The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the chance to plant their NFC flag in the ground at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions, but Todd Bowles' team put on perhaps their worst showing of the year.
Losing 24-9, the offense just couldn't get anything going, posting just 251 yards of total offense, and went 4/16 on third down. While the defense had its moments, but it couldn't halt the run game, allowing 164 yards on the ground.
Still, at 5-2, it isn't the end of the world, but the Buccaneers now don't have the tie-breaker over Detroit, which would have been useful for playoff seeding. Plus, losing Mike Evans for roughly two months to a broken collarbone was just rubbing salt into the wounds.
Oh, and there's this too. In his latest power rankings for CBS Sports, Pete Prisco has dropped Tampa Bay four spots, down to No. 5.
"The offense didn't get it done against the Lions, and the injury issues continue to be a problem on that side of the ball," Prisco writes. "At 5-2, they still lead the NFC South."
More: Buccaneers' Todd Bowles gives injury update on 2 key offensive weapons
Buccaneers have to steady the ship vs. Saints
We saw last season that when the Buccaneers were riddled with injuries, they lost four games on the bounce, and while this time, Todd Bowles' team is lucky they have the bye now, there is still one crucial game to navigate - the New Orleans Saints.
Sitting at 1-6, New Orleans doesn't have anything to lose, and a banged-up Buccaneers team will want to get to the bye, not on a two-game losing streak.
While the Saints aren't in the hunt for the division, the Buccaneers are only one game ahead of the Carolina Panthers and two ahead of the Atlanta Falcons. So, this is a game Bowles' team has to have.
Reinforcements are on the way, but the Buccaneers, on the road, against a division opponent who has only won one game this year, have to get the job done.
Get to the bye at 6-2 and reassess. That's the goal here.
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