“They Think The Last 44 Seconds Of Their Game Against The Rams Could Turn Their Season”

November 12th, 2022

Teams good and bad tend to have pivotal moments in their seasons.

Joe could give a Bucs history lesson of those key times in Tampa Bay campaigns.

Some are famous, others are more hidden. There also are critical games in the tenures of head coaches.

For example, if the refs don’t call a ludicrous offensive pass interference call on Kellen Winslow in the end zone, the Bucs would have beaten the Lions and finished 11-5 back in 2010. Instead, at 10-6 they lost a playoff-qualification tiebreaker to Green Bay. The Packers won that Super Bowl, and then-Bucs coach Raheem Morris can’t say he took one of the youngest NFL teams in history to the postseason.

Late in 2015, if Doug Martin doesn’t fumble twice at home against the Bears, the Bucs win that game and don’t close the season with four straight losses to finish 6-10. Perhaps Lovie Smith would have returned after improving from a two-win 2014 season.

A year later with Dirk Koetter as head coach, if Martin didn’t fail a drug test and get suspended with the season on the line on Christmas Eve against the Saints, perhaps the Bucs make the playoffs and their history changes.

The 2020 bye week was a critical time for Bucco Bruce Arians’ title team. Tom Brady got with coaches to tweak the offense and Arians worked on getting Leonard Fournette’s mind right. The Bucs won the next eight games including the Super Bowl and Playoff Lenny was born.

In Germany doing play-by-play for tomorrow’s Bucs-Seahawks game is NFL Network voice Rich Eisen. He’s spent time around both teams in Munich and called into his own TV show yesterday to say the Bucs are steaming with optimism.

Why? Because of their late comeback against the Rams on Sunday to capture an ugly 16-13 win.

“They think the last 44 seconds of their game against the Rams could turn their season,” Eisen said of his impression of the Bucs.

Joe so hopes Eisen is right, but it seems farfetched. If the Bucs have turned a corner, then Joe thinks i happened in the film room this week with Tom Brady, Byron Leftwich and other coaches hammering out real fixes to their bumbling offense, including which personnel is leaned on.

With a new head coach and veteran leadership, the Bucs’ confidence shouldn’t have been in the toilet before last week.

Get the Xs and Os right and stop the loafing, and that should bring the Ws.

34 Responses to ““They Think The Last 44 Seconds Of Their Game Against The Rams Could Turn Their Season””

  1. D-Rok Says:

    Every fan, including this fan, hopes, wishes, and dreams that last 44 seconds turned our season around.

    I’m so ready for it!!!

    GO BUCS!!!

  2. Goatfarmer Says:

    A weak and flaccid head coach and a moronic stubborn offenseless uncoordinator would allow a team to be unrealistically delusional. No one will play pillow soft defense against them the way Raheehaw’s Lambs gave it up in those last 44 seconds. No surprise that Bowelswich lets the team feel that way.

  3. Irishmist Says:

    Stay in hurry up the entire game. It’s the only thing that’s worked.

  4. DungyDance Says:

    Well said D-Rok. I wonder if some of the players are hanging around Munich after today since the bye is next week, and whether Bowles is telling them something to the effect of, “Work hard, then play hard” for any post-game plans. Sure would feel a lot better for them to raise some glasses after a win, and celebrate a few extra days off with some fun on the town. If they earn it.

  5. ChiBