Buccaneers vs. Cardinals 2022 NFL Week 16 Odds, Preview & Pick

By Hank Blaine • December 22, 2022

As a Christmas treat for NFL fans, there are three games on the holiday this Sunday and the prime-time matchup might actually be the worst of the trio as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Arizona Cardinals.

Nitrobetting is ready to equip its bettors with the latest news, NFL odds, and special features for the entire duration of the 2022 NFL season. This time, let’s take a closer look at the upcoming week 16 clash between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Arizona Cardinals.

Buccaneers vs. Cardinals Game Information

Putting in the work ????#GoBucs
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 21, 2022

When: Sunday, December 25, 2022, 8:20 PM ET
Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
TV: NBC
Radio: 97.9 FM WXTB (Buccaneers) // KTAR 98.7 FM (Cardinals)
Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
NFL Odds: Buccaneers (-7.5) // Cardinals (+7.5)

Why Bet on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Tampa Bay is 6-8 yet leads the NFC South by a game. It might be the worst division in NFL history. Could this be the last prime-time regular-season game of Tom Brady’s career? He might finally retire after a trying season.

Tampa Bay led Cincinnati 17-0 late in the first half this past Sunday but Tom Brady and the Bucs collapsed in the second half in a 34-23 loss – the team’s third defeat in the past four games. Tt was the first time in 90 games that a Brady-led club lost a home game after leading by 17. Brady and the offense committed four straight turnovers in the second half: two picks and two fumbles allowed Cincinnati to start four straight possessions on Tampa Bay’s side of the field. The Bucs curiously abandoned the heavy play action usage in the second half and the Bengals swamped Brady with consistent pressure.

Coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that cornerback Jamel Dean has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. Dean is now in line to miss his second consecutive contest as a result of the toe injury he sustained back in Week 14 versus the 49ers. In his absence, Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Zyon McCollum are slated to operate as Tampa Bay’s top cornerbacks.

The Buccaneers have played their last three games without Tristan Wirfs, after the All-Pro right tackle sustained an ankle injury in a Week 12 game at Cleveland. However, it’s possible he could play this week but not all that likely. The status of safeties Antonio Winfield Jr. and Mike Edwards are also in question with hamstring injuries.

Winfield started the Bengals game but aggravated his injury and ended up with just 18 defensive snaps. Edwards did not start and was eventually used on 32 of the 66 defensive snaps. When healthy, Winfield and Edwards generally play every defensive snap.

Why Bet on the Arizona Cardinals?

Arizona is playing out the string on a hugely disappointing season, recently lost star quarterback Kyler Murray to a torn ACL that might cost him the start of the 2023 campaign and Coach Kliff Kingsbury might be fired as soon as the regular season concludes. GM Steve Keim is already away from the team for undisclosed reasons but also not expected back. This franchise is in total disarray.

Arizona lost its fourth in a row in Week 15, 24-15 in Denver. Colt McCoy started again for the injured Murray but left in the third quarter following a big hit after he converted a first down on a read option play. McCoy had completed 13-of-21 passes for 78 yards, no touchdowns and one interception before exiting. He is out this week with a concussion, meaning Trace McSorley gets the call in his first NFL start. He struggled in relief of McCoy, going 7-of-15 for 95 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, including one that resulted in a Broncos touchdown two plays later.

The 27-year-old McSorley, who began his career with the Baltimore Ravens as a sixth-round draft pick in 2019 out of Penn State, has appeared in seven regular-season games in his career, attempting just 39 passes — 29 of which have come this season. He has one touchdown pass, which came in the 2020 season while playing for Baltimore. David Blough will be the backup to McSorley on Saturday. Blough was recently signed off the Vikings’ practice squad.

Arizona might still be thin in the secondary as they were without their top three cornerbacks vs. Denver in Marco Wilson, Antonio Hamilton and Byron Murphy. One defensive bright spot of late has been linebacker Myjai Sanders. The 2022 third-round pick has three sacks and four pass breakups in 160 defensive snaps. He has started two of the past three games, a sign of his growth and the growing trust in him by defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

Buccaneers vs. Cardinals Betting Trends

Jaguars are 3-0-1 ATS in the last 4 vs. AFC.
Jaguars are 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 games overall.
The total went over in 4 of Jacksonville’s last 5 games.
Jets are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 games following a straight up loss.
Jets are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 Thursday games.
The total went under in 7 of NY Jets’ last 9 games.

Buccaneers vs. Cardinals Expert Betting Predictions

Bucs 23, Cardinals 14.

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*All stated odds are subject to change without prior notice.