The Patriots visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week in a game that will certainly be challenging. Tampa Bay presents a variety of matchup problems and they are tough to beat, especially at home.

The Patriots will need to plan for a vertical passing game on defense and a quarterback in Baker Mayfield who can break contain and extend plays.

Offensively, they will see a lot of zone and sim pressure from the Bucs. Head Coach Todd Bowles likes to mug his linebackers and force the issue at the line of scrimmage. The offensive line will once again be challenged this week.

Here is this week’s offensive and defensive game plans.

Offense

Six and seven man protections: Just like last week, we will utilize more six and seven man protections. Tampa doesn’t blitz the house usually but they are exotic in the way they attack with their zone pressures so they make it hard to communicate. The Patriots must use their running backs and tight ends on check releases through out the game, especially on medium and long downs. Play-action passes off max protection will be there.

Heavy emphasis on 3-Step and Quick 5-Step: Tampa’s secondary is vulnerable to the quick game underneath and the intermediate passing game. The plan is attack the outside and the middle of the field twenty yards from the line of scrimmage. Get receivers in space and take advantage of the amount of zone Tampa plays.

Spread to run: It will be tough sledding against Tampa’s front seven. The Patriots will need to get them in their sub packages and utilize their nickel run game. If they are to run against their base fronts, the best bet is to run off-tackle and outside. Tampa plays the run well downhill but not over the top when they spill.

Attack corner leverage on the outside: Tampa bails to Cover 3 and quarters coverage a fair amount. The Patriots will run a lot of curl flat, sail fade concepts and smash concepts this week. They must take advantage of the room they are going to get outside to operate.

Diagram 1: Pass plays that attack corner leverage

Misdirection: The Patriots have to move the eyes of the Bucs defenders and cloud their reads. The best way to do that is misdirection. Expect some counter run plays but also some reverses and reverse action. Setting up an advantage in space in this game will be key.

Diagram 2: Inside zone reverse

Defense

T-E stunts: The Buccaneers offensive line has been prone to break downs this season. The Patriots must create havoc along the defensive line by running a bunch of T-E stunts and TTE stunts. The more movement, the more likely that the Patriots can free up a rusher and get to Mayfield.

Bracket Egbuka: Egbuka is good enough and problematic enough to require bracketing him in certain formations and down and distances. Christian Gonzalez will match up with him at times but not all the time. When he doesn’t, Egbuka will require two defenders on him.

Overload blitzes: I would overload the right side of Tampa’s offensive line and bring pressure. The Patriots pass rush has been stagnant of late. More blitzing is required if they want to get pressure on Mayfield consistently. Double daggers off of one side is a way to get instant pressure. Bringing slot corner pressure is another way as well.

Play Cover 5: Two-man was a coverage designed to cover skill groups like the Buccaneers. It allows a defensive to play man under with two deep safeties over the top. The Patriots secondary can get physical with Tampa’s receivers and tight ends and they have help over the top.

Bluff, pressure & drop: Sim pressure will be key today. Not so much to confuse Mayfield but to confuse the Bucs offensive line. Mug, bluff, come and drop will be a big part of the Patriots defensive plan this week.