Comunmente reconocida como la cuna de las tormentas electricas de Norte America, Tampa Bay ya ha tenido un partido con demoras por clima adverso este año, y al parecer se avecina otra tormenta este fin de semana.
De acuerdo a NFLWeather.com, hay probabilidades de lluvia durante toda la tarde el domingo con vientos de cerca de 11mph. Se espera una humedad del 60% y hasta 70% hacia el final del partido, indicando esto la posibilidad otra tormenta en el Raymond James Stadium. Casi todos los juegos que se juegan en la costa este domingo comienzan a las 13 horas, pero tanto este como el juego de la semana pasada de los Bucs han sido movidos a las 16hs para asi tratar de evitar las tormentas tan comunes en esta epoca del año en la region de Tampa. La semana anterior no se logro evitar la tormenta y tampoco parece que fuera a pasar en el juego de este domingo.
Jameis Winston. Photo courtesy of USA Today.La demora del partido del domingo pasado duro mas de una hora pero no cambio la suerte de los Bucs que luego de haber obligado a los Rams a despejar el balon en el final del juego no pudieron anotar en su ultima posesion. Pero una derrota bajo la lluvia no es nada nuevo para Tampa. De acuerdo al Archivo Historico de NFLWeather.com, desde 2011 los Buccaneers tiene un record de 1-6 en partidos con clima adverso, y permiten un promedio de 27 punto por partido. Han permitido 10 puntos o menos tan solo una vez en dicho periodo. Con tan mala defensa, la ofensiva se vera obligada a dominar el tiempo de posesion y establecer el juego por tierra con Charles Sims quien continuara reemplazando al lesionado Doug Martin.
El ganador del trofeo Heisman, Jameis Winston, solo tiene un juego bajo la lluvia en su carrera como profesional, pero esta acostumbrado al clima de Florida habiendo jugado football universitario en Florida State. Bajo la lluvia, la semana anterior, Winston obtuvo el maximo de yardas de su carrera (364) antes de la demora y 405 yardas total en el partido. Pero su kryptonita son las perdidas de balon; ya tiene seis intercepciones esta temporada y dos entregas de balon (fumbles). Apesar de tener armas como Mike Evans y Vincent Jackson a su disposicion, si el joven mariscal continua entregando el balon, Tampa (1-2) seguira perdiendo tan frecuentemente como lo viene haciendo hasta ahora.
Denver (3-0) ha jugado muy bien en sus ultimos seis partidos impactados por el clima. Y no hay nada que haga pensar que no se llevaran de Tampa un triunfo para mejoprar a 4-0, ya que la defensa de Tampa ha permitido 101 puntos en lo que va de la temporada (casi 34 ppg) y la ofensiva de los Broncos es la cuarta mejor de la liga (84 puntos, 28 ppg). La ofensiva de Denver promedia 24 puntos en partidos con clima adverso.
Trevor Siemian, quien ha impresionado con su buen juego en lo que va de la temporada, se ha conectado sin problemas con Emmanuel Sanders y a Demaryius Thomas. Ambas alas abiertas estan teniendo una gran campaña, asi como el corredor CJ Anderson. Si Denver continua su gran juego de ataque es muy probable que veamos a un equipo de Tampa atascado en el barro durante todo el encuentro.
Recognized as North America’s hotbed for lightning storms, Tampa Bay has already experienced one weather delay at home this season and it looks apparent that yet another late-summer storm will be in full force when the undefeated Denver Broncos march into town this weekend.
According to NFLWeather.com, a light rain is possible throughout the entirety of Sunday’s late afternoon showdown with winds swirling around 11mph. Humidity is expected to rise from 60% to close to 70% by the end of the game, indicating the likelihood of yet another Florida thunderstorm interrupting this outing just like last week and soaking into the already battered grass surface inside Raymond James Stadium. Most east coast NFL games kickoff around 1pm, however, both this and last week’s home games for the Bucs have been pushed to 4pm in hopes of avoiding the daily end-of-summer showers. That certainly didn’t happen last week against Los Angeles and it’s looking more and more likely the same will occur for Sunday’s week four nonconference matchup.
Jameis Winston. Photo courtesy of USA Today.The delay lasted well over an hour and ultimately delayed the inevitable for Tampa as the Bucs squandered their final possession after forcing the Rams to punt once both sides returned to the field. But a loss in the rain is really nothing new for Tampa. According to the NFLWeather.com Historical Analytics, since 2011 the Buccaneers are a dismal 1-6 in weather-related games, on average surrender 27 points per game and held the opposition to 10 points or less only once. With such a swiss cheese D, the offense will desperately need to keep the defense rested by dominating the time of possession battle and establishing a ground game lead by Charles Sims who will continue to fill in for the injured Doug Martin.
Former Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston may only have one career rain game under his belt, but the young gun is no stranger to a slippery football in a Florida storm having played his college ball at Florida State. During the downpour last week, Winston even hit his career high in passing yards with 364 prior to the delay and 405 total yards on the afternoon. But his glaring kryptonite is his how often he turns the ball over; having already tossed six picks this season and lost a pair of fumbles. Despite having weapons like Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson tormenting the opposing secondary, if the young QB keeps giving the ball away as frequently as he does, Tampa (1-2) will continue to lose as frequently as they do.
Denver (3-0) has played impressively well over it’s last six or so weather-related matchups but dating back to 2009, they post a mediocre 8-9 record. But it’s tough to see them not cruise through this one en route to 4-0, given Tampa’s D has allowed an NFL-high 101 points (almost 34 ppg) and the Bronco’s offense has scored the fourth-most in the league this season (84 points, 28 ppg). On average in weather impacted games, the Denver offense averages 24 total points.
Trevor Siemian, who’s been a pleasant shock to the 2016 season thus far, has found surprising early success in both the win column as well as with his top targets Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. Both wideouts are off to a pro bowl-like campaign as well as bruising running back CJ Anderson whose experiencing quite the resurgence. If Denver gets rolling on the ground and in the air on Sunday, Tampa will be stuck in the mud all afternoon.
