2012 Opponent Preview: Tampa Bay Buccaneers face Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders
Opponent preview now looks into Week 8 and 9 games of Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Being at home for last four weeks, Buccaneers will be on the road for their next two games.
They will be looking forward to facing Minnesota Vikings. Buccaneers have a greater chance of beating them as Vikings are looking a lot more degraded this time. Their game against Oakland Raiders will be fairly competitive, especially
on the road.
Week 8: Minnesota Vikings
Current situation of Vikings’ roster suggest that it will be another tough season for them. It could be even more difficult than the 2011 season. Last season they finished 3-13.
Vikings need to seriously upgrade their roster with young players. It is certain that they are in a rebuilding stage and that they need fresh legs to excel in the league.
Most of their veterans have passed their peak and have become a burden for the roster because of their underperformance.
Addition of players like Christian Ponder will certainly be the one for the future. It will be long and hard season for the Vikings, but their progress will depend on how they manage their roster.
Last time these two sides played each other was in the 2011 season. Buccaneers won the game 24-20.
Week 9: Oakland Raiders
Although Raiders finished the 2011 season 8-8, they were very poor on the field considering the team they had.
The addition of Carson Palmer did not turn out as expected. He played just ten games and scored a mere 13 touchdowns.
Raiders have restructured their coaching staff and management team. This could mean some positive changes in the attitude of the team.
Darren McFadden has been the core of Raiders defence, but his performance has been up and down throughout the season. His injuries have badly affected his play.
Last encounter between Raiders and Buccaneers took place in December of 2008. Raiders won that game 31-24. The two teams have faced each other once in playoffs.
Both Raiders and Buccaneers have equal chances of winning this game.
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