The NFC South is very close. Here's how each team could win it and make playoffs
One game separates the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the Falcons, Panthers and Saints. We go through what each team needs to do to win the NFC S...DECEMBER 19, 2022
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 5-6 · 2ND IN NFC SOUTH
5-6 · 2ND IN NFC SOUTH
Next Game at Panthers · Sun 9:05PM
TB -5.5 TOTAL 46.5
Bengals look to tough stretch after rallying for 10th win
With an unsung, next-man-up defense and an unshakeable quarterback, the Cincinnati Bengals won their sixth straight game and are poised to clinch a playoff spotDECEMBER 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Antoine Winfield Jr. - Day-to-day with ankle injury Winfield (ankle) is considered day-to-day ahead of Sunday's game at Arizona, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Impact Winfield was able to play through his ankle ailment in Week 15 versus Cincinnati, so unless he suffers some kind of setback, he should be available again in Week 16. Albeit, the Pro Bowler only played 29 percent of Tampa Bay's defensive snaps in its loss versus the Bengals, so there is evidently still some work he'll have to do to get fully healthy.
DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Tom Brady, Bucs running out of time to stop downward spiral
Tom Brady threw four interceptions. The Buccaneers blew a 17-0 lead. There's still a lot to fix and little time to do so for Tampa Bay.DECEMBER 19, 2022
NFL Week 15 top plays: Raiders stun Patriots, Giants hold off Commanders, more
Here are the top plays from Sunday in Week 15 of the NFL season!DECEMBER 19, 2022
Rachaad White - Struggles in start White rushed 11 times for 38 yards and caught one of two targets for five yards in Sunday's 34-23 loss to the Bengals.
Impact It was a tough draw on paper for White and the Buccaneers' rushing attack, and the matchup lived up to the billing. White technically started the contest, but he saw a near-even split in touches with Leonard Fournette (12 to 14). The third-round pick from this year's draft has performed adequately since taking on a larger role to help the struggling Fournette, but neither back can truly thrive while the other cannibalizes carries. Both White and Fournette should be considered fringe fantasy options ahead of Sunday's tilt against Arizona.
DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Russell Gage - Takes advantage of elevated role Gage had eight receptions (12 targets) for 59 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 34-23 loss to Cincinnati.
Impact Gage was elevated to No. 3 on the depth chart with Julio Jones (knee) inactive Sunday. The veteran wideout capitalized on the opportunity and delivered on two short scores, doubling his season touchdown total in the process. Gage has dealt with his own injury problems in 2022, but he has performed well when asked to fill in for downed teammates. If Jones is forced to miss next week's tilt, then Gage could provide flex value in a similar role against the Cardinals on Sunday.
DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Leonard Fournette - Modest output in loss Fournette rushed 10 times for 44 yards and caught all four of his targets for 30 yards in Sunday's 34-23 loss to Cincinnati.
Impact Rookie Rachaad White (11/38/0) got the start at tailback and nearly split carries with Fournette. The veteran turned in the superior performance this week, but it is unlikely that either back won any matchups with their pedestrian rushing lines. Fantasy managers did luck out when the plodding back botched a handoff from Tom Brady in the second half, but the official scorebook credited the lost fumble to the quarterback. Fournette has clearly lost a step in 2022 and now has to share the backfield in Tampa Bay, making him a touchdown-dependent asset heading into Sunday's matchup against Arizona.
DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
NFL Week 15: Top viral moments from Falcons-Saints, Eagles-Bears, more
Week 15 of the NFL brings an action-packed Sunday slate highlighted by young quarterbacks taking on the Cowboys and Eagles and a Josh McDani...DECEMBER 19, 2022
String of turnovers dooms Bucs, allows Bengals to rally
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers led by two touchdowns at halftime and appeared poised to grab a two-game lead in the woeful NFC SouthDECEMBER 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chris Godwin - Makes most of eight targets Godwin corralled all eight of his targets for 83 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-23 loss to the Bengals.
Impact Godwin was able to convert all of his targets into receptions for the third time this year, boosting his season catch rate to a solid 70 percent in the process. It was just the 26-year-old's third touchdown of 2022, as the Bucs have struggled as a unit in the red zone. Godwin will look to build off this strong performance with a plus matchup looming against the Cardinals on Sunday.
DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Mike Evans - Tied for team lead in yards Evans had five receptions on 10 targets for 83 yards in Sunday's 34-23 loss to Cincinnati.
Impact Evans finished tied for the team lead in receiving yards with fellow starter Chris Godwin (8/83/1), but it was the latter who was the recipient of one of Tom Brady's trio of touchdown passes. Evans is on pace for his ninth straight 1,000-yard season with 888 yards through 13 contests, but the shocking lack of touchdowns (three) have held him back in the fantasy rankings this year. Evans will look to get right in a soft matchup against Arizona's porous secondary in Week 16.
DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Tom Brady - Turnovers cost team win Brady completed 30 of 44 pass attempts for 312 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday's 34-23 loss to the Bengals.
Impact Brady turned in one of his finer fantasy performances of the season despite his team choking away a two-score lead in the second half. It was the ageless wonder's second game with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdowns this season. It was also Brady's second consecutive week with two interceptions after throwing just three over his previous 12 contests. He was also credited with two lost fumbles, but one of the two was the result of Leonard Fournette botching a handoff. The 45-year-old is still performing at a high level this season with 3,897 passing yards on a 67 percent completion rate. Brady and the Bucs will look to end their recent losing streak in a soft matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday.
DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Burrow throws for 4 TDs, Bengals rally past Buccaneers 34-23
Joe Burrow threw for four second-half touchdowns and the surging Cincinnati Bengals rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-23 for their s...DECEMBER 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cincinnati Bengals Top Plays vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2022 Regular Season Week 15
DECEMBER 19, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Cooke, Boston lead No. 1 Gamecocks to 87-23 win over Bucs
Zia Cooke scored 16 points, Aliyah Boston had 10 points and 13 rebounds for her 67th career double-double and No. 1 South Carolina steamrolled Charleston Southern 87-23DECEMBER 18, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sean Murphy-Bunting - Back in action Murphy-Bunting (quadriceps) is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Impact After having missed both of the last two contests due to a quadriceps issue, Murphy-Bunting is now slated to start at cornerback alongside Carlton Davis given that Jamel Dean (toe) is unavailable this weekend.
DECEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Joe Tryon-Shoyinka - Good to go Sunday Tryon-Shoyinka (hip) is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Tryon-Shoyinka will be available to start at linebacker in Sunday's contest versus Cincinnati, after he dealt with a hip issue throughout the week. With both Carl Nassib (pectoral) and Genard Avery (abdomen) ruled out this weekend, the 2021 first-rounder will likely be called upon to handle more snaps than this usual workload.
DECEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Russell Gage - In line for No. 3 role Sunday Gage is expected to slot into the No. 3 receiver role in Sunday's game against the Bengals with Julio Jones (knee) inactive for the contest, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Gage has plenty of experience stepping up in the wide receiver pecking order, considering Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jones have all missed time to varying degree this season. However, the expanded opportunities haven't led to much meaningful fantasy production, as Gage enters Sunday's game with a modest 32-254-2 line across nine contests.
DECEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Tristan Wirfs - Isn't suiting up Sunday Wirfs (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Impact Wirfs will now miss a third straight game as a result of the ankle injury he sustained Week 12 in Cleveland. Josh Wells should draw another start at right tackle this weekend versus Cincinnati.
DECEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Mike Edwards - Suiting up Sunday Edwards (hamstring) is active for Sunday's Week 15 clash against the Bengals, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Edwards will therefore make his return from a two-game absence after managing to close out the week with back-to-back full practices. The talented safety's return coincides with that of position mate Antoine Winfield (ankle), meaning the Buccaneers will have the back end of their defense intact against the Bengals' dangerous air attack.
DECEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Antoine Winfield Jr. - Active in Week 15 Winfield (ankle) is active for Sunday's Week 15 clash against the Bengals, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Winfield will therefore make his return from a two-game absence after managing to turn in limited practices throughout the week. The star safety's return coincides with that of position mate Mike Edwards (hamstring), meaning the Buccaneers will have the back end of their defense intact against the Bengals' dangerous air attack.
DECEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Julio Jones - Inactive as expected Sunday Jones (knee) is inactive for Sunday's Week 15 game against the Bengals, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Impact Jones was trending downward heading into the weekend after only getting a limited Friday practice in during the past week. With the veteran wideout sitting out, Russell Gage will be in line to bump up to the No. 3 receiver role behind the starting duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in another must-win game for the Buccaneers.
DECEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Julio Jones - Not expected to play Sunday While Jones (knee) may work out before Sunday's game against the Bengals, the wideout isn't expected to be available for the contest, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Impact Official confirmation of Jones' Week 15 status will arrive once Tampa Bay's inactives are posted ahead of Sunday's 4:25 ET kickoff, but if Jones is indeed unavailable, Russell Gage would be the top candidate to log added WR opportunities versus Cincinnati alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
DECEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Can't Stop Now, We're Better Than Ever | Week 15 Hype Video
DECEMBER 18, 2022 • YOUTUBE
