that span. And the four teams Atlanta has played during that time: Seattle, the Jets, New Orleans, and Carolina.
If those teams can dice up this Falcons secondary, what Baker Mayfield and his replenished cache of weapons are going to do to them on TNF would be considered illegal in 49 states.