One thing has to offer on Sunday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers go to the Los Angeles Chargers in Inglewood, Calif.
For each the NFC South-leading Bucs (7-6) and AFC wild-card hopeful Chargers (8-5), they’re retaining their fingers crossed that it is not a playoff spot with 4 weeks left within the common season.
The Chargers boast the top-ranked scoring protection within the NFL, having averaged 15.9 factors per recreation allowed and 20-or-less factors given up in 11 of 13 video games.
Tampa Bay, in the meantime, is fifth within the league in scoring, averaging 27.9 factors per recreation.
An surprising variable arose Wednesday for Los Angeles, although, when Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh revealed that quarterback Justin Herbert injured an ankle to go along with a left-leg contustion suffered in a loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs final Sunday. Herbert didn’t observe on Wednesday.
“I do know this: He can be doing something and every little thing in his energy to play on Sunday,” Harbaugh mentioned. “I’ve seen it now again and again. Actually a lesser man would not be doing the issues he does.”
Although the Buccaneers have been powered by a potent speeding assault led by rookie Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, quarterback Baker Mayfield is a dynamic ringmaster for a crew that has received three consecutively contests since a Week 11 bye.
Mayfield is tied for third within the league with 28 landing passes.
Tampa Bay moved into sole possession of first place of the NFC South final week with a 28-13 residence win over the Las Vegas Raiders that was nearer than the rating signifies. Tampa Bay was slowed down by the Raiders’ cross rush within the center quarters however acquired scores from Jalen McMillan and White within the fourth to win and cross the Atlanta Falcons within the standings.
Mayfield produced 295 yards and three touchdowns on 18-for-29 passing however had two interceptions and a misplaced fumble within the first half because the Buccaneers didn’t capitalize on probabilities.
“We now have to know, particularly once we’re within the pink zone and we’re in scoring territory, we will not flip it over. That is No. 1,” coach Todd Bowles mentioned. “You do not just like the turnovers, interval. Every so often they will occur, however now we have to do a greater job caring for the soccer as an offensive workers, interval.
“Between the coaches and the gamers, we have to do a greater job of specializing in precisely what we wish to get completed, how we have to get it completed, and ensure we execute it each play. It isn’t simply on Baker, it is on all people.”
White totaled 109 all-purpose yards as crew speeding chief Bucky Irving, a rookie, went out early with a hip and again illness.
Bowles mentioned Irving’s standing for Sunday can be contingent on lingering again stiffness. Security Antoine Winfield Jr., nevertheless, is anticipated to be out “weeks” because of a knee sprain, Bowles mentioned.
Herbert will chase his personal statistical milestone, if he performs, having made 335 consecutive cross makes an attempt with out an interception, the fifth-longest streak in NFL historical past.
However Los Angeles hasn’t been as efficient in translating stable crew efforts into wins. The Chargers have misplaced two of their previous three — to the Baltimore Ravens and Chiefs — and dropped a 19-17 heartbreaker final week when Kansas Metropolis’s third-string kicker caromed the game-winning subject objective off the uprights as time expired.
Nonetheless, the Chargers presently maintain the sixth-seeded wild-card spot within the AFC due to a head-to-head win over the Denver Broncos.
Los Angeles rookie broad receiver Ladd McConkey missed final week with knee and shoulder accidents however is anticipated to play Sunday. Tight finish Will Dissly is anticipated to overlook a number of weeks after injuring his shoulder on Sunday. Exterior linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) additionally did not observe Wednesday.
Guard Ben Bredeson (shoulder), linebacker Okay.J. Britt (ankle), security Mike Edwards (hamstring) and broad receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) are among the many Tampa Bay gamers who missed observe on Wednesday.
–Area Degree Media