Bucs Opponents to Neutralize in 2022

Welcome back to ‘List with a Twist,’ within whose confines we have already studied such Tampa Bay Buccaneers-related topics as which players could set specific career highs this year and which might be dark horse Pro Bowl candidates in 2022. Today, we’re going to take a turn toward the more fantastical.

First off, here’s the premise of the series: We are creating a series of lists regarding the Buccaneers and the upcoming season – because it’s the internet and therefore, you know, lists – but the person making the list doesn’t get to choose his or her own topic. In a shocking twist, Team Writer/Reporter Brianna Dix and I are taking turns coming up with questions and making the other one answer it with their own top-five rundown.

And the reason I say my second challenge to Brianna is a bit fantastical is that it would essentially require her to have superpowers or some kind of mastery over the universe. Here, why don’t I just get right to it?

Today’s Topic: If you had the power to peacefully neutralize any five specific players from the Buccaneers list of 2022 opponents – in other words, simply guarantee that those players would not have big games against Tampa Bay when they meet this season – who would you choose?

I thought the word ‘neutralize’ sounded a little aggressive, which is why I modified it with ‘peacefully.’ We obviously don’t wish any harm on any of the Bucs’ opponents. There is no implied injury or misfortune here – Brianna simply has the theoretical power to pick a player and guarantee that he won’t come up big against the Bucs this year.

Now Brianna, just in case you’re thinking about gaming the system and picking players from NFC South foes, and therefore getting this benefit twice during the season instead of once, be aware that this only will work one time. If you wanted to ensure Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan would get nowhere near Tom Brady when they play the Bucs, you can only do so for one of the two games between them.

Choose…