Lost in the sauce nationally amid Washington’s magical season is how poorly the Commanders’ defense stopped the run. They finished 30th in yards surrendered (137.5). The specific ways opponents thrived feed into the Buccaneers’ plan.

Washington allowed opponents to rush for at least 91 yards in 15 of 17 regular-season games – Tampa Bay had 138 in Week 1. Foes are making hay on outside runs and before the Commanders get a hand on the runner.

Washington allows an average of 5.6 yards on carries termed “outside” by TruMedia. When looking at those runs before contact, the Commanders allowed a league-high 2.3 yards per attempt. Since Week 11, the yards before contact rises to 3.2, also 32nd. Tampa Bay hit the perimeter hard when Irving became the backfield lead. Since Week 10, the Bucs were fourth overall in yards gained outside (90.4 yards), as Irving averaged 5.5 yards on 104 carries.

Greater discipline on the edge is necessary, whether from traditional outside pass rushers (Frankie Luvu, Dante Fowler) or Daron Payne moving from tackle to end when Washington deploys three traditional interior linemen.

Cornerback Marshon Lattimore’s return from a lingering hamstring injury — Washington is healthy overall — matters most in the historically feisty matchups against Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans. The sneaky help is how Lattimore’s ability to cover 1-on-1 allows defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. To use eight in the box with safety Jeremy Chinn playing closer to the line of scrimmage.