The Seahawks have won three games in a row entering Sunday’s Week 12 matchup, but they will have to earn a road win in Tampa Bay for their fourth straight against the Buccaneers. Seattle has quietly executed well on both sides of the ball. The Seahawks are coming in with a 7-2-1 record, which includes some quality wins against the Falcons and Eagles, plus a road win against the Patriots.
Seahawks vs. Buccaneers live stream: How to watch Week 12 matchup online
Richard Sherman will have to play an essential role in stopping Mike Evans and the Bucs.
The Buccaneers have had a solid season in their own right, sitting at 5-5 after winning back-to-back games. The Bucs held on for a victory last week on the road against the Chiefs and have an opportunity to jump above .500.
The rapport between Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston and wide receiver Mike Evans has been essential to the Bucs’ success this season. Winston has thrown 20 passing touchdowns, putting him in a tie for fifth among all QBs, while Evans has caught eight of those TDs, ranking him second in the league among wide receivers. Evans also ranks third in the league in receiving yards and has established himself as an elite receiving target in his third season in the league.
The Seahawks, however, as they usually do, have their secret weapon to counter elite receivers like Evans: cornerback Richard Sherman. Sherman notably refers to himself as “the best corner in the game,” and while several other corners may be able to lay claim to that title, Sherman backs up his trash talk. Sherman has picked off four passes this season, putting him in a tie for the second-most interceptions in the league.
Still, the question remains as to whether the Seahawks can contain Evans regardless of where he lines up. Sherman usually plays only one side of the field, and while safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas should protect over the middle, Winston and Evans may be able to take advantage of the Seahawks’ relative weakness on the left side of the field.
On the other side of the ball, Russell Wilson has kept the ship afloat by efficiently racking up yards and avoiding interceptions. Wilson has thrown for 2,714 passing yards this season and remains on pace for a new career high. The fifth-year QB threw 10 interceptions in his rookie season, but he has not exceeded single-digit pick totals since, including last season when he threw a career-low seven interceptions. Now Wilson may set a new career low in interceptions — he has only thrown two this season.
The Seahawks rushing game will belong to Thomas Rawls once again. Rawls held on to the starting gig earlier this season but lost his spot over time due to the rise of C.J. Prosise. With Christine Michael getting waived and picked up by the Packers and Prosise likely out for “a while” with a shoulder injury, Rawls has no real threat to his starting job, provided he can stay healthy. While Rawls has not had many attempts to run this season, expect him to play a role in Seattle’s offense Sunday.
How to watch Seahawks vs. Buccaneers
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
TV: FOX
Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin
Streaming: FOX Sports GO, NFL Sunday Ticket
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