***TNF COLOR RUSH IN THE SWAMP- TB @ STL***
***TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ ST. LOUIS RAMS***
The colorblind will not be happy as we have yet another crazy uniform "Color Rush" battle here on Thursday Night Football between the playoff hopeful Buccaneers and an emotional Rams team dubbing the spoiler role for the rest of the season. The Prime Time stage is set for two of the league's top Rookies to shine when Buc's QB Jameis Winston and Rams' RB Todd Gurley will try and steal the show. That beings said let's take a look at each teams motivation and situation coming into this game. While they will most likely need some help, the Bucs feel as though they can steal a NFC Wildcard spot and make a playoff run. Jameis or as I like to refer to him as "Diet Cam" is oozing with confidence and has done a great job of instilling it in the rest of his team. That is extremely rare for a rookie to take the lead like he has and for the team to follow suit. Although inconsistent, the Bucs are very capable of playing well and can really be dangerous if they do end up getting lucky enough to steal a postseason slot. Jameis has really improved throughout the season passing in the pocket and when in doubt can make things happen with his legs to as we have seen. Buccaneer WR Mike Evans is a stud and has been slacking a bit lately, I expect him to show up and have a big game tonight, along with TE Austin Sefarian-Jenkins who is an athletic freak who has been out for most of the season with an injury. When Sefarian-Jenkins is in the game, Winston looks to him often. Let's not forget about the bounce-back year RB Doug Martin has been having. The "DougerNaut" as he would like to be called, has been as explosive as his rookie year this season, which definitely helps open up the passing game for Winston. That being said, I also like Dougie to have himself a game tonight even against a Ram defense who tends to show up and play well at home. Speaking of the Ram defense, they will surely bring it tonight as it is rumored this is a possible last home game in St. Louis if the Rams end up being the team that makes the move to L.A. However, I don't think it will matter as they face a motivated and talented Buccaneer offense tonight, nor do I think they will end up moving to L.A. My guess is that will end up being the Chargers but that is a conversation for another time. The possibility of the move along with the swagu' those bright yellow uniforms will surely provide some extra juice so I have no doubt that St. Louis will be in this game. Ram QB Case Keenum will look to play game manager as the Rams obviously want to feed RB Todd Gurley tonight as much as possible. The Bucs do play well against the run, they will however be without stud rookie LB Kwon Alexander due to suspension, and co-stud LB LaVonte David and DT Gerald McCoy are banged up. That being said I do see the Gurley-Mon having success as well and won't be suprised to see some trickery from Ram Coach Jeff Fischer with a nothing to lose mentality. Last week distorted our view of both of these teams. The Bucs hosted division rival Drew Brees and the Saints who went up early, and Tampa Bay literally dropped the ball on the possible comeback to end the game, while the Rams hosted an emotionally beaten and deflated Lions team coming off of probably the craziest loss of the year when Aaron Rodgers completed a miracle Hail Mary with no time left for the win. I think it is safe to say here that Case Keenum will not throw on the Bucs like Drew Brees did, and that Tampa will be much more motivated tonight than the Lions were on the road last weekend. So bascially what I am rambling about here is that I think this game will be a very entertaining back and forth type, with Jameis and the Bucs pulling it out in the end. BUCS PK
