The Statement Game
July 5th, 2021
“You will respect my authority.”
It was a game, one could argue, that turned the Bucs’ season around.
Over at NFL.com, Adam Rank is sort of doing a combined season review and season preview of the Bucs. And he seems to believe, other than the Bucs winning the Super Bowl, the biggest win last season was the Bucs beating the Packers.
No, not for the NFC Championship in Green Bay. Rank seems to think it was the Bucs’ seal-clubbing the Packers at The Licht House.
Rank points out this came 10 days after the debacle in Chicago, a win to sort of put the NFL on notice that the Bucs have it in them to cause trouble.
Ten days after the aforementioned [the] loss in Chicago, the Bucs found themselves trailing the undefeated Packers 10-0 at home, with Aaron Rodgers performing Key & Peele material in the Raymond James Stadium end zone. Then Tampa closed out the game with a 38-0 run.
The Bucs did it with both offense and defense. The offense was superb. The defense may have been better.
Ndamukong Suh simply ripped the soul out of drama queen Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. By the start of the third quarter, Rodgers didn’t even look like he wanted to be on the field. Suh was clearly in his head.
That game, as much as anything, filled the defense with confidence, especially since they lost Vita Vea the previous week for what at the time was thought to be a season-ending injury.
Joe thinks you could make an argument that win was a turning point in the season. It demonstrated that if the Bucs played right, they can hammer anybody.
That notion was proved correct in the playoffs.
July 5th, 2021 at 8:12 am
Rogers says he is coming back. Stay hungry boys.
July 5th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Yes, that was a statement game….but the 2nd half win after being down 17 vs Falcons was also……we needed that game to help us get into get into the playoffs.
July 5th, 2021 at 8:21 am
The Bucs are so loaded that Suh is considered an unsung hero.
July 5th, 2021 at 9:02 am
Suh has always “curb-stomped” Rogers, mentally and literally.
July 5th, 2021 at 9:30 am
10 zip with green bay driving… and the game/ season changed on a pick 6. Biggest play of the year.
July 5th, 2021 at 9:35 am
I agree with that sentiment. I loved watching the fire going out of his eyes after his discount double check and then the Bucs took over. He looked like a little purse doggie with its tail tucked between its legs. When Brady & company finally get all the kinks worked out the offense will be great. Unfortunately the defense proved they were one guy away from being mediocre and that guy was Vita. That shows that our depth along the line isn’t all that great because the defense was night and day without him.
July 5th, 2021 at 10:01 am
Suh as perfected The “Shove Down” tackling technique to avoid would be roughing penalties/potential helmet to helmet collisions. It’s equally as violent and fun to watch. It sure beats the ankle biting & apologies of his predecessor.
July 5th, 2021 at 10:04 am
@David
Did you miss the note that this was the first game played without Vea?
That the defense stepped up without Vea?
Other than that ‘little’ nitpick, I agree with your post, AND that the defense is better with ALL of their best talent on the field. It should go without saying.
I truly look forward to seeing what a team, balanced with both offense AND defense ranked in the top 5, can do in this “balanced” NFL.
July 5th, 2021 at 2:28 pm
This may also be what is causing Aaron Rodgers to not want to play for the Packers anymore. He knows that they aren’t good enough to beat Tampa, not in the regular season and not in the playoffs.
July 5th, 2021 at 6:44 pm
This game showed what they could be at their best; coming back down 17 to Falcons showed their championship heart !
July 5th, 2021 at 10:42 pm
Suh has been as much or more of a reason for our defense’s turnaround as any other player or coach. Between helping out the young guys, setting a tone during games, and still being highly productive, he has been worth every penny.