“They Won In Spite Of Me”

September 13th, 2019

Calls “dumb@ss” on himself.

Joe doubts you would have ever heard inept former Bucs coach Lovie Smith take the fall for this.

It was late in the ball game. The Stinking Panthers had the ball at the Bucs-3 trailing 20-14. It was fourth down. A touchdown by Carolina and the Bucs lose. Again.

The Bucs had three timeouts. There was 1:28 left in the game. The Bucs called a timeout.

Then, the Bucs called a second time out. That’s a no-no. Teams can’t call two timeouts in a row before a play is run without getting flagged. It was difficult for Joe to believe a long-time coach like Bucco Bruce Arians wouldn’t know this.

The zebras hit the Bucs with a delay of game penalty and moved the ball an extra yard-and-a-half closer to the first down marker. It was now fourth-and-one.

That damn near was the difference in the game as Vernon Hargreaves tackled Christian McCaffrey with inches to spare to force a change of possession and the Bucs won.

In his postgame remarks, Arians knew he almost blew it for his team.

“They won in spite of me,” Arians said. “Obviously, the double-timeout was stupid.”

Arians said there was a mix-up in communicating the timeouts between him and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. On the Buccaneers Radio Network immediately following the game, Arians called himself a “dumb@ss” for the timeout snafu.

Fortunately, the Bucs won. Otherwise, Arians would forever be the horse’s backside of jokes for a long time for calling two timeouts.

52 Responses to ““They Won In Spite Of Me””

  1. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    Give this man his vitamins before each game now!!!!!!!!!!!^^^^^^^^^

  2. Dapostman Says:

    I remember Joe Gibbs about 15 years ago called 2 time outs consecutively. I think it cost him the game. It happens. Glad it didn’t come back to bite the Bucs.

  3. TB22 Says:

    Yeah it was a bonehead move by the HC–but at least he took the blame for it.

    Probably a little easier to do in a win than a loss…..

    I’m wondering if BA also didn’t screw up by not challenging that terrible spot by the refs just a few plays earlier…..

    Regardless, BA is a big upgrade as Coach. He hired the right DC(Something Dirk couldn’t do) and I’m confident he will get the offense headed in the right direction too.

  4. Bradentonbuc Says:

    Best put him self on that accountability sheet!

  5. DB55 Says:

    That’s Bc JAMEIS WINSTON IS THE GREATEST QUARTERBACK IN THE HISTORY OF THE BUCCANEERS

  6. RawDog Says:

    Coaching in both games so far has been sub-par..

  7. tnew Says:

    There was confusion on the field prior to the second timeout. The defense was not set as the Panthers were coming up to the snap. One of the DB’s looked like he wanted to call the timeout but knew the rule.

    No matter, the refs screwed up again by allowing the Bucs to gather back around the coaches. Correct call would’ve been delay of game, Tampa charged timeout, defense stays on field.

    Arians very well may have knew the rule but felt like the timeout was more important and doesn’t want to show up the officials by saying, “I knew the rule, I just dared them to ignore me and I knew they wouldn’t” Saying what he did immediately neutralized the situation. He didn’t look confused. He and Bowles were very controlled, you see Bowles kind of give a shrug right before Arians walks away and calls the time out.

  8. Bnice Says:

    Sooooo, with 1:28 left, 2 timeouts, and Carolina scores a TD, tampa automatically loses??? interesting…..

  9. Buc1987 Says:

    Saw Bucs fans in the stands.

    Lots of fans still wearing #3.

  10. Bird Says:

    Crazy game

    Let’s call a timeout (cocktails for everyone )

  11. TB22 Says:

    Bnice,

    I agree. Even if Carolina scored a TD there, the Bucs would have had plenty of time and TO’s left to drive for a winning FG attempt.

    Luckily we will never know if Jameis(and the K) would have come through.

    I think Rivera blew it for his team.
    When you need 1 yard for a 1st down—running 27 yards sideways gives the other team a slightly better chance…. Shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line.
    Rivera also didn’t run enough clock–TB would have had plenty of time left to win even with a TD.

  12. Dewey Selmon Says:

    Actually the delay of game was a blessing in disguise, if the penalty doesn’t happen it’s 4th and 3 and I doubt a direct snap to McCaffery would of been called.

  13. Rojas Says:

    We need to get bobo some snaps. Perriman has been dropping a lot of passes lately. But he was known for that in Baltimore, and sometimes in Cleveland.

