What do Bucs games and Halloween parties have in common?…
You can’t get through either one without hearing boos or drinking booze.
The boo-birds have already flown south for the winter. Coming off a bye week, the Bucs lost their third straight game and now sit at third place in the NFC South with a record of 2-5.
What’s even scarier is that this team will travel to Seattle this weekend to face a 6-2 Seahawks team led by All-Pro quarterback Russell Wilson.
Now that’s scary.
But, what’s even more frightening is having a quarterback that a coaching staff doesn’t believe in. Bruce Arians and Byron Leftwich seem to be on the fence about trusting in their quarterback. Jameis Winston has yet to be given a chance this season to prove himself with the game on the line.
Watching Winston, at times, can be comparable to a horror film in itself. But, with a mummified offensive line, and a backfield featuring the elusiveness as Frankenstein himself, wouldn’t it be a little less spooky to see if Winston can win you a ball game?
Questionable Play-Calling
On 4th down with one yard to go, the Bucs elected to hand the ball off to Peyton Barber for a one-yard loss. The Bucs were just outside the red zone, down by four with two minutes remaining. The bigger issue is that this has happened before this season.
In the Week 3 loss to the Giants, the Bucs ran the ball seven straight times on a 4th quarter drive inside the red zone. On third-and-2 on the Giants 5-yard line, Barber was stuffed for no gain. The Bucs kicked a field goal to take a 31-25 lead. Next drive, the Giants scored a touchdown to win 32-31.
A touchdown in both of those situations wins the game. Both decisions have come back to haunt the Buccaneers.
While seeing Winston under center can be as spine-chilling as seeing Jason X at Crystal Lake, his red zone numbers are actually less terrifying. In 2019, Winston has thrown eight touchdowns and zero interceptions for a rating of 101. A true killer in the red zone.
With a quarterback whisperer manning the ship, you’d think Arians would put the ball in Winston’s hands when a score is needed. Especially in a season where the Bucs are deciding what to do at the position in 2020.
“Every town has an Elm Street”… Only this one is located at One Buc Place.
With the game on the line, it is shocking that Arians’ sixth sense has told him twice, “Peyton Barber.”
I guess we all go a little mad sometimes.
Photo credit: Tampa Bay Times
