Going into one of the most hostile home-field advantages in the NFL, holding a lead, creating turnovers, but ultimately falling in overtime still sends a message. The Bucs hold steady in most Power Rankings while inching up in the eyes of some. Here's how the national outlets are stacking them after the three-game road stretch.
NFL.com, Elliot Harrison
Rank: 28
Last Week: 29
Change: 1
NFL Top 5: Chargers, Seahawks, Broncos, Bengals, Packers
NFC South: Panthers (18), Saints (23), Falcons (24)
CBSSports.com, Pete Prisco
Rank: 27
Last Week: 28
Change: 1
NFL Top 5: Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers, Bengals, Cardinals
NFC South: Panthers (16), Falcons (20),
Saints (21)
Comment: They showed well on their
two-game road trip, winning one
and playing the Saints tough,
but at 1-4 they have to get it going.
FoxSports.com
Rank: 27
Last Week: 27
Change: 0
NFL Top 5: Chargers, Seahawks, Broncos, Colts, 49ers
NFC South: Panthers (13), Saints (22), Falcons (25)
Comment: Mike Glennon had another solid performance furthering his case to remain the starter, and this week he got his No. 1 target Vincent Jackson going to the tune of eight catches for 144 yards.
ProFootballTalk, Mike Florio
Rank: 28
Last Week: 28
Change: 0
NFL Top 5: Seahawks, Broncos,
Chargers, Cardinals, Eagles
NFC South: Panthers (13), Saints (17),
Falcons (22)
Comment: The Bucs may have gained
more confidence in losing at New Orleans
than they did in winning at Pittsburgh.
SBNation.com
Rank: 26
Last Week: 26
Change: 0
NFL Top 5: Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers, Bengals, Cardinals
NFC South: Panthers (16), Saints (22), Falcons (23)
Yahoo! Shutdown Corner )
Rank: 26
Last Week: 28
Change: 2
NFL Top 5: Seahawks, Broncos, Bengals, Chargers, Eagles
NFC South: Panthers (13), Saints (18),
Falcons (25)
Comment: No shame in losing at New
Orleans in overtime, and (hopefully)
we can all agree now this is a different
team now that they've stumbled
into the right quarterback.
USA Today
Rank: 28
Last Week: 29
Change: 1
NFL Top 5: Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers, Colts, Eagles
NFC South: Panthers (13), Saints (22), Falcons (23)
Comment: The defense is still giving up too much ground, but it is now creating the turnovers (eight in three weeks) Lovie Smith covets.
ESPN.com
Rank: 27
Last Week: 29
Change: 2
NFL Top 5: Seahawks, Broncos,
Chargers, Eagles, Bengals
NFC South: Panthers (15), Saints (20),
Falcons (21)
Comment: Mike Glennon's career QBR
is 51.1 (since 2013), better than Alex
Smith, Eli Manning, Ryan Tannehill
and Robert Griffin III in that span.
