NFL Tales of the Week – Week 8 Edition (11-2-26)
BY: TYRONE MONTGOMERY JR.
HEADLINE PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Carlson/Getty Images
Tampa Bay Wins In Old School Fashion
Florida is known for bringing plenty of rain, and apparently, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were more than comfortable playing in it. The Buccaneers delivered an impressive 16-0 shutout victory over the Atlanta Falcons, proving that sometimes you don’t need an explosive offense to get the job done. There were several takeaways from this matchup, but two things particularly stood out. First, Atlanta failing to score a single point is concerning. However, perhaps even more concerning is the fact that the Falcons lost to a Tampa Bay team that didn’t complete a single pass.
Baker Mayfield is an established quarterback in this league, and the Buccaneers rewarded him with a contract extension heading into the season. Yet, he attempted just three passes, and Tampa Bay still found a way to secure the victory. That speaks volumes about the coaching staff and defensive unit. The coaches deserve tremendous credit for putting together a game plan that worked under difficult conditions, while the defense completely shut down Atlanta’s offense. This was an impressive team victory for Tampa Bay and a performance that should leave Falcons fans asking plenty of questions.
Why The Patriots May Have a Problem
The New England Patriots may have a problem on their hands this season, and it could ultimately prevent them from reaching their full potential and returning to the Super Bowl. The lack of a reliable go-to player will ultimately haunt this team. Last season, Stefon Diggs was that guy, giving the Patriots an established playmaker they could depend on when they needed a big play. This season, AJ Brown was brought in to fill that role, but his availability has become a major concern. Brown suffered an injury in the season opener that landed him on injured reserve. After returning, he suffered another setback and is now reportedly dealing with a degenerative knee condition that could sideline him even longer.
The Patriots have also had to navigate the absence of young, explosive running back TreVeyon Henderson, further limiting their offensive firepower. To their credit, this team continues to find ways to win and is beginning to establish an offensive rhythm. However, winning consistently requires having someone defenses fear and an offense can lean on when games get tight. The Patriots have shown resilience, but eventually, the absence of a true go-to playmaker could catch up with them. It may be their biggest obstacle moving forward.
