Bucs-Redskins Preview: Just Win One, Baby

There's been ugly teams and sometimes those teams face off in the NFL. However, in the long storied history of the NFL there may have never been a meeting of teams coming off such embarrassing defeats as the 0-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 1-2 Washington Redskins are last Sunday.

Tampa Bay may have set back offensive football 20 years with their pitiful 86 yards performance against the New York Giants last week. The Bucs didn't have a first down until the third quarter.

Washington, meanwhile, lost to a team that hadn't won a game in nearly two years. A 19-game losing streak for the Detroit Lions came to an end at the expense of the Redskins.

While Washington does have a victory, it was a 9-7 decision against the woeful Rams. Really when you beat the Rams by two points and only manage nine points, it shouldn't really count as a win, should it?

The Bucs can't be smug either, beaten by two touchdowns or more in all three of their games.

They've had trouble running the ball, defending the run, have given up a ton of big plays in the pass...other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln? (For the kids, this was a humours reference to...ah, never mind, go watch Twilight again).

Raheem Morris may be in danger of losing his young team. Jim Zorn may be in danger of losing his job.

If there was ever two teams that needed a victory in the worst way, it's this pair.

So who's going to get it? Let's take a look at the matchups.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Passing Attack against Washington Redskins Run Defense

Coming into the Giants game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the fourth-ranked offense in the NFL. Once it was over, their ranking plummeted like a rock into the deep end of a lake, settling at 26th.

Before the Giants game, starter Byron Leftwich was doing a decent job at quarterback for Tampa Bay. After the game, Leftwich found the bench and second-year player Josh Johnson becomes the starter.

Johnson's exciting skill set is what makes this ballgame interesting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson has 4.5 speed and seems to have an uncanny awareness in the pocket.

While he considers himself a pocket passer, Johnson can be almost "Tony Romo-like" in the way he can move around the pocket and extend plays.

At least...that's what we've seen in the limited sample of his work. It's been said that had Jon Gruden remained head coach of the Buccaneers, Josh Johnson would have been his quarterback.

So why did Johnson toil as the fourth string quarterback on the roster? Johnson was not given many reps during training camp. Even though he was the second string quarterback for the first three games of the season, he split those limited backup reps with the Bucs' first round draft pick, Josh Freeman.

Despite the limited reps, Johnson looked solid during the exhibition season, making the loser of the battle for starting quarterback between Leftwich and Luke McCown expendable. Johnson was able to duplicate those results in limited action against the Giants last week.

So why the move? Some (including this FC) have said it was a panic move by Morris. However, others like the Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds have said it had more to do with a serious weakness that became apparent with Leftwich at quarterback.

It was exposed by the Bills in the second half of that week two matchup. Blitzing up the middle and forcing Leftwich to make a quick throw with touch could force incompletions and overthrows.

The Giants followed the blueprint and sure enough, Leftwich couldn't hit the guy in the flat or the outlet. Johnson's mobility neutralizes this weakness and also gives the Buccaneers the ability to help their stagnant running game with rollouts and bootlegs.

Washington will challenge the young quarterback with the league's 11th-ranked pass defense. Despite good yardage numbers, the Redskins have only managed four sacks and one interception while allowing three touchdowns through the air in three games.

Advantage: Washington

Tampa Bay Running Attack vs. Washington Redskins Run Defense

You would think with $100 million dollar man Albert Haynesworth taking up a lot of space in the middle of Washington's defensive line but unfortunately for Daniel Snyder's bunch, that hasn't been the case.

The Skins run defense is a pedestrian 22nd in the NFL, giving up 128 yards a game.

The Buccaneers want to be able to run the football and in Week One, they did effectively, going for 174 yards.

Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, Bucs center Jeff Faine went down in that game. Seemingly, with the loss of Faine went the running game as the Bucs have not been effective with replacement center Sean Mahan.

Advantage: Push

Washington Redskins Passing Game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pass Defense

Scoring has been the big problem for the Washington Redskins. Through the air, on the ground, it doesn't seem to matter for the punchless Skins. Washington actually has scored less points than the Buccaneers even with the Bucs being shutout by the Giants.

Despite not being able to put the lotion in the basket (kids, this is a pop culture reference to...ah nevermind, I think the Jonas Brothers are on), Washington statistically has put up some decent passing numbers under embattled quarterback Jason Campbell.

Of course, we all know the Buccaneers story. Torched in their first two games multiple times, they actually performed better against Eli Manning and the Giants. Then again, the Giants were a bit busy running the ball and controlling the clock.

Advantage: Washington

Washington Redskins Running Game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneeers Run Defense

With Clinton Portis battling injuries, the Redskins running game has had some issues getting on track, ranked just 24th in the NFL.

As bad as the Buccaneers pass defense has been, their run defense may be even worse. Shredded for over 200 yards in each of their past two games, the Buccaneers defense may be the movable object to the Redskins resistable force.

Advantage: Push

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Special Teams vs Washington Redskins Special Teams

Both teams have solid coverage units with Tampa Bay slightly better in the return game. Mike Nugent still has yet to make a field goal for the Buccaneers while Dirk Johnson has been solid punting for the Bucs.

Shaun Suisham has been perfect this season for Washington but has yet to attempt a field goal over 30 yards. Veteran Hunter Smith has been decent for the Redskins this season.

Advantage: Push

Intangibles

Jim Zorn may be coaching for his job this week. After giving the Giants a good game, the Redskins have been in a funk, nipping the woeful Rams then getting shocked by the Detroit Lions, who snapped a 19 game losing streak.

A loss to the winless Bucs may be the final nail in Zorn's coffin. It will be interesting to see how much this team cares for Zorn. If they believe in him, then they will put forth their best effort against Tampa Bay. If they see the writing on the wall and are awaiting the inevitable, then they may not bring passion to the football field.

The Redskins are at home, which is always a challenge for a visitor at Fed Ex field, but if Tampa Bay can get up early, this angry crowd could turn on the home team.

Like the Skins, the Bucs are also looking to redeem themselves after a horrible performance.

Young fireplug QB Josh Johnson makes his first career NFL start.

Advantage: Washington

Coaching

Jim Zorn is in his second season as head coach of the Washington Redskins. Zorn is 9-10.

Raheem Morris is in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is still seeking his first victory as an NFL Head Coach at 0-3.

Advantage: Push

Prediction: If I take out my magic eight ball and say, "Magic Eight Ball, will the Buccaneers finally win their first game this season?" Magic Eight ball tells me, "Uncertain". With Eight Ball's failure, I switch to my gut, which is still dealing with my taco from Tijuana Flats, but I digress.

The brain says Washington should win this game. They aren't as bad as they've looked all season and it seems all teams get well against the Buccaneers.

But with Zorn's team coming apart at the seams, they'll either completely fall apart or rally together. With so much pressure on top of the Skins, I just have this gut feeling that this could very well be Raheem Morris' first win.

The key, as always, is the turnover battle and the running game. The team that wins these two statistics will likely win the game.

Sure enough, if the Bucs do not win this game, they may not get one until November - if ever this season.

I can promise that this could very well be the last time I predict a Buccaneers victory this season.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 13, Washington 10.