  14. BelligerentBuc Says:

    Food for thought:

    Can you imagine the chatter about Cam in Carolina (Coulda been the same chat here had we lost)

    This was a huge win without having the benefit of practice due to a short week.
    We will be better dialed in on offense as we will correct our issues with a few extra practices.(Look out New Jersey Giants)

    Is ME being phased out for a cheaper option? Perhaps to pay Jameis next year?

  15. Frank Pillow Says:

    The officiating grew more suspect as the game went on- while there’s no doubt about the two timeouts, I’m shocked that nobody’s harping on the bizzaro 1/2 yard gain/ ball placement during the spotting of the ball on a key down (and stop) earlier in the Panther’s drive…

  16. Darin Says:

    Love.how he knows it and admits it. Bucs almost won in spite of Dirk a bunch of times last few years. A few times they did. He never said anything remotely close to the reality. Great job Bruce. Still gota teach these boys to be smarter tho. Lot of stoopid mistakes still. Keep building.

  17. Rayjay1122 Says:

    He also failed to challenge the spot of the ball which was clearly a yard short of the 1st down which would have caused a 4th down decision.

  18. Jonathan Limpchimpi Says:

    Humility is good…competency is better. The equivalent of a wayward drive that hits a tree and lands in the middle of the fairway. Back in the golf cart you go, BA.

  19. Rayjay1122 Says:

    On a previous play….

  20. NOSBOS Says:

    I don’t knows what game y’all were watching, but the one I saw clearly showed a D liner of the Bucs that wasn’t budging at the Los especially when it was a known run play. Big Will,Vea and Suh completely dominated the Los. River boat knew attempting a run up the gut was futile.

  21. Nptbuc Says:

    Great point Frank Pillow! Why didn’t BA challenge that spot? As we later saw, it’s a game of inches and we let them steal a foot! What the hell was that all about? Anyone have an answer? Also, ST play. Nice return called back by a block in the back. Can we teach these college graduates that if you can read a guys number on his back to just stick your hands in your pockets? Totally uncalled for penalty. Overall, LOVED the fact that the Bucs played with intensity for 4 quarters. There was no quit on either side of the ball. Room for much improvement in many areas but working hard is a great step for this team. Hey- WE WON a game we were “supposed” to lose. GO BUCS!

  22. NOSBOS Says:

    Had they ran it up the middle there our guys would’ve ate their lunch. Much like they had in short yardage situations a number of times thru out the game.

  23. NOSBOS Says:

    Y’all sleeping on the play of Big Will. He’s been the Berlin Wall in the run game. Salute Will. Glad you’re motivated by the presence Suh. It’s like he dosen’t wanna let him down.

  24. 813bucboi Says:

    This team has a different mentality….we lose that game last year….

    GO BUCS

  25. The Buc Realist Says:

    Buc1987 Says:
    September 13th, 2019 at 10:24 am
    Saw Bucs fans in the stands.

    Lots of fans still wearing #3.

    That is because it is the cheapest jersey on sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  26. Loungemane Says:

    Can we please read an article about the ball placement on 4th and 1, Joe? I want video footage to be seen by the higher ups in the NFL. That was plain unprofessional, and we won despite it. I hope Ira and Derrick bring it up on Tampa 2.

  27. 813bucboi Says:

    Defense looked better with minter….maybe white should play outside….minter got off blocks better….

    BYRON CALLED A GREAT GAME!!!!!!

    GO BUCS

  28. Bucfan33 Says:

    Hey did anyone notice they aren’t suspending Antonio brown using the excuse it’s a civil matter not criminal it Jameis gets suspend for nearly the same issue. Must be nice to be a patriots fan

  29. Reedo Says:

    This is BA practicing what he preaches about accountability. When the players hear that it sends a signal that he means what he says. They’re probably not used to that level of honesty. That said he should have challenged that spot.

  30. Rayjay1122 Says:

    It sucks still to have lost to the 49ers however, if we had to start 1-1, beating the Panthers was much more important.

  31. 813bucboi Says:

    Loungemane

    I agree….horrible….and no one outside of Tampa is talking about it….

    GO BUCS

  32. Adrnagy Says:

    Regardless. We found a way to win !

    Sunday loss hurt but it was good. Players stepped up. It was the turnaround I was expecting.

    Dotson. Howard. Donavan need to clean up their penalties.

