That was rough. A second loss to the Atlanta Falcons and now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ hopes of winning the division are slim. Yes, there’s a lot of time left but digging themselves a two game hole - and the Falcons well on their way to a 6-0 division record - means that the Bucs are fighting for the Wild Card at this point, if they’re even able to do that with this defense.
Let’s Pick Six.
1.) Todd Bowles’ Seat Is Warming. I like Todd Bowles. I like him as a coach, I like him as a person - but when he’s the one in charge of a defense that’s in the bottom 25% of the league in three of the four major categories, there’s going to be consequences. This offense is averaging over 34 points per game over the last four weeks and they’re 1-3. That’s insane - and inexcusable. Injuries can only be an excuse for so long. Was Jamel Dean really that impactful before he went down with injury? Would Tykee Smith have made that big of a difference yesterday? You can’t have one of the best offenses in the NFL and lose games the way they are. The defense needs to be straightened out in a hurry or the Bucs may be forced to move on from Todd Bowles.
2.) Baker Has To Be Better. Now, that isn’t to say the offense isn’t without problems. Baker has thrown seven interceptions over the last three games and the two on Sunday were not only terrible decisions but also proved to be extremely costly, killing promising drives when even coming away with field goals would have proved to be the difference. The Falcons scored one touchdown in the second half on Sunday and it was off of a Mayfield interception when he underthrew a pass to Jalen McMillan that A.J. Terrell snagged to kill another Bucs drive that would have ended in a field goal at the very least. When the offense is without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, protecting the ball becomes that much more important. You don’t have your top two receivers to help you climb back - nor do you have a defense that you can rely on to get you the ball back quickly. I know he’s a gunslinger and that he’s trying to do everything he can to make a play, but these decisions have become costly and are hurting the team.
3.) Figure It Out, NFL. Antoine Winfield Jr. did it again. We all saw him do it again. The entire world knew he did it again - until he didn’t. As Kyle Pitts crossed the goal line for the tying touchdown, he held the ball back behind him thinking he was all alone. Winfield Jr. races in and strips him of it. The play was ruled a touchdown but was then reviewed - only for the officials to say they had no goal line angle of it and they stuck with the call on the field. How is this even possible? How is the multi-billion dollar company known as the NFL that has done nothing but go out of their way to dominate the sports world for the full calendar year not have cameras on the goal line at every game across the league? They have enough money to install cameras on every foot line of every football field, but in that moment they don’t have one set up on the most important yard marker there is? Imagine if that happened in a playoff game. Shoot, imagine the fallout if that happened in a regular season game to the Chiefs. Or the Packers. Or the Cowboys. The sports talk world would have a complete meltdown. But since it happened to the Bucs it won’t get a second thought. Winfield Jr. was robbed of another incredible goal line play - that happened to once again be against the Falcons - and it changed the very complexion of the game.
4.) Just…Why? Bucky Irving and Rachaad White were killing it on the ground early in the game. The Bucs’ two scoring drives were 15 and 12 plays respectively and each lasted over seven minutes. Why? Because the Bucs were beyond effective and efficient running the ball. Then, they abandoned the run game altogether. Why? It was working so well, it was wearing down the Atlanta defense, it was keeping the Falcons’ offense on the sideline. Just because you’re down one score doesn’t mean you have to go pass heavy. Stick with the plan and stick with what is working. Really bad decision there by Coen to just ditch the run game so early.
5.) Cade Otton Is A Stud. Back to back weeks, Otton has been the Bucs’ leading receiver. He finished Sunday with nine receptions on ten targets for 81 yards and a pair of scores. However, much like the run game, Otton was abandoned for much of the second half. Maybe the Falcons started to double him to force Baker to beat them with someone else, but it seems the biggest beneficiary from the injuries to Evans and Godwin is going to be Otton moving forward. McMillan, Shepard, Jarrett, and Palmer weren’t bad - but Otton was great. He’s truly in the midst of a breakout this season.
6.) It’s Not Over, Yet. While the Bucs may have taken themselves out of the running for the division crown - at least, without a lot of help - their playoff chances are not done yet. The next two weeks will be brutal, going on the road to face the Chiefs Monday night then hosting the 49ers. After that is the bye and hopefully the return of Mike Evans. So even if they’re sitting there at 4-6, they will face one team that is currently above .500 the rest of the way. Even at 4-6, they could wind up a ten win team because of how much the schedule eases up. The combined record of the teams the Bucs have or will face before the bye is 35-20 with the only team at or below .500 being the New Orleans Saints. The Lions’ lone loss is to the Bucs. This is still a playoff caliber team given what they’re about to go up against. They may not make the same noise they made last time given that Godwin won’t be available, but they could extend their postseason streak to five consecutive seasons, which is the most in the NFC.
5 - Straight losses wearing the creamsicle uniforms
4 - Games this season with at least 400 yards of total offense, tied for second most in the NFL
29.4 - Tampa’s points per game this season, third most in the NFL
52.5% - Bucs’ third down conversion rate, highest in the NFL
15 - Field goals of 50+ yards made by McLaughlin, tying him with Connor Barth for the franchise record
1.) Detroit Lions - They seriously have more touchdowns from Goff than incomplete passes over the last few weeks. Just an absolute machine
2.) Kansas City Chiefs - They just keep winning. Must be nice to have that good of a defense
3.) Baltimore Ravens - Loss to Cleveland isn’t a big deal. They’re still one of the best teams in the league
4.) San Francisco 49ers - Still winning games and McCaffrey returns soon
5.) Buffalo Bills - They are really starting to click, and once Amari Cooper get comfortable in the offense - watch out.
