Three keys to a Washington Football Team victory vs. Buccaneers

3. Limit mistakes

The Washington Football Team has shown that it has a style of play that makes it paramount to limit mistakes. For example, there is an argument to be made that the Washington Football Team should have beaten the Seattle Seahawks. However, two Dwayne Haskins interceptions and a missed Dustin Hopkins extra point was the difference.

Against the Carolina Panthers, four Washington Football Team turnovers, including a Steven Sims muffed punt that bounced back for a Carolina touchdown was the difference. The Washington Football Team has to limit its mistakes.

This is especially true against more talented teams. Tom Brady and the Tampa offense will take advantage of the mistakes this time. It does not matter how good the Washington defense is.

On offense, interceptions from whoever is at quarterback will need to be kept to a minimum. The ball carriers will need to hold on to the ball and penalties to set drives back cannot happen. The Washington Football Team offense already struggles enough, getting behind the chains won’t help.

On defense, the secondary will have to keep everything in front of them. They cannot get beat deep. Tom Brady has completed the most deep-balls (20+ air yards) in the NFL this year. The linebackers need to be solid in their run fits to not let Ronald Jones gash them. And the defensive line cannot jump offsides as it has done more in recent games.

And on special teams especially, mistakes will need to be held to a minimum. Hopkins needs to make all his kicks. Sims has to have better ball security on punt returns. To be honest, I do not think Sims should be back on punt returns anymore. He has too many muffs and fumbles to be trusted back there, but Rivera indicated that he remains the team’s top option in that role.

To win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and move on to the divisional round, the Washington Football Team needs to pressure Tom Brady, sustain drives and limit mistakes.