Five Key Postseason Reflections

February 11th, 2021

Bill Currie Ford is a Tampa tradition since 1959. They’re awesome Bucs fans and so charitable in the community. Shop now at BillCurrieFord.com. New year, new deals! And remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles. Ira loves his 2020 Ford Escape, cherry red.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Chris Godwin’s cell phone rests in the bottom of the bay while the Bucs are sitting on top of the world.

That about sums up the state of the 2020 NFL champions heading into what figures to be an intriguing offseason.

Can the Bucs keep all of their core players together? If not, is Tampa Bay now the league’s No. 1 destination site for free agents?

Those questions will be answered in the next six weeks, but let’s enjoy the moment for a while. Wednesday’s boat parade was a glorious celebration for a franchise that earned its place in the sun.

Bruce Arians was correct when he crowed that the Bucs kicked Kansas City’s rear end back to the Midwest. He lauded Tampa Bay’s physicality — and that’s a word that hasn’t been used often to describe this club.

Let’s take a look back at a stirring postseason run that rocked Buc Nation and proved once again that it’s never a good idea to doubt Tom Brady.

BIGGEST PLAY: The Saints led 20-13 late in the third quarter and had all the momentum when Drew Brees faced a third-and-2 from the New Orleans 45. Tight end Jared Cook caught an 8-yard pass over the middle, but rookie Antoine Winfield knocked the ball loose with his right arm and Devin White recovered.

White’s 18-yard fumble return set up a Leonard Fournette touchdown and the Bucs were soon on their way to the NFC championship game. If Winfield doesn’t close quickly and force that turnover, the Saints are almost in FG range for a 10-point advantage.

If that happened, Tampa Bay’s season would likely have ended right then and there in the Superdome.

Lenny!

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: For most of the season, Fournette played a backup role in the backfield because Ronald Jones was having an exceptional year.

When a quad injury hampered Jones, Fournette took full advantage. In four postseason games, Fournette averaged 4.7 yards per carry and caught 18 of 21 targets for 148 yards. Overall, he averaged 112 yards per game from scrimmage and reached the end zone four times. The downside for Tampa Bay? That kind of clutch production will likely earn Fournette keen interest on the free-agent market.

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: White missed the playoff opener at Washington due to COVID issues, but he returned with a vengeance, racking up a combined 38 stops against the Saints, Packers and Chiefs. Add in two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, three tackles for loss and two passes defended and it’s clear that White is now the face of this scary defense.

It’s also worth noting that White played 100 percent of the snaps in each of the 18 games he played for the 2020 Bucs. Yes, he’s brash, yes, he’s boastful and yes, he backs it all up. Best of all, he won’t turn 23 until next week. If he’s not already the premier inside linebacker in this league, White’s in the conversation.

UNSUNG AWARD: When the confetti dropped Sunday evening, Tampa Bay’s offensive line deserved its own victory lap around Raymond James Stadium.

Tom Brady was dropped only six times for a measly 37 yards during the postseason and the run blocking in front of Fournette was superb. Tristan Wirfs, a rookie revelation at right tackle, led the way for an aggressive, nasty unit. Give OL coach Joe Gilbert and the unique job he does with assistant head coach Harold Goodwin credit for molding a maligned group into a major asset.

BEST COACHING DECISION: The Bucs already led Green Bay 14-10 in the final seconds of the opening half, but Arians wanted more. With Tampa Bay facing fourth-and-four at the Packers 45, both teams called a timeout to mull things over.

That gave Arians enough of a breather to change his mind about ordering the punt team on the field with 13 seconds left. Instead, Brady found Fournette for six yards and after another timeout, Brady hit Scotty Miller streaking down the left sideline for a 39-yard score that upped the advantage to 11 points.

“We didn’t come here to not take chances to win the game,” Arians explained. “I wanted to come out of there with points instead of punting it.”

Bradley Pinion sat down and Arians stood tall. The Vince Lombardi Trophy was two weeks away.

Ira!  … Ira’s good friend Sean Sullivan, the Bill Currie Ford general manager, is ready to help you personally in any way he can. Just call, email or stop in, one mile north of Raymond James Stadium.

15 Responses to “Five Key Postseason Reflections”

  1. Darin Says:

    If ifs and buts. So Lefty called the punt originally? Oh wait who cares they passed around the Lombardi already!! Wooohooooooo you made us proud Buc fans Bucs! Every one of you!! Well except ab.

  2. Cometowin2 Says:

    Great playoff run. Been a hard core Bucs fan since the first win in 1977. Feels fantastic!

  3. Bruce Blahak Says:

    So many huge plays by many different players in this run. A true “Team” that’s glued together. The Johnson and Miller catches. The Whitehead forced fumbles. The Winfield/Devin scoop as mentioned. Gronk! The Brady protectors!(the guy was hardly touched all year). Davis’ playoff shutdowns. Edwards and Adams filling in. We have a kicker! SMB picks! the return of Vea! ….and on and on…JPP, Shaq, Suh etc. They all played lights out. I’m pumped. a Dynasty?

  4. Bruce Blahak Says:

    …and forget our man David….I thought he should have been the SB MVP. Has he ever covered like that before? Was all over Kelce most of the night.

  5. Cainishere Says:

    Why not AB Darin? He was instrumental in getting us to the Super Bowl. I guess you may be speaking about his off field antics but that is for the courts to decide, not us.

  6. Coburn Says:

    Man… I’m already wanting football season to start again…. Gonna be a long offseason lol. Check constantly for my Bucs fix but not gonna be much to report on for a while now

  7. ModHairKen Says:

    Sixth Postseason Reflection: Ira Kaufman got John Lynch in the Hall of Fame!!!!

    I had been critical. I was wrong. I apologize. You delivered.

  8. Hodad Says:

    Ndog, Tmax…we knew thee well. You were wrong.

  9. AMI_Chris Says:

    Awaiting my shipment of gear from the NFL Shop. That will make it seem real all over again.

  10. Ryan Jensen’s Hair Says:

    What can I say, but You’re Welcome!! 💪🏻🏆

  11. mg Says:

    The offensive line was phenomenal. The timing and teamwork of the O Line with playoff Lenny reminded me of the Redskins line blocking for Riggins.

  12. Blue Coffee Says:

    Both lines were perfect. The O-Line and the def line. If possible keep them all !
    We need you guys! Be back! All of you!

    What a team. What a year!
    Tell me, just a reflection: how many guys on this team will be HOF?

    Think about that: Brady, Evens, A Brown, Suh, JPP, Barrett, White, L David, Winfield, Gronk, Market and all the O line, V Vae,…

    Ha, ha, ha,… No? Why not?! They deserved it!

    GO BUCS!

  13. Blue Coffee Says:

    Sorry, i mean : Marpet!
    I work too hard these days, I see markets everywhere! Ha, ha, ha,…

    I could have name for futurs HOF also: Wirf, Jensen, Donavan Smith and I love Stinnie also! OJ Howard,…

    OK, after a win at the SB I am perhaps not an objective person right now,… but it’s my right, I am a fanatic! Ha, ha, ha,…
    Have fun! Life is good.
    GO BUCS!!

  14. HeyItsAdam Says:

    “… right before the half I didn’t want to put more points on the board and feel like the only thing that could happen was something bad then,” (Lovie Smith, 9/14/14)

    Versus….

    “We didn’t come here to not take chances to win the game. I wanted to come out of there with points instead of punting it,” (Bruce Arians 2021)

    🚨🚨🚨Talk about a hange in attitude.🚨🚨🚨

  15. lambeau Says:

    .Authoratative ; points very well taken, Ira.