The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ bye week arrived at the perfect time, offering a much-needed opportunity for players and Head Coach Todd Bowles to rest their bodies and minds.
Did Bowles truly disconnect from the demands of game-planning?
“I was able to do that for a day and a half, and that was like two weeks for me,” Bowles said, calling the break “great.”
Rookies also found value in the pause. Bucs center Graham Barton had a revelation during his time off. “I think having a week to refresh and reset and maybe hang out with some friends and family and ground yourself a bit—remind yourself that there are other things in the world besides football.”
Mayfield’s Active Rest and Manning Fun
Quarterback Baker Mayfield said the bye was well-needed to rest up his body, but he certainly didn’t spend the whole week on the couch. Mayfield was seen enjoying a Tampa Bay Lightning game with left tackle Tristan Wirfs and even spent his Monday night appearing on the Manning Cast with Peyton and Eli Manning.
“It was fun,” Mayfield said of the appearance. “Those guys make it easy. Peyton definitely takes it more seriously than Eli does.”
Gearing Up for the Patriots
The Buccaneers face challenge in their first game back against the 7-2 New England Patriots, who narrowly beat the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. The Pats lead the AFC East and are powered by second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who currently leads the NFL in completion percentage.
Bucs outside linebacker Anthony Nelson acknowledged the difficulty in preparing for a versatile opponent. “They can beat you in so many ways,” Nelson stated. “They are a good offense, and he (Maye) just gives you a lot of different things to worry about, which really requires us to be on our job, all 11, every play.”
On the other side of the ball, Mayfield has been focused on the Patriots’ defense, particularly their line. “It starts up front,” Mayfield explained. “Between (Christian) Barmore and Milton Williams, two really good interior defensive line players. From there, their defensive backs are making a lot of plays.”
Bowles’ Simple Mandate: Execute
Despite the bye week break, the Bucs’ offense had shown a regression before the week off. Coach Bowles believes the solution is straightforward. “It’s execution,” Bowles said. “I mean we’ve got to coach it better and we’ve got to play it better.”
The second half of the Buccaneers’ season kicks off this Sunday at 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium. Regardless of which injured players return, the team can no longer use being “banged up and tired” as an excuse; it’s time to execute.
READ: Buccaneers’ Egbuka And Falcons’ Watts Claim September Rookie Of The Month Honors
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