TV Schedule: Sunday, Sept. 29, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
Stadium: Raymond James Stadium
Weather: Low 69, High 89
Line: Tampa Bay (-3)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the midst of a major change on offense. Head coach Greg Schiano has made the switch at quarterback even though he said earlier in the week that he was sticking with Josh Freeman behind center. Rookie Mike Glennon will be taking over the starting gig and it will be interesting to see the kid play after a pretty impressive preseason performance. Freeman simply wasn’t cutting it on offense, completing less than 50 percent of his passes for 571 yards and a mere two touchdowns. Second-year running back Doug Martin has been solid so far through three games, running the ball 73 times for 297 yards but has just one score. Vincent Jackson is everything Schiano thought he would be — and more. Jackson has 15 catches for 265 yards this year but has yet to find the endzone.
On the other side of the field, the Arizona Cardinals have one of the league’s least productive offenses. Carson Palmer was brought in at quarterback to fix the situation at that position that has been a problem for the past few years. He has started the season with 762 yards and three touchdowns on 66-114 passing. He has finally given superstar wide out Larry Fitzgerald the help he needed to get back to being a top-five wide receiver in the league. Fitzgerald has 15 catches for 177 yards and two scores this season — he will need to step up his game slightly if the Cardinals want a chance at beating the Bucs on the road.
Defensively, the Buccaneers rank in the middle of the league in nearly every major category. The one possible weakness on the defensive side of the ball has to be the run-stopping ability which could somehow assist the poor Cardinals rushing attack. On the other hand, the Cardinals have one of the best run defenses in the league but, overall, have one of the worst defenses in the league. They allow the sixth-most passing yards of any team in the league. This bodes well for the rookie quarterback for the Buccaneers.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 24, Buccaneers 27
Related: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rumors: Greg Schiano To Leave For Texas?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Who’s To Blame For Team’s 0-3 Start?
How Injuries May Impact the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at .
