We have something to offer on Sunday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Los Angeles Chargers in Inglewood, Calif.
For both the Bucs leading South Africa (7-6) and AFC wild card hopefuls (8-5), they are looking out of a playoff spot with four weeks left in the regular season.
The Chargers boast the best scoring defense in the NFL, averaging 15.9 points per game allowed and 20-or-less points in 11 of 13 games.
Tampa Bay is fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 27.9 points per game.
An unexpected twist came Wednesday in Los Angeles, when Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh revealed that quarterback Justin Herbert suffered an ankle sprain to go with a sprained left leg in last Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Herbert did not practice on Wednesday.
“I know this: He will be doing anything and everything he can to play Sunday,” Harbaugh said. “I’ve seen it many times now. Surely a small person wouldn’t do the things he does.”
Although the Buckeyes are powered by a potent offense led by rookie Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, quarterback Baker Mayfield is the catalyst for a team that has won three straight championships since Week 11.
Mayfield is tied for third in the league with 28 passing yards.
Tampa Bay moved into first place in the NFC South last week with a 28-13 home win over the Las Vegas Raiders that was closer than the score indicated. Tampa Bay was held back by the Raiders’ run up the middle but got points from Jalen McMillan and White in the fourth to win and overtake the Atlanta Falcons.
Mayfield produced 295 yards and three touchdowns on 18-29 passing but managed two passes and a fumble in the first half as the Buckeyes failed to convert.
“We have to understand, especially when we’re in the red zone and in scoring position, we can’t turn it over. This is No. 1,” coach Todd Bowles said. “You don’t like to be replaced, period. It’s always possible, but we have to do a better job of taking care of the ball as an offensive staff, period.
“Between the coaches and the players, we need to do a better job of focusing on what we want to do, how we need to do it, and make sure we make every play. Not just for Baker, but for everybody.”
White totaled 109 all-purpose yards as rushing leader Bucky Irving, a rookie, sat out the morning with a strained hip and back.
Bowles said Irving’s status on Sunday will depend on strengthening the back. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is expected to be out “weeks” with a knee injury, Bowles said.
Herbert will chase his own statistical milestone, if he plays, with 335 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, the fifth-longest streak in NFL history.
But Los Angeles has been less successful in translating strong team efforts into rewards. The Chargers have lost two of their past three — to the Baltimore Ravens and Chiefs — and dropped a 19-17 heartbreaker last week when Kansas City’s third-string kicker kicked a game-winning field goal from the top as time expired.
However, the Chargers currently hold the wild card spot with the sixth seed in the AFC thanks to a win over the Denver Broncos.
Los Angeles rookie receiver Ladd McConkey missed last week with knee and shoulder injuries but is expected to play Sunday. Will Dissly is expected to miss several weeks after injuring his shoulder on Sunday. Outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) also did not practice on Wednesday.
Guard Ben Bredeson (shoulder), linebacker KJ Britt (ankle), safety Mike Edwards (hamstring) and wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) were among the Tampa Bay players who missed practice Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
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