It’s time for the rematch. On Sunday, the sixth-seeded Washington Commanders head south to face the third-seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Raymond James Stadium.
These teams met back in Week 1, with the Bucs coming away with a 37-20 win. Quarterback Baker Mayfield passed for four touchdowns and had just six incompletions. On the other side, Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels made his first NFL start, completing 17 of 24 passes for 184 yards and also rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
Daniels is a different player now, and the Commanders are a much different team. With 12 wins, Washington won its most games in a single season in 33 years. The Commanders feature one of the NFL’s top offenses, largely due to Daniels’ dual-threat ability, and enter Sunday on a five-game winning streak.
Who has the advantage in Sunday’s showdown? It all comes down to matchups. While multiple matchups will significantly impact the game’s outcome, we’ve identified the top three.
Commanders run defense vs. Bucky Irving
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7). Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Irving has rushed for over 1,100 yards as a rookie. In the Week 1 matchup, Irving led the Bucs with 62 yards on just nine carries. Tampa’s run game was up and down through nine weeks, but when Irving took over as the primary back around Week 10, the Bucs’ offense went from good to great. Mayfield was terrific all season, but he was even more effective when opposing defenses had to account for Irving.
The Commanders have struggled to stop the run all year. You can bet the Buccaneers are coming after Washington’s front seven. If Irving has a big day, you can almost bet Tampa Bay wins this game. The Commanders must find a way to limit Irving. This would be a good time for Washington’s high-priced defensive tackles to make an impact.
Marshon Lattimore vs. Mike Evans
Marshon Lattimore #23, Mike Evans #13. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
These two have a long history, and while it’s fun for fans, much more will be at stake in this meeting between the two longtime rivals. Lattimore and Evans have battled for years, dating back to 2017. Both players have won their share of battles, but Lattimore has often come out on top. He’s only played two games for Washington since being acquired at the NFL trade deadline. He’s returning on Sunday against Evans after missing the last two games with the same hamstring injury.
Mayfield and Evans are going to test Lattimore. Coming off a hamstring injury, the Bucs want to see how healthy Lattimore is. Mayfield is terrific, but he’s also known for being a gunslinger. There will be a ball or two for Washington to intercept, and it could come in this matchup between Lattimore and Evans. Washington needs to come out on top in this matchup, and Lattimore has proven he’s up for the challenge in the past.
Jayden Daniels vs. Todd Bowles
Jayden Daniels #5. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
In Week 1, Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles was aggressive against Daniels and the Commanders. Bowles blitzed Daniels a lot in Week 1, but offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s game plan called for quick passes, so he took only two sacks. Since then, Daniels has proven he can make blitzing defenses pay; ask the Eagles. However, Bowles will remain aggressive, even if Daniels gains the upper hand. How Daniels handles Tampa’s blitzing could be the most critical element of this game. This is where having running back Austin Ekeler could be huge for Washington.