Statistical Scouting Report of the Buccaneers

With a win this Sunday against the struggling, depleted Buccaneers, the Jets could possibly find themselves within a half game of the final AFC wild card as they enter their bye week. It’s a vital game for their 2017 hopes, something we didn’t really expect to see this late in the year. Here are some numbers to know from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the Jets head down to Florida this week.

0 - Number of Buccaneer running backs averaging 4.0 yards per carry or more on the season. Tampa Bay running backs have collected only 67 yards per game this season on 3.5 yards per carry with just 3 touchdowns. The Bucs have rushed for over 100 yards only twice this season. Perhaps not coincidentally, those were their only two victories.

15-29-1 - Ryan Fitzpatrick’s career record as a starter in seasons where he was not the Week 1 starting quarterback, a .344 win percentage. That’s a pretty significant difference from his career record as the primary starter, .447.

63.2% - Percentage of Buccaneer offensive plays that have been a pass, less than only the 49ers. Maybe it is a result of them trailing so often. Their average of 9.0 offensive drives per game in which they began trailing is also behind only the 49ers. Will they try to be more run-heavy with Fitzpatrick under center?

272.6 - Passing yards per game for Tampa Bay, second most in the league. Though their passing numbers are inflated by the amount of time they’ve spent trailing, Jameis Winston had the Bucs around league average in most passing categories offensively.

116.4 - Tampa Bay passer rating (between Winston and Fitzpatrick) targeting tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate. The pair have combined to catch 46 of 70 (66%) targets for 641 yards and 7 touchdowns. Football Outsiders has them both ranked among the top ten most efficient players at the position according to DVOA. The Jets have struggled a lot with tight ends recently. Especially with Mike Evans out, the Bucs could lean even more on a duo that has been highly productive.

7.5 - Net passing yards per attempt (which adjusts for sack yardage) allowed by the Buccaneers, highest in the NFL. A sack rate of 2.8%, also lowest in the league, is a major reason for this. Tampa Bay only has 8 sacks on the entire year.

16.5 - Points per game allowed at home by the Buccaneers, fifth best in the NFL. The Bucs have been much more respectable in Tampa, where they are 2-2 with a +5 point differential. The difference in their performance on the road is stark. Away from home, they give up the second most points per game (33.0), with an 0-4 record plus a -45 point differential.