The Week 12 Sunday Night Football matchup features a crucial clash between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams. This game is significant as both teams vie for dominance in their respective divisions.
The Rams enter this game with confidence after a decisive win against the Seahawks, securing their position at the top of the NFC West. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are looking to turn their fortunes around after suffering consecutive losses, including a high-scoring defeat against the Bills. Despite clinging to a slim lead over the Panthers in the NFC South, a loss could dramatically alter the standings.
After failing to cover the spread as 3.5-point favorites in their last game, the Rams now hold a 3-2 record against the spread at home. This could pose challenges as they face Baker Mayfield, who has proven to be a strong performer on the road. Since his signing in 2023, the Buccaneers have covered 72.2% of their games as road underdogs. However, injuries to key players have hindered their recent performance, leading to only one cover in their last four games.
On the other hand, the Rams have demonstrated their strength, ranking first in team PFF offensive grade and second in defensive grade. This performance has positioned them well against a Buccaneers defense that has had difficulty containing opposing quarterbacks.
As for player props, there is a strong focus on Matthew Stafford. The Rams” quarterback is projected to exceed 256.5 passing yards, as he currently leads the league with a 92.2 PFF passing grade and has made 23 big-time throws this season. Stafford has also averaged 255.7 passing yards per game, reaching over 280 yards in two of the past three games. He faces a Buccaneers defense that has allowed the fifth-most passing yards in the league and has struggled significantly against the pass.
This season, the Buccaneers have allowed more than 260 passing yards in five of their last six games. They rank poorly in passing success rate allowed and have a particularly weak performance against play-action plays. Additionally, the absence of cornerback Jamel Dean, who holds the second-highest coverage grade in the NFL, puts even more pressure on Tampa Bay”s secondary. Rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison, struggling with a low coverage grade, will likely face a challenging task against the Rams” skilled receivers.
As the game approaches, all eyes will be on both teams to see if the Rams can maintain their winning momentum or if the Buccaneers can rebound and reclaim control in the NFC South.
