Tampa Bay got the first home win for head coach Lovie Smith last week in a dominating performance behind No. 1 pick Jameis Winston.
The Bucs have shown promise on defense this preseason and take on a Cleveland team that has played below the total in both exhibition games.
ODDS
After winning a game in Raymond James Stadium for the first time in over a year, the Buccaneers opened as a 3-point favorite. With two teams that still have a lot to prove offensively, the total appears a bit high at 41.5.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
The Browns are hopeful Johnny Manziel will be able to play against the Buccaneers despite a sore elbow. Manziel didn’t throw at practice Monday but did not need an MRI, according to coach Mike Pettine. There is no concern among the coaching staff that Manziel will have any long-term damage and they will not try to change his throwing motion. The Browns want to see progress from starter Josh McCown in the third preseason game and he likely plays into the second half with Manziel taking over after that.
Jameis Winston wowed the home town crowd with a delightful performance Monday. The No. 1 overall pick in the draft showed complete command in his second NFL start, completing 8 of 13 passes for 90 yards and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He left the game in the second quarter after tweaking his ankle following a sack. Though not considered serious, the injury could limit his reps this week. Backup Mike Glennon looked solid again, throwing for 121 yards and a touchdown before third-stringer Seth Lobato mopped up.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
One down and one to go for Bucs head coach Lovie Smith. After losing all eight regular season games and both preseason contests at Raymond James Stadium in his first season with Tampa Bay last year, the Buccaneers got him his first home win with Monday’s rout of the Bengals. The young Bucs look to tack on a few more once the bell rings and a defense showing signs of improvement in the preseason is eager to do its part. Smith took over play-calling from defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and the unit responded with three takeaways in Monday’s win, giving them six in two games. They also had four sacks, scored a touchdown and set up two other scores in a performance that left Smith feeling good about the direction of the unit.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“Obviously people are going to look at this as a preseason game. But in that locker room, our team morale, we’re going to look at that as us getting a win. That’s important. You know, winning does matter. It doesn’t matter if it’s a football game in a Walmart parking lot, we want to win. So that’s important to us.” – Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston after Monday’s win over Cincinnati
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
On paper it’s hard to find much separation between Browns kickers Carey Spear and Travis Coons in their ongoing competition. Neither has kicked in an NFL regular season game, but they’ve both been solid on the practice field and even better in the higher-pressure situations of scrimmages and preseason games. Coons has been listed first on the unofficial depth chart the past two preseason games. He nailed a 41-yard field goal last week against Buffalo. Spear connected on a 47-yarder against Washington in the opener. Neither has missed an extra point and both have generally put kickoffs deep into the end zone for touchbacks. “I think it’s still to be played out. I really do,” special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said.
INJURIES
Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo will rest his bum knee until the season starts. Receivers Dwayne Bowe and Terrelle Pryor are also unlikely to play.
Receiver Mike Evans is out for the remainder of the preseason with a hamstring injury, but the Buccaneers do expect him back once the season starts. Winston injured his ankle following a Bengals sack and left the game a few plays later, though it’s not considered serious. Additionally, cornerback Leonard Johnson suffered an ankle injury and will not play against the Browns.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Let’s hold off on calling the Bucs a playoff team. They looked good in blasting the Bengals on Monday, but it is the preseason, and they did only win two games last season. McCown makes his return to Florida, where he was brought in last season to quarterback the Bucs and failed miserably. He’s likely keeping the seat warm until Manziel shows he can be a leader, and that time may come sooner than expected. In the meantime McCown isn’t the guy – he’s proven that.
Tampa Bay 19, Cleveland 17
BookMaker opened the spread for this Saturday game at -3 in favor of the Buccaneers. The NFL odds total surfaced at 41.5. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
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