OVER 38.5
The last meeting saw the Bucs dominate, winning 27-3 on their home turf. Tampa has restored it's reputation as one of the leagues most feared defenses this season along with Baltimore and Tennessee. They are at or near the top of most major defensive categories. But that is somewhat skewed by how well they have played at home vs. how they play as the visitors. They allow 20.6 pp/g on the road (vs. 12.6 @ home) and have three times allowed 24 or more points. Tampa Bay's defense has been a little slow out of the gates over the last month, giving up 37 first-quarter points over the last four games
As anemic as Tampa Bay has looked offensively at times, they have scored at least 13 points in every game save for the matchup @ Dallas. John Gruden has been preaching the importance of getting off to a fast start tonight.
"It's very important," he said. "We have to come out and not start slow in any fashion, don't turn the ball over, don't shoot ourselves in the foot by missing a block, no penalties. But more importantly, with all that will come more points, as long as we don't shoot ourselves in the foot and stop drives. It's very important in this game. This is a good team. We can't spot them 17 points and then decide to come back."
The last meeting saw the Bucs dominate, winning 27-3 on their home turf. Tampa has restored it's reputation as one of the leagues most feared defenses this season along with Baltimore and Tennessee. They are at or near the top of most major defensive categories. But that is somewhat skewed by how well they have played at home vs. how they play as the visitors. They allow 20.6 pp/g on the road (vs. 12.6 @ home) and have three times allowed 24 or more points. Tampa Bay's defense has been a little slow out of the gates over the last month, giving up 37 first-quarter points over the last four games
As anemic as Tampa Bay has looked offensively at times, they have scored at least 13 points in every game save for the matchup @ Dallas. John Gruden has been preaching the importance of getting off to a fast start tonight.
"It's very important," he said. "We have to come out and not start slow in any fashion, don't turn the ball over, don't shoot ourselves in the foot by missing a block, no penalties. But more importantly, with all that will come more points, as long as we don't shoot ourselves in the foot and stop drives. It's very important in this game. This is a good team. We can't spot them 17 points and then decide to come back."
