Dissecting Most Crucial Matchups in Tampa Bay's Week 8 Contest with Minnesota

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't have much left to play for this season, save for pride. Nonetheless, their upcoming game against Minnesota could give the Bucs new life coming out of their bye week.

The Bucs capped off their first five games with yet another blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco carved his way through the Bucs' porous secondary while throwing from a pressure-free pocket. Bucs QB Mike Glennon and his offense simply weren't up to the task of competing with the Ravens' juggernaut offense.

It should be clear at this point that the Bucs are just a bad football team, especially on defense. Key reasons for their defensive woes are the complicated defensive schema head coach Lovie Smith is still installing and the apparent wide learning curve for Bucs defenders, according to the Tampa Tribune's Roy Cummings.

The offense similarly lacks cohesion and leadership, likely due to the absence of offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford. Tedford left the team for the year after a short return following a heart procedure before the start of the season.

The Bucs exit the bye week with the Minnesota Vikings up next. It remains to be seen whether the extra week improves the Bucs fortunes going forward.

The Vikings are also playing with a new coach and are coming up with similar results. They are no doubt reeling from a last-second loss to the Buffalo Bills last week.

The Bucs meet the Vikings while they are vulnerable from a big let-down thanks to a last-second touchdown reception by Bills wideout Sammy Watkins. There are a few key matchups to watch for to see if the Bucs made any progress over the bye week.

QB Mike Glennon is proving once again to be a competent, if unspectacular and somewhat inconsistent, starter. He faces a Minnesota secondary boasting one of the league's best safeties in Harrison Smith. Similarly, wide receiver Vincent Jackson could continue grappling with inconsistency against the Vikings' big cornerback Xavier Rhodes.

Bucs defensive end Michael Johnson has been a disappointment so far but could bounce back against the struggling Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil.

These matchups will tell the tale of the Bucs' improvement under Lovie Smith. Coming up with the same losing results will officially ring the death knell on the Bucs' season.

Mike Glennon vs. Harrison Smith

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

It's deja vu for Mike Glennon. Once again, he subs for a struggling veteran starter and outperforms him on a struggling offense.

Unfortunately, Glennon hasn't changed much from last year. He remains relatively inaccurate, especially downfield despite having big targets like Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans.

Last year, Glennon completed 59.4 percent of his passes. He hasn't gotten any more accurate since then, completing 57 percent this year. When passing beyond 20 yards, Glennon has completed eight of 25 throws, just 32 percent.

Don't expect Glennon's numbers to improve against Minnesota. Free safety Harrison Smith may be the best safety in the NFL right now on account of his pass coverage. This season, Smith has three interceptions and three pass breakups, as well as 33 tackles and a sack.

What makes Smith especially dangerous is Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer's ability to disguise Smith's role on the field. In Bleacher Report featured columnist Darren Page's in-depth examination of Smith's utility in Minnesota's defense, Page highlights his versatility as both a cover safety and a pass-rusher.

Even though he lines up all over the field, the Vikings can still count on Smith's ability to cover big receivers, like New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham.

Glennon will have to account for Smith's whereabouts at all times. He may have to avoid throwing it Smith's direction and instead pick on Minnesota's linebackers, who aren't renowned for their pass coverage.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Michael Johnson vs. Matt Kalil

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There isn't a player the Bucs acquired this season as disappointing as defensive end Michael Johnson. Brought in to give the Bucs a legitimate edge-rusher, Johnson has only sustained the ignominious trend of giving opposing quarterbacks more than enough time to make a play.

With only two sacks and four hurries this season, Johnson poses little threat to Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater unless he can recapture his productivity from his days with the Cincinnati Bengals.

An X-factor in Johnson's effectiveness may be his ankle, which has been injured since training camp. The Bucs hope the bye week gave Johnson the time he needed to heal and return to form per Buccaneers.com's Scott Smith.

Week 7 may be Johnson's best chance to get back on track, as he faces the similarly struggling Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil. The third-year offensive lineman has not lived up to his fourth-overall draft selection from 2012, allowing eight sacks and 16 hurries in less than half of a season.

This Sunday will be a meeting of titanic mediocrity. Johnson has already been bested by second-string tackles like Baltimore's James Hurst, while Kalil was bull-rushed into his own quarterback by New Orleans linebacker Junior Galette who is 50 pounds lighter than him.

What Johnson can't afford is to give Kalil a bounce-back game of his own. To win this contest of busts, Johnson has to physically insist on living up to expectations.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Vincent Jackson vs. Xavier Rhodes

Bill Haber/Associated Press

Bucs wide receiver Vincent Jackson may not have the numbers to back him up, but he remains Tampa Bay's best offensive weapon.

So far in 2014, Jackson caught 25 passes for only 344 yards and two touchdowns while also dropping five passes. Worst of all, he is catching less than half the balls thrown his way and gains very little after the catch.

The 10-year veteran has not been the same reliable player he has been in the past, though much of Jackson's poor production can be attributed to the Bucs' inconsistency at quarterback. That may have an impact on whether the Bucs consider the rumored offers they've received to trade Jackson, per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport:

"

Who else could be traded? I’m told #Bucs are getting tons of calls on WR Vincent Jackson. TB loves him as a player, but considers everything

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 19, 2014"

On Sunday Jackson will likely match up against cornerback Xavier Rhodes. The second-year defensive back has played reasonably well this season, allowing only one touchdown so far.

Rhodes is not an ideal matchup for Jackson. At 6'1" and 210 pounds, the Minnesota cornerback is one of the bigger defenders Jackson has to face this year.

Rhodes specializes with bigger receivers. After being abused by New England's Julian Edelman in Week 2, Rhodes held Atlanta Falconsrecievers Roddy White and Julio Jones to only three combined receptions and 52 yards while he was covering them. Rhodes also defended a ridiculous four passes against Atlanta.

While Jackson is at the mercy of Mike Glennon's inconsistent passing, he only stalls the offense worse with his multitude of drops. If he can't be more confident in holding onto the ball, Rhodes is going to have his way with him.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus (subscription required).