NFL Game of the Week: Seattle Seahawks vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Story posted November 10, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Shivoy Nagpaul

At the beginning of the 2022 NFL season, most fans thought that the Buccaneers would come into Germany as the favorites in their international clash against the Seahawks. However, it’s the Seahawks seeking to add another win to their four-game winning streak and 6-3 record against an abysmal Bucs team.

Here are some notable narratives heading into Munich.

Is Tom Brady washed?

One could argue that Tom Brady doesn’t look like his usual winning self amidst his divorce with supermodel Gisele Bündchen and the team’s struggles. Injuries to the Bucs’ offensive line and wide receivers certainly doesn’t help Brady’s case either.

However, despite all of the adversity, Brady has continued to put up respectable numbers (2,547 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception through nine games) and looked like his vintage self when he led a game winning drive last week against the Rams.

The jury is still out on whether Brady’s done, but if Tampa Bay can get its injury woes sorted out, the “comeback kid” might potentially have one more trick up his sleeve. 

“They wrote me off, I ain’t write back though!”

After an emphatic victory against former Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos in the season opener, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith emphatically let his naysayers know that “[He] ain’t write back though.”  However, his naysayers thought he was a one-game wonder and stuck with the notion that Smith isn’t a good quarterback.

Yet, here we are in Week 10, the Hawks are flying high at 6-3 and riding the tailwind of a four-game winning streak courtesy of the aforementioned Smith. If the Seahawks get the win over Brady and the Bucs, don’t expect Smith to write back. 

Performance issues at wide receiver for both teams

Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf have all been struggling as of late with drops and performance as of late and that has had an effect on their team’s offense and results. Particular examples include Evans dropping what would’ve been a wide open touchdown catch against the Carolina Panthers and Lockett doing the same thing against the New York Giants.

Expect both teams to rely on their run game and defenses, but don’t be surprised if the offensive coordinators for both teams attempt to draw up some passing plays.

Who’s winning this game?

Through the past nine games, the Seahawks have clearly shown that they are the better team and that trend should continue.

However, it will be a relatively close game as Brady will attempt an upset bid that will come up short.

Prediction: Seahawks 27, Bucs 14

 

Shivoy Nagpaul is a first-year student studying broadcast journalism, to contact him, email shivoynagpaul@psu.edu.