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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to repeat as Super Bowl Champions as they take on the Los Angeles Rams. Tampa Bay cruised to a 31-15 victory in the Wild Card Round over the Philadelphia Eagles.
This week will be a difficult challenge, taking on the talented Rams. Tom Brady is a proven winner and has led his teams to seven Super Bowl rings. Many would expect Brady to be the X-Factor due to his incredible track record. He will be vital, but Brady will not be the X-Factor that the Bucs need to defeat the Rams.
With that being said, here is the Buccaneers X-Factor against the Rams.
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Buccaneers X-Factor vs. Rams in 2022 NFL Playoffs
Brady may not be the X-Factor, but it will be his main target. Wide receiver Mike Evans had another great season, posting his eighth consecutive season with 1,000 plus yards. Evans has a crucial matchup in this game, lined up against arguably the best cornerback in football, Jalen Ramsey.
These two faced off in Week 3 when the Rams defeated the Bucs 34-24. Evans had eight receptions for 106 yards but did not reach the endzone. With Chris Godwin out with a torn ACL and Antonio Brown off the roster after a bizarre exit, Evans' play becomes essential to the team.
He had a big game in the Wild Card Round against the Eagles, catching nine passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.
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Rob Gronkowski is the other target that the Rams will look to contain. With Ramsey on Evans, Los Angeles will likely let them go one on one. This leaves it for Evans to dominate the matchup to give the Bucs the advantage offensively. While Ramsey is an elite corner, it will be hard for him to stop the physical receiver that Evans is.
He can create separation with his route running and make tough catches with his physical toughness. Evans has been Brady's top target throughout his tenure with the Bucs. In two seasons together, he has 144 receptions for 2,041 yards and 27 touchdowns (regular season). These are video game numbers, and their connection will be pivotal against the star-studded Rams.
Los Angeles has a phenomenal pass rush with Aaron Donald, Von Miller, and Leonard Floyd spearheading it. They will need to establish the run game and get the ball out quickly to receivers like Evans to counter the pass rush. With no Godwin or Brown, Evans' role in the offense will be increased. Godwin took the top off the defense with his speed, while Brown was a reliable pass catcher on any down.
On the other side, the Rams have an explosive offense with Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Odell Beckham Jr. This offense will be prolific, and the Bucs offense will have to keep up. Kupp had a historic season, catching 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. Los Angeles trade for Stafford paid big dividends for them as the offense became an elite unit. The Bucs defense will have a tough time containing them, leaving it to Brady and Evans to match their production.
While they have the GOAT in Brady, this matchup will be close. It will be up to Evans to play well and give the offense enough juice to come out with a win.
