For 2 games and 2 quarters of football the NFL and especially Bucs fans were loving the Fitz-Magic dream. That all ended on a rainy afternoon in Chicago. The Buccaneers were unable to keep the pocket clean or get open in what was one of the ugliest games I’ve seen for a long time. After going 9 of 18 for just 126 yards, no touchdowns and an interception Jameis Winston stepped back onto the field and for many fans, Fitzmagic was over. For many fans who have seen Fitzpatrick as their QB it was a case of “told you so.”
But what was Fitzmagic really? The stat line reads 4 games started with 1356 yards, 11 TDs and 5 Ints for an overall passer rating of 114.4. The heart and eyes told a better story. To me “Fitzmagic” was a smart veteran stepping in and doing the simple things right. Fitzpatrick made the plays available by the play calling and using his veteran knowledge to take advantage of the defense. Plays were extended and high risk high reward plays worked. In my observation, Fitzpatrick played with a freedom no often seen in the NFL. During the suspension of Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick wasn’t a bad throw from losing his job, it was his team. The player who took the field would have been aware that with Jameis on the sideline that luxury had passed.
The perfect storm transpired to end Fitzpatrick’s run as the premier QB in the league; however I think fans can be safe knowing the magic is there should he be called upon again. Writing this as my personal opinion I don’t feel that Fitzpatrick let the team or himself down. The Buccaneers clearly struggled after a short week against a team that was ready for them. All over the field players looked tired and bereft of desire. The desire that propelled them to 2-0 and talk of post season.
Hopefully the team can take the bye week and change the things that needed to be changed. The Bucs sit at 2-2 in the NFC South and there are still 12 games to go.
#BucsReport
