Today’s game was fun because you can either blame Buccaneers’ Head Coach Todd Bowles’ or Bucs’ Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard. It’s a choose your own adventure! Based on the title, you might be able to guess where I fall. The defense was not perfect, but they did do enough IN My OPINION to win the game. The offense I felt like underperformed yet again. Baker missed on some key throws and it felt like the play calling just wasn’t sharp enough.
To start with the good, I felt like Rachaad White and Sean Tucker had good games. It wasn’t amazing, but they were able to keep the ball going forward and broke off a few long runs. Emeka Egbuka and Cade Otton were both also very excellent as receivers. Otton had 82 yards on 9 receptions while Emeka exploded for 115 yards on six catches. Tez Johnson was also solid and got himself 2 TDs. The line was mostly good, although it wasn’t great on the last drive.
Defensively, they gave up a lot of yards again like Detroit, but also once again, didn’t give up points. Yeah 28 isn’t great, but after the first drive out of half, they were held scoreless until the final minute of the game. They were pretty good on third down as they held New England to only 5/14.
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But to start with the bad, Bowles wasn’t calling his best game. It felt like too often he went into soft zone and Drake Maye was just dicing them up there. The pass rush also struggled immensely getting to Maye. Anthony Nelson did not keep up his linsanity run from the Saints game. The few times they did get there, Maye usually didn’t give a fuck. He shrugged off Vita Vea. VITA VEA. And I know I defended the yardage, but multiple runs of 50+ yards is not it. TreVeyon Henderson definitely had his breakout game. They also couldn’t cover Mack Hollins, which just felt like a kick to the dick.
But the offense, Jesus Christ. If it wasn’t Baker missing on some key throws, it was Grizzard imitating Byron Leftwich. There was some bad play calling in this game. From unblocked screen on third and long to Sterling Shepard or the way to long developing throw on third and long. They had arguably their best opening drive of the year but once again, struggled to move the football after. It wasn’t as bad as it had been before, especially considering that damn Saints game. Yes I know they were facing a really good defense, but it just felt like they left a lot on the table.
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This team has dealt with plenty of injuries, but they are not producing like they should. Offense is not playing consistently well and the defense struggles when it comes to yardage. I still think the defense has done more than the offense has lately, but that doesn’t mean Bowles has been perfect. That final drive to end the first half was easily the worst defensive series as they just let the Patriots drive down and kill the clock. And it was mostly because like usual he played zone and played it safe. They have a pissed off Bills team next week and the Rams in primetime after that. While it isn’t the worst thing to lose to a good team in a close game, at a certain point you do have to beat the good teams. I guess you can take solace in the fact the team fought back even down multiple scores, but they are too disjointed right now. Still 6-3 and on top of the division, but this team needs to play better. Plain and simple.
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