NFL 2024/25: Buccaneers – Commanders
Of the six wild-card games that mark the start of the 2024 NFL playoffs, this game is perhaps the one that leaves the most to be desired in terms of quality – even though both teams have, of course, played a great regular season by their standards.
Nevertheless, this encounter is perfect for placing a promising Buccaneers Commanders tip.
As in the first game of the season, I expect another abundance of successful touchdowns on both sides. You are welcome to take advantage of the attractive NEO.bet free bet.
What an exciting encounter! The Buccaneers – or, let’s say, the “Tampa Bay Pirates” – have plenty of playoff experience thanks to future Hall-of-Famer Tom Brady.
On the other hand, the largely inexperienced Commanders, led by star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, are hoping to cement their status as the surprise of the season.
This clash is perfect for those of you looking for clever betting opportunities! Let’s take a look at the current Buccaneers Commanders odds and the situation in the markets since this pairing was officially announced.
Tampa started the week as favorites with a spread of -3, but that value fluctuated early on and eventually ended up at -3.5 before the market readjusted slightly in favor of Washington.
Sounds like an exciting game that should be close until the end, right?
Let’s focus on Tampa Bay first. The Bucs are coming off a solid finish to the season, but their pass defense remains a big question mark. Especially in the last few games, they have almost exclusively faced below-average quarterbacks, which has improved their statistics.
Five of their last seven opponents didn’t even manage to score 20 points. Sounds good? Not really when you consider that the defense was often close to collapse against teams with a more capable passing quarterback—which Daniels is, too—before that.
Add to that possible injuries in the secondary, which could further harm Head Coach Todd Bowles’ already aggressive, blitz-heavy strategy in view of Monday.
The Commanders, on the other hand, have played their way into the playoffs with an impressive five-game winning streak, respect!
Not without reason: their offense is currently one of the best in the NFL and even ranks 4th in EPA per play.
As for Daniels, he plays more mature and more polished than you would expect from a rookie. In my opinion, he has even established himself as one of the best quarterbacks against zone defenses.
Tampa Bay blitzes often, but Daniels could stay cool and get several yards of space over the footpath thanks to his legs and vision. That could be the key to coldly and effectively undermining the Bucs’ aggressive defense.
In terms of “over/under”, the dividing line is a proud 50.5 points, which is the highest total this Wildcard weekend. But why? Well, both teams are strong offensively and rarely leave points in the red zone. The bookies have already recognized this!
Tampa Bay has an over-under record of 12-5 in the regular season, while Washington also has a positive 11-6 record. Both teams know how to regularly exceed the point expectations of betting providers with PayPal.
Combined, the two even average 58 points per game. On top of that, Washington is weak against the run, while Tampa Bay is dangerous through the air and on the ground.
A shootout in Florida? Not so unlikely! And if you’re wondering whether the high total is justified, consider Tampa’s injury-plagued secondary and Washington’s explosive passing game.
There has already been a direct duel between the two franchises this season, which to a certain extent paved the way for my Buccaneers Commanders tip.
Because in the Bucs’ 37-20 win in Week 1, there was already an entertaining, high-scoring game to marvel at.
But since Washington’s kicker York missed two field goals that time and the Commanders’ offense only found their game during the course of the season, I expect a much closer affair this time.
Fortunately, I am not forced to bet on a winner in this close match, but can instead inaugurate a sports betting bonus with the betting offer that appeals to me the most.
What is meant here is an over-50.5 point bet at odds of currently around 1.80, which, when selected on the handy Merkur Bet app, could almost result in a perfect doubling of your stake.
Conclusion: Experience has shown that home-field advantage is of enormous importance in such games.
But the Bucs’ secondary could cause the Commanders to really turn up under Jayden Daniels. And we’ve already seen what WAS is capable of when it catches fire under its young quarterback this season.
But Tampa Bay will also get their chances offensively, which is why I expect a game with a high potential for escalation in terms of the number of touchdowns scored.
My Buccaneers Commanders tip: No matter who wins – Over 50.5 points.
