THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WEEK 8: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT BUFFALO BILLS

BY ADAM GREENE

Hey, could it be a solid Thursday Night Football game on the horizon? It certainly looks that way as the NFC South second place Tampa Bay Buccaneers make the trip about as far north as they can and still be inside the Continental United States when they take on the AFC East second place Buffalo Bills.

This is not the most storied rivalry in the NFL. It will only be the 13^th all time meeting between the two teams. The Bucs, if you can believe it, hold the edge in the series, 8-4 and won the last matchup on Dec. 12, 2021, 33-27. Tom Brady (now retired, finally, thank God) was 31 of 46 passing for 363 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the victory. He also scrambled seven times for 16 yards and a TD. Leonard Fournette (currently a free agent) rushed 19 times for 113 yards and a score. Chris Godwin caught 10 passes for 105 yards. Mike Evans had six receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.

In the loss, Josh Allen finished 36 of 54 passing for 308 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. He led the Bills rushing with 12 carries for 109 yards and a score. Stefon Diggs caught seven passes for 74 yards. Dawson Knox had seven catches for 60 yards and a TD. Gabriel Davis hauled in five balls for 43 yards and a touchdown.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT BUFFALO BILLS (-8.5, O/U: 42)

Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.

Broadcast: Prime Video

Kickoff: Oct. 26, 8:15 p.m.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-3)

The Bucs enter this game after an ugly loss in an ugly game to an ugly team, the Atlanta Falcons. Last Sunday Tampa Bay fell 16-13 in a contest where neither team found the endzone after the opening quarter. Baker Mayfield was 27 of 42 passing for 275 yards, one touchdown and a pick. He scrambled three times for 32 yards and was sacked thrice (yes, thrice!). Mike Evans caught six passes for 82 yards and the lone touchdown. The defense sacked Desmond Ridder once and forced three Ridder fumbles, which the Buccaneers all recovered. And they still lost. That should be impossible.

BUFFALO BILLS (4-3)

Buffalo let America, if not all of human civilization, down last week as they fell in predictable fashion to the New England Patriots, 29-25 in Foxboro. Josh Allen finished his loss, 27 of 41 passing for 265 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He rushed seven times for 17 yards, a score and was sacked once. James Cook carried the ball 13 times for 56 yards and added three receptions for 46 yards and a TD. Dalton Kincaid caught eight passes for 75 yards. Stefon Diggs hauled in six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. The defense sacked Mac Jones once. held New England to just 96 yards on the ground and forced a fumble.

THE PICK

Last week got ugly for plenty of teams and upsets were pretty much the rule for all of Week 7. You normally would want a full week to prepare for a game like this, but after both teams fell in stinkers on Sunday, they should be more than happy to make up for it with the early week kickoff. I like Buffalo, but don’t care for the spread. Bills 24, Buccaneers 20

Last week

Straight up: 7-6

Against the spread: 5-8

Season

Straight up: 64-42

Against the spread: 55-51

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

Connect with us our socials on Twitter and Instagram for the latest sports news, viral moments, betting odds and the occasional memes.