Stephen A. Smith: Buccaneers ‘don’t deserve a day off’ vs. Falcons

Stephen A. Smith believes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should play to win at the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday even though the Bucs are locked in as the NFC’s No. 4 playoff seed. 

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite all of their troubles, have the second-ranked passing attack in the entire National Football League,” Smith said during ESPN’s “First Take,” per the Joe Bucs Fan website. “They’ve got the worst running attack.

“[If you are] Tom Brady and those boys, you need all the reps you can get. Get out on that damn field! You’ve been stinking up the joint most of the year anyway. Hell with that! You don’t deserve a damned day off. You don’t deserve a week off. You need as much reps as you possibly can.”

According to the Buccaneers’ website, head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Wednesday that “everybody” is on track to see action in Atlanta (6-10). As Myles Simmons pointed out for Pro Football Talk, though, Tampa Bay second-year quarterback and backup Kyle Trask could receive significant playing time during what is a meaningless game for the Buccaneers as it pertains to the standings. 

8-8 Tampa Bay has largely disappointed throughout the season and remains responsible for the NFL’s worst rushing attack that is averaging a paltry 76.4 yards on the ground per game. However, Brady looked more than ready for postseason play when he completed 34-of-45 passes for 432 yards and three touchdowns in this past Sunday’s 30-24 win over the Carolina Panthers that secured the NFC South title for the Bucs. 

As NFL Network’s Sara Walsh explained, Brady wants to do more than take just a handful of snaps in Atlanta. 

Scott Smith mentioned for the Buccaneers’ website that Tampa Bay knows it will face either the 13-3 Philadelphia Eagles or the 12-4 Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round of the postseason tournament depending on which of those teams finishes second in the NFC East standings.