15.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Hard to win games when the defense can’t get off the field or hold teams to under 25 points
That was rough. A second loss to the Atlanta Falcons and now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ hopes of winning the division are slim. Yes, there’s a lot of time left but digging themselves a two game hole - and the Falcons well on their way to a 6-0 division record - means that the Bucs are fighting for the Wild Card at this point, if they’re even able to do that with this defense.
Let’s Pick Six.
1.) Todd Bowles’ Seat Is Warming. I like Todd Bowles. I like him as a coach, I like him as a person - but when he’s the one in charge of a defense that’s in the bottom 25% of the league in three of the four major categories, there’s going to be consequences. This offense is averaging over 34 points per game over the last four weeks and they’re 1-3. That’s insane - and inexcusable. Injuries can only be an excuse for so long. Was Jamel Dean really that impactful before he went down with injury? Would Tykee Smith have made that big of a difference yesterday? You can’t have one of the best offenses in the NFL and lose games the way they are. The defense needs to be straightened out in a hurry or the Bucs may be forced to move on from Todd Bowles.
2.) Baker Has To Be Better. Now, that isn’t to say the offense isn’t without problems. Baker has thrown seven interceptions over the last three games and the two on Sunday were not only terrible decisions but also proved to be extremely costly, killing promising drives when even coming away with field goals would have proved to be the difference. The Falcons scored one touchdown in the second half on Sunday and it was off of a Mayfield interception when he underthrew a pass to Jalen McMillan that A.J. Terrell snagged to kill another Bucs drive that would have ended in a field goal at the very least. When the offense is without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, protecting the ball becomes that much more important. You don’t have your top two receivers to help you climb back - nor do you have a defense that you can rely on to get you the ball back quickly. I know he’s a gunslinger and that he’s trying to do everything he can to make a play, but these decisions have become costly and are hurting the team.
3.) Figure It Out, NFL. Antoine Winfield Jr. did it again. We all saw him do it again. The entire world knew he did it again - until he didn’t. As Kyle Pitts crossed the goal line for the tying touchdown, he held the ball back behind him thinking he was all alone. Winfield Jr. races in and strips him of it. The play was ruled a touchdown but was then reviewed - only for the officials to say they had no goal line angle of it and they stuck with the call on the field. How is this even possible? How is the multi-billion dollar company known as the NFL that has done nothing but go out of their way to dominate the sports world for the full calendar year not have cameras on the goal line at every game across the league? They have enough money to install cameras on every foot line of every football field, but in that moment they don’t have one set up on the most important yard marker there is? Imagine if that happened in a playoff game. Shoot, imagine the fallout if that happened in a regular season game to the Chiefs. Or the Packers. Or the Cowboys. The sports talk world would have a complete meltdown. But since it happened to the Bucs it won’t get a second thought. Winfield Jr. was robbed of another incredible goal line play - that happened to once again be against the Falcons - and it changed the very complexion of the game.
4.) Just…Why? Bucky Irving and Rachaad White were killing it on the ground early in the game. The Bucs’ two scoring drives were 15 and 12 plays respectively and each lasted over seven minutes. Why? Because the Bucs were beyond effective and efficient running the ball. Then, they abandoned the run game altogether. Why? It was working so well, it was wearing down the Atlanta defense, it was keeping the Falcons’ offense on the sideline. Just because you’re down one score doesn’t mean you have to go pass heavy. Stick with the plan and stick with what is working. Really bad decision there by Coen to just ditch the run game so early.
5.) Cade Otton Is A Stud. Back to back weeks, Otton has been the Bucs’ leading receiver. He finished Sunday with nine receptions on ten targets for 81 yards and a pair of scores. However, much like the run game, Otton was abandoned for much of the second half. Maybe the Falcons started to double him to force Baker to beat them with someone else, but it seems the biggest beneficiary from the injuries to Evans and Godwin is going to be Otton moving forward. McMillan, Shepard, Jarrett, and Palmer weren’t bad - but Otton was great. He’s truly in the midst of a breakout this season.
6.) It’s Not Over, Yet. While the Bucs may have taken themselves out of the running for the division crown - at least, without a lot of help - their playoff chances are not done yet. The next two weeks will be brutal, going on the road to face the Chiefs Monday night then hosting the 49ers. After that is the bye and hopefully the return of Mike Evans. So even if they’re sitting there at 4-6, they will face one team that is currently above .500 the rest of the way. Even at 4-6, they could wind up a ten win team because of how much the schedule eases up. The combined record of the teams the Bucs have or will face before the bye is 35-20 with the only team at or below .500 being the New Orleans Saints. The Lions’ lone loss is to the Bucs. This is still a playoff caliber team given what they’re about to go up against. They may not make the same noise they made last time given that Godwin won’t be available, but they could extend their postseason streak to five consecutive seasons, which is the most in the NFC.
5 - Straight losses wearing the creamsicle uniforms
4 - Games this season with at least 400 yards of total offense, tied for second most in the NFL
29.4 - Tampa’s points per game this season, third most in the NFL
52.5% - Bucs’ third down conversion rate, highest in the NFL
15 - Field goals of 50+ yards made by McLaughlin, tying him with Connor Barth for the franchise record
1.) Detroit Lions - They seriously have more touchdowns from Goff than incomplete passes over the last few weeks. Just an absolute machine
2.) Kansas City Chiefs - They just keep winning. Must be nice to have that good of a defense
3.) Baltimore Ravens - Loss to Cleveland isn’t a big deal. They’re still one of the best teams in the league
4.) San Francisco 49ers - Still winning games and McCaffrey returns soon
5.) Buffalo Bills - They are really starting to click, and once Amari Cooper get comfortable in the offense - watch out.
15.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Hard to win games when the defense can’t get off the field or hold teams to under 25 points
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