Tampa Bay Buccaneers Need Josh Freeman to Step Up With LeGarrette Blount Out

Several people expected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to have a break out season this year and reach the playoffs, but that task got much harder with the news that their top running back LeGarrette Blount may miss more than one game. 

With Blount out on Sunday against the Buccaneers division rival the New Orleans Saints and possibly longer, it's up to quarterback Josh Freeman to deliver big-time for Tampa Bay. 

ESPN fantasy guru Matthew Berry tweeted the news he heard about Blount.  

This is terrible news for the Buccaneers because Blount was really starting to find a groove, which would've helped Tampa Bay in the coming weeks. It's possible that Blount could miss up to six weeks, which has to make you wonder if the Buccaneers still have a shot at the postseason.  

Freeman must now put the Buccaneers on his back and win a very crucial game on Sunday. It won't be easy without Blount, but the young QB has the talent to thrive against the Saints. 

Sunday's game against New Orleans is one where the Buccaneers really needed to show that last week's embarrassing loss to the San Francisco 49ers was just a fluke, and that Tampa Bay is a team you don't want to mess with.

Stopping Drew Brees will be very difficult, which is another reason why Freeman has to be on his A-game Sunday afternoon. 

Sunday's matchup is a home game for the Buccaneers, which certainly helps. Tampa Bay will look to veteran running back Earnest Graham to carry the load while Blount is out, but everything comes back to Freeman. 

Will the young QB perform well in the clutch? Or will he falter in the big moments? 

It's tough to say right now, but we've seen how good Freeman can be in the past. In 2011, however, Freeman is off to a slow start with one touchdown pass and four interceptions in his last three games. 

It's Freeman's rocket arm, accuracy and the ability to make plays with his feet that could give the Bucs a chance, but he has to play smart. He's led the Buccaneers to several comeback wins before, and he may be called upon to do the same on Sunday.  

I do expect Freeman to step up and be the leader the Buccaneers need, but if Tampa Bay can't run the ball then it will be hard to win games

Being one dimensional is not the way to win in the NFL, even if you have a fantastic quarterback. Freeman can make plays, but the added pressure that is placed on a quarterback when a team can't run the ball could be too much for him to handle. 

Sunday will be a true test for what the future has in store for Freeman and the Buccaneers, and if he falls flat on his face then it's going to be a long season for Tampa Bay.