  33. Buc1987 Says:

    You keep believing that Realist.

  34. Buc1987 Says:

    …just like you believed in Smitty!

  35. firethecannons Says:

    Heh at least BA scores high on the give a shat meter!

  36. HectorBucs Says:

    BA actually took out the red flag to challenge the spot of the ball but it was inside 2 minutes from the end of the half. Calling for a review is out of their power. Great thing about a Thurs. night win is it comes 4 days sooner and lasts 3 days longer!

  37. The Buc Realist Says:

    @Buc1987

    He was held accountable, Just like the inaccurate game manager will be and eventually the gm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the ‘real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  38. AlteredEgo Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    DB55…I just figured out your posting are really not about Jameis….you are all about YOU….which makes you a bore !

  39. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Finally…..someone else has recognized the interior Dline play……Suh, Vea & Gholston were outstanding the entire game……the last play was called because of Rivera’s lack of confidence going up the middle.

  40. unbelievable Says:

    Got really lucky there. I thought that was gonna be an automatic 1st down on top of the “half the distance to the goal”. Def got lucky.

    He also fked up by not challenging that first down at the 2 minute warning. Could have saved us from all that nail biting as it was an absolutely horrible spot from the refs.

  41. SC Bucs Fan Says:

    Hector I don’t believe that is true; at 2 minutes he can throw it, at 1:59 he cannot from my understanding

  42. Go Bucs 72 Says:

    Coach preaches accountability, what better way to show credibility is there than calling yourself out after an obvious mistake? I have so much confidence in this staff! GO BUCS!!!

  43. NOSBOS Says:

    TBBF ron ain’t want no smoke in that situation at the end of the end. I don’t care what anyone says they wouldn’t have gotten in and he knows it.

  44. Red Skeleton Says:

    If you preach accountability then you must show it too. So nice not to hear ” We are highly disappointed”

  45. Scotty in Fat Antonio Says:

    At least his teeth didn’t fall out…unlike someone at the debate last night…lol

  46. Buc believer Says:

    Maybe someone should have whispered in the QB whispers ear… “psst coach can’t do that”

  47. lambchop Says:

    @tnew,

    Were you there on the sideline? LOL. If you watched closely, while the refs were gathering to assess the penalty, the camera panned to Todd Bowles and he clearly said an expletive because he knew that was a bone head move. I don’t remember if he dropped an F-bomb or what, but it was total ownership of making a mistake to call the time out. No coach under those circumstances would intentionally call a TO and screw their players.

    They forgot the rule. Period. They’re not intentionally stupid to give Carolina a shorter distance to score the game winning TD.

    I would like to know what the confusion was about though.

  48. RODNEY ALLEN Says:

    I think he didnt throw the challenge flag cuz he figured riverboat ron would go for it on fourth n if they got it n did eventually score the bucs woulda had maybe 30 to 45 secs left on the clock after the kickoff to score a field goal n that would of been hard to do

  49. lambchop Says:

    I’m worried about one thing with this coaching staff and it’s their history for making at least 1 mistake per game. It’s been a part of their history dating back to their prior teams. Todd Bowles was known to be a horrible game and clock manager as HC of the Jets. And Bruce Arians takes risks at the wrong time.

    Bruce said that Todd didn’t know he already called the first timeout. What?! The second TO was clearly called by BA after consulting with Todd. 1 of them should have known (a) 1 timeout was already called, (b) you can’t call two TOs consecutively b4 a play is run, and (c) how in the hell does Todd not know the first timeout was called when it was his defense that huddled at the sideline during the TO?

    Something ain’t right. And I really don’t like BA not going for the FG against the 49ers and Bowles and BA not knowing the TO rule and owning up to it a little more clearly. What was the confusion about? That was something Dirk Koetter would do.

    This is inexcusable. We got lucky to win this game.

  50. Jean Lafitte Says:

    That almost cost us but I think the brain freeze was not challenging the ball placement on 4 and 1.

    That gave the Panthers life, otherwise we would have taken over on downs with 3 minutes left.

  51. Jerry Says:

    With it 4th and 3, they likely would have called a different play.

  52. BucsFan727 Says:

    Its how they won. Defence was good. Ran the ball just enough to set up the play action. Learning how to win. We know how to lose. Finding was to win. Its not as bad when you mess up if your team wins. If Jamies can build some consistency here we might sneak in to the play offs.