Countdown to Kickoff: Buccaneers-Cardinals, Week 16 2022

The 6-8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the 4-10 Arizona Cardinals in the NFL’s first-ever Christmas triple-header on Sunday, December 25. The Bucs will continue their quest for an NFC South title as the Cardinals face another roster shift at quarterback. Tampa Bay currently holds a one-game lead over the rest of the division and the crown jewel may very well hinge on the Bucs’ Week 17 and 18 games against Carolina and Atlanta, respectively. After a pair of discouraging losses to both the 49ers and Bengals, the Bucs will strive to get back on track against a struggling Cardinals’ team. After boasting their best half of football against Cincinnati in Week 15 during the first two frames, the Bucs committed four costly turnovers in 11 plays during the second half that aided the Bengals’ victory. Meanwhile, Arizona has lost four-straight and six of their previous seven contests, eliminating them from playoff contention. A plethora of injuries and personnel changes have led to the team’s downturn. Despite the Cardinals’ current positioning and a third-string quarterback being thrust into action, the club still boasts a star-studded cast including DeAndre Hopkins, James Conner, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, J.J. Watt and Budda Baker. Tampa Bay’s focus is on the final stretch run and their playoff aspirations, beginning with a stop in Glendale on Christmas Day.

• 26.6. The Cardinals have given up the most points in the NFL in 2022 at 26.6 points per game. Their defense ranks 32nd in red zone, 25th on third down and 25th in sack percentage.
• 34. The Buccaneers have allowed 34-plus points in two consecutive games (35 at San Francisco, 34 versus Cincinnati) after allowing 18.3 points per game in Weeks 1-13 (fifth-fewest in the NFL).
• 74.3. The Buccaneers have averaged 74.3 rush yards per game in 2022 (fewest in the NFL) and the fewest by Tampa Bay in franchise history. The sum is the lowest by any team since the 2019 Dolphins (72.3).
• 3. J.J. Watt had three sacks for the Cardinals in Week 15 at Broncos. He has 9.5 for the season, needing just 0.5 for his first double-digit sack season since 2018.

• Vita Vea (calf), Carl Nassib (pectoral), Jamel Dean (toe), Donovan Smith (foot) and Genard Avery (abdomen/oblique) will not play on Sunday, according to Head Coach Todd Bowles. (Avery was placed on injured reserve on Friday.) The Bucs could get pro Bowl right tackle Tristan Wirfs back from an ankle injury this week, however, their line will still be…