In a Monday night, divisional showdown, the Buccaneers are looking for any edge they can get. That might just mean counting on Cameron Brate to be a huge “X Factor”.
The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both face a must win tonight as they trot their injury riddled teams on to the field at Bank of America Stadium. With neither team in a position to effectively run the ball, both will turn to the passing game. Even without Cam Newton, Derek Anderson is a more than capable quarterback and has the weapons to give Carolina a solid chance at winning the game.
For the Buccaneers, wide receiver Mike Evans will prove to be a big target, but he can’t be the only one. Jameis Winston will need to rely heavily on tight end Cameron Brate to be a consistent and reliable weapon in the passing game for the Bucs to have success not only moving the chains, but especially in the red zone.
The Carolina Panthers have allowed 254 yards on 18 receptions to tight ends this season, averaging out to 14.11 yards per catch. On top of that, tight ends have scored four touchdowns against the Panthers this season – one per game and third worst in the NFL. There are opportunities to be taken advantage of for Brate and the Bucs’ offense and it will be key to exploit them.
No, Cameron Brate is not the weapon Greg Olsen is, but he has proven to be an effective weapon this year hauling in 16 receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 25 targets. With the poor play of Vincent Jackson this season and the release of troublesome Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Brate has stepped up to be that second and third target behind Evans and, at times, Adam Humphries.
It’s pretty simple: winner keeps their season alive, two games behind the 4-1 Atlanta Falcons. Loser sees their playoff aspirations all but disappear as they likely enter a tailspin for the remainder of the year.
No pressure.
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