Looking at the New England Patriots' 2025 schedule early in the season, the matchup with the Bucs was circled for many reasons, especially once they began to dominate their opponents and QB Baker Mayfield started his MVP campaign.
It's clear it won't be an easy game for the Patriots, but it's certainly one fans around the league want to watch to see just how good they are —or not.
So that means the Patriots will look for any small win they can get before the game begins, and they already learned that a few weeks ago when WR Mike Evans suffered a season-ending injury. The defense won't have to account for a 1,000+ yard receiver, but they still have an explosive running back and a seasoned veteran to shut down.
Or will they?
The Patriots' defense might have an easier day vs. the Bucs offense than initially thought
The latest reporting from NFL insider Adam Schefter suggests that RB Bucky Irving and WR Chris Godwin might not be available for Sunday's matchup. Neither player was present for Wednesday's practice, which isn't a great sign for their chances of suiting up this week.
Although the Patriots' defense has been phenomenal in shutting down running backs this season, having not allowed any player to rush for 50+ yards, Irving has exploded on the scene over the past year, and his potential shouldn't be overlooked. He very easily could be the first RB to run all over them this year.
Godwin, on the other hand, would be a massive loss for the Bucs and a huge win for the Patriots. They will already have their hands full with another rising star on their team with rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka, so if they are able to be without Godwin, they'll have a much better shot at having a good day.
There's a good chance that Godwin and Irving's availability will change between now and Sunday, so nothing should be considered final just yet. However, missing a crucial practice after a bye week is not a good idea, so there might be more to it than just giving a veteran extra time off.