Miami Ground Attack
The Dolphins are fourth in the NFL in yards per carry and have a dynamic runner in De'Von Achane. Mike McDaniel's run game is based off a horizontal stretch with various personnel groupings and motions in an outside-zone based system to get Achane to the edge. Whether it's a tight end or a running back lined up wide, or a back lined up behind a receiver, the aim is to create confusion for the defense and advantageous matchups for the offense. Achane has elite speed to out-pace pursuit and he can stack cuts without sacrificing momentum. He is also an effective pass-catcher and effortlessly maneuvers in tight quarters to find daylight.
"It is very different because they use a lot of different people," said Todd Bowles. "They can have the back out wide like a wide receiver and then they can bring him in the backfield. They can have three running backs, they can have three tight ends, they can have two more tackles in the ballgame. You just never know and [McDaniel] does a great job of scheming it up to where everybody understands what they are doing and he is probably one of the best at getting angle blocks and getting his running backs on the perimeter."
Quest for Playoffs
Despite losing to the Panthers in Week 16, 23-20, the Buccaneers are still in charge of their own destiny by winning out with victories over Miami in Week 17 and Carolina in Week 18. Winning both would secure the NFC South crown or if the Bucs lose to the Dolphins in Week 17 and the Panthers also lose to the Seahawks, a victory over Carolina in the final game of the 2025 slate would punch the Bucs' ticket to the 2025 NFL Playoffs. Self-inflicted wounds sealed Tampa Bay's fate in Week 16 but the division is still theirs for the taking.
"We just have to do everything we can to get it done," said left tackle Tristan Wirfs. "We just have to get to the dance. Honestly it is that simple. It does not have to be pretty. Anything at this point, we are 7-8, just get there and then let's make some noise."
Antoine Winfield Jr. Makes Pro Bowl
The league announced that Buccaneers' tackle Tristan Wirfs and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. were named to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games. The nod marks the second career Pro Bowl selection for Winfield Jr. (2021), while Wirfs has now earned five consecutive trips (2021-25) in just six NFL seasons.
"I have goals on my phone," noted Winfield Jr. "I don't really show too many people but it's one of them. I am blessed to be in this position to achieve one of those."
Winfield Jr. has accumulated 83 tackles (four for loss), seven passes defensed, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, 1.0 sack and four quarterback hits over 15 games played in 2025. He is the only defensive back, and one of three players overall, this season with 75-plus tackles, multiple interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery through Week 16. Among safeties with 35-plus defensive targets this season per the NFL's Next Gen Stats, Winfield Jr. ranks second in lowest opponent passer rating when targeted (75.7) and seventh in hawk rate (17.9%), which measures the percentage of targets where the nearest defender recorded either an interception or pass defensed. The instinctive safety plays with ball-hawking twitch and has effective pursuit leverage. Winfield Jr. has made several game-shifting goal-line plays throughout his career and plays like his hair is on fire, elevating the Bucs' secondary.
