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With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home we’ve unfortunately had to turn our focus to the 2019 season while others keep their eyes on the Super Bowl.
Two such teams competing to stay alive in the chase for Lombardi are the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens.
As is always the case, both teams will have some players leave, and the Bucs will have some new players come in. And perhaps, some of the guys coming to Tampa in 2019 will be playing in this very game.
Let’s take a look.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
2019 FREE-AGENTS
| POSITION | NAME | AGE |
|---|---|---|
| POSITION | NAME | AGE |
| WIDE RECIEVER | GEREMY DAVIS | 27 |
| CORNERBACK | MICHAEL DAVIS | 24 |
| LINEBACKER | KYLE EMANUEL | 28 |
| TIGHT END | ANTONIO GATES | 39 |
| PUNTER | DONNIE JONES | 39 |
| DEFENSIVE END | ANTHONY LANIER | 26 |
| DEFENSIVE TACKLE | BRANDON MEBANE | 34 |
| LINEBACKER | DENZEL PERRYMAN | 25 |
| SAFETY | ADRIAN PHILLIPS | 27 |
| DEFENSIVE TACKLE | DARIUS PHILON | 25 |
| LINEBACKER | HAYES PULLARD | 27 |
| DEFENSIVE TACKLE | ISAAC ROCHELL | 24 |
| WIDE RECEIVER | ARTAVIS SCOTT | 24 |
| DEFENSIVE TACKLE | DAMION SQUARE | 30 |
| GUARD | COLE TONER | 25 |
| CORNERBACK | JASON VERRETT | 28 |
| SAFETY | JAYLEN WATKINS | 26 |
| CORNERBACK | TREVOR WILLIAMS | 25 |
| WIDE RECEIVER | TYRELL WILLIAMS | 27 |
PLAYER TO WATCH: CB, MICHAEL DAVIS
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It wasn’t how the Los Angeles Chargers envisioned they’d start the year, but after losing cornerback Jason Verrett to his second achilles injury in as many years, they had to find a new starter to play opposite of Casey Hayward Jr.
And at least for the last nine games, it’s been Michael Davis.
Since entering the starting lineup, Davis has been credited with eight pass defenses. Only Andrew Adams has had more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers current roster.
Davis is far from a sure thing, and he isn’t facing the best passing offense in the league. So, one thing Bucs fans can learn from this match-up is his toughness and willingness to help out in run defense.
One glaring red mark on Davis’ stat sheet this year is his lack of interceptions. He has none.
But, there’s no denying the second-year corner has done a solid job in 2018, and if the Chargers let him loose then Tampa Bay may come calling.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
2019 FREE-AGENTS
| POSITION | NAME | AGE |
|---|---|---|
| POSITION | NAME | AGE |
| WIDE RECEIVER | QUINCY ADEBOYEJO | 24 |
| RUNNING BACK | JAVORIUS ALLEN | 28 |
| TIGHT END | NICK BOYLE | 26 |
| WIDE RECEIVER | JOHN BROWN | 29 |
| RUNNING BACK | ALEX COLLINS | 25 |
| RUNNING BACK | GUS EDWARDS | 24 |
| GUARD | JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR | 24 |
| QUARTERBACK | ROBERT GRIFFIN III | 29 |
| CORNERBACK | STANLEY JEAN-BAPTISTE | 29 |
| RUNNING BACK | TY MONTGOMERY | 26 |
| LINEBACKER | C.J. MOSLEY | 27 |
| LINEBACKER | PATRICK ONWUASOR | 27 |
| DEFENSIVE TACKLE | MICHAEL PIERCE | 26 |
| CENTER | MATT SKURA | 26 |
| LINEBACKER | ZA'DARIUS SMITH | 26 |
| LINEBACKER | TERRELL SUGGS | 36 |
| RUNNING BACK | DE'LANCE TURNER | 24 |
| DEFENSIVE END | BRENT URBAN | 28 |
| TIGHT END | MAXX WILLIAMS | 25 |
PLAYER TO WATCH: RB, TY MONTGOMERY
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With Bruce Arians being the favorite amongst Bucs fans for the vacant head coaching job, Montgomery becomes a player of interest.
In Arians’ most successful offensive season in Arizona, he had Chris Johnson and David Johnson to lean on for most of the season.
Both backs averaged more than four yards per carry and David Johnson really made his mark as a rookie in the passing game.
If the Bucs were to add Montgomery they’d end up with more of a Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson type pairing than they would Johnson and Johnson.
But no matter, the duo would give Arians’ offense the flexibility out of the backfield which made Arizona so successful in 2015.
Until we know who the new head coach is, this is just a speculative watch, but this is that time of year, folks.
The Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens kickoff at 1:05 PM EST on January 6th. Playoff football is always fun, but it’s even more fun to think some of those participating in 2018 might be helping your Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019.