The Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers open their seasons Sunday. Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX). Below, we look at Commanders vs. Buccaneers odds'from'BetMGM Sportsbook'before making our expert'NFL picks and predictions'later in the week.
The Buccaneers finished last season with a 9-8 record, winning the NFC South. Despite a rocky 4-7 start, they went 5-1 down the stretch to clinch the division. After defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round, their playoff run ended with a loss to the Detroit Lions. This season, QB Baker Mayfield is back as the signal-caller, with key targets like WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin returning. RB Rachaad White will lead the backfield, supported by RB Bucky Irving. Tampa Bay’s defense allowed 19.1 points per game last year, and it’ll look to build on that with a strong preseason showing.
The Commanders are coming off a rough 4-13 season, finishing at the bottom of the NFC East. They started strong with wins against the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos, but struggled badly afterward. QB Sam Howell, who threw 21 interceptions last year, is now with the Seattle Seahawks, and rookie QB Jayden Daniels is stepping in to replace him. The offense scored just 19.4 points per game last season, while the defense allowed 30.5. In preseason, the Commanders went 1-2, with a win over the New England Patriots in the finale. Key players this year include WR Terry McLaurin, WR Dyami Brown, TE Zach Ertz, and RB Brian Robinson Jr., but there’s uncertainty with the new rookie QB leading the charge.
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