Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers at Cardinals: Five Game-Changing Players

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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This week, the Buccaneers head west to take on the 0-1 Arizona Cardinals. Here, we break down five players that could decide the outcome on Sunday.

Last Sunday was a big day for the future of the Buccaneers as they picked up their first win under head coach Dirk Koetter. The victory was Tampa Bay’s third straight over the Falcons. Now, Tampa Bay will hit the road again to square off with the defending NFC West champion Cardinals.

A missed field goal in the final minute cost Arizona a win against New England in week one. The Cardinals will be looking to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2005, while the Bucs are looking to start 2-0 for the first time since 2010. The Arizona defense will be a tough test for an improving Buccaneer offense on Sunday, but it’s a test that Koetter’s team should be ready for.

The Bucs are still finding their footing as a team, but they have plenty of impact players. The Cardinals have been consistent in the last few years, fielding a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Here, we have five players that could change the game on Sunday.

Dec 6, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander (58) in the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Kwon Alexander

Kwon Alexander took over during the Bucs’ week one matchup in Atlanta. He was all over the field for Tampa Bay, finishing the day with an impressive stat line. He totaled 17 tackles (15 solo) with one sack, and even got props from Pro Football Focus of all people. The second-year linebacker was key in stopping Devonta Freeman, who rushed for just 20 yards on 11 carries. That’s why he can make a huge difference in this week’s game as well.

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David Johnson will be the man to stop on Sunday for the Tampa Bay run defense. Johnson rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries against a tough New England defense, so he will be a challenge for the Bucs this week. He also caught four passes for 43 yards, so like Freeman, he’s a threat as a receiver out of the backfield. That’s where Alexander can be such a game-changer.

Throughout last season, Alexander was a constant force for the Bucs. He got his sophomore season off to a great start against Atlanta, and Tampa Bay will need him to be solid again on Sunday. If he plays a big part in stopping the run, Tampa Bay will be a step closer to holding a tough Arizona offense in check.

Larry Fitzgerald

At 33 years old, Larry Fitzgerald is still one of the top receivers in the league. He proved as much in week one against the Patriots, catching eight passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns. He’s coming off of a year in which he totaled 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s a big threat for the Arizona offense, and one that can make a difference in any game he’s in.

The Bucs did an admirable job last week against Atlanta’s Julio Jones. Jones was held to 66 yards and a touchdown on just four catches by a Tampa Bay secondary that’s still looking to come together. But, there were some coverage breakdowns against Jones and Mohamed Sanu that made the pass defense look vulnerable. The veteran connection between Carson Palmer and Fitzgerald will be looking to feast on that vulnerability come Sunday afternoon.

Fitzgerald can be especially dangerous during clutch time. On the Cardinals’ potential game-winning drive against New England, he caught three passes for 46 yards. He was a big part of a drive that set up what could’ve been a game-winning 47-yard field goal. If the Bucs find themselves locked in a tight game during the fourth quarter on Sunday, extra attention will have to be given to stopping Fitzgerald.

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Charles Sims (34) reacts with quarterback Jameis Winston (3) after scoring a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Charles Sims

Charles Sims rushed four times for nine yards in week one against Atlanta, but don’t let that fool you. He changed the game’s momentum in favor of the Bucs at the end of the first half, taking a short checkdown pass 23 yards for a touchdown to grab a 17-13 lead. It wasn’t your average 23-yard touchdown catch. Sims made a couple of Falcons’ defenders miss before breaking through a few more to get into the end zone. From there, the Bucs took a commanding lead by adding two more touchdowns to start the second half.

While Sims’ numbers won’t stand out on the week one stat sheet, he made a huge difference in the game. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield is what makes him such a threat to opposing defenses. That’s why he could change the game this Sunday.

The Arizona defense is one of the toughest that Tampa Bay will face this year. That says a lot, considering the Bucs will also face Denver, Carolina (twice) and Seattle later in the year. Much of the Cardinals’ focus will likely be on Doug Martin and Mike Evans, but Sims can be the x-factor for the Bucs’ offense as they look for an upset.

Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (left) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson in the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Patrick Peterson

Jameis Winston will have to look out for Patrick Peterson on Sunday afternoon. Peterson is arguably the best cornerback in the NFL and he’s only in his sixth season. He is strong in man coverage, but is perhaps just as good in zone coverage. As the No. 5 overall pick in the 2011 draft, he came into the league with high expectations surrounding him, but he really has delivered.

Winston is coming off of a four-touchdown performance against Atlanta that earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Unfortunately for him and the Tampa Bay offense, things get tougher this week. How the Bucs’ offense responds on Sunday in a tough environment against a really good defense could say a lot about where it is in its development process. The two teams last squared off in Tampa during the 2013 season, with the Cardinals coming out on top by a score of 13-10. In that game, Peterson came up with two interceptions.

Peterson will likely be the man in charge of stopping Mike Evans on Sunday afternoon. For that reason, it’s easy to mark the former LSU Tiger as one of the players that could decide who wins the game. If he can shut down Evans, it might be a rough day for the Tampa Bay offense.

Sep 11, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) reaches for extra yardage as he is tackled by Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) during the first half at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Vincent Jackson

The Buccaneers put up 31 points on Atlanta in week one, yet Vincent Jackson wasn’t a big part of it. He was targeted seven times, but caught just two for 18 yards. There’s no denying that Jackson isn’t the same player he once was, but he’s still capable of being a big asset for the Buccaneer offense.

With a top corner like Patrick Peterson likely getting matched up with Mike Evans, Jackson could get a lot more looks this week. And if Peterson is keeping Evans in check, the Bucs will need more production from Jackson in order to stay in the game. When healthy, his talent is obviously still there. He’s coming off of a year in which he totaled 543 yards and three touchdowns in just 10 games. He is still a threat to defenses, especially in the red zone.

Jackson will likely have a tough matchup of his own on Sunday, but it’s one that has the potential to swing the game in one direction or the other. If he wins his battle and puts up some big numbers, Tampa Bay could head home with an upset win and a 2-0 record.

What do you think, Bucs fans? Who will change the outcome of Sunday’s contest in Arizona? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter @ThePewterPlank.

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