Where are the Bucs? Lets take a look at Bucs Stats…

QB Josh Freeman has his second less than perfect game in a row, but lets remember that every player is entitled to a low streak. Freeman is 18th in QB Rating, 25th in completion percentage, 17th in TDs thrown, while tied for 5th with fewest interceptions (6) tossed. A few QBs the Bucs are chasing for playoff spots are far worse in Interceptions, with Eli Manning throwing 17 for 30th, and Drew Brees has 16 for 29th. LeGarrett Blount got a late start to the running game, but he is 19th with 66.6 yards per game. However, due to that late start, he really has an 82 yards per game average if you start counting once he became the featured back, which would be 9th. With 599 yards so far, Blount could go over 1,000 on the season if he can average 100.25 yards per game. Mike Williams is 27th in receiving catching 64.1 yards per game, but he’s 20th in total yards overall with 769 yards this year. Williams needs to average 57 yards per game to go over 1,000 on the season, which is something he is currently on pace to do. The Bucs have the 31st and 32nd ranked players with catches on the year, Williams has 51 while Kellen Winslow Jr has 50 grabs in 2010. It’s really ashame Aqib Talib is gone for the year, his 6 interceptions ranks him 2nd in the NFL. TEAM wise, the best statistic the Bucs have is their Turnover ranking, which a +9 and ranked 5th, just below Atlanta who has +10. Offensively, the Bucs rank 23rd in the NFL getting 319 yards per game, and holds the same rank for their 17.6 first downs per game. However, Tampa Bay is 15th in yards per play at 5.3, and the 3rd down Percentage is 42%, which is 9th best in the NFL. On Defense, the Bucs are ranked 15th with 334 yards per game average allowed. With 251 points allowed per game, the Bucs are ranked 14th in scoring Defense, but they allow 5.4 yards per play which is 19th. Tampa Bay is 16th in giving up only 19.1 first downs per game, but has the 30th ranked 3rd down precentage giving up a 1st down on 44% of the time. That is disturbing. What’s not disturbing is the Bucs pass defense which is 7th in the league giving up 205.8 yards per game. Opponents QB’s completion percentage is 58.2% which is 9th, and the Bucs are 2nd in interceptions with 18 tied with the New England Patriots. Opposing QBs have a QB Rating of only 75.5, 4th best in the NFL. However on the dark side, the Bucs are 30th is Sacks (18) tied with the Broncos. The usual bleak rankings of the Bucs rushing defense is improving each week. Once a doormat giving up around 148 per game, the Bucs are now 26th with a 128.5 per game average. Tampa Bay has gone three straight games without allowing a team to collectively rush for 100 yards. That would put them in the top ten, so the Bucs run defense is clearly improving leaps and bounds. Time of Possession the Bucs are 15th with 30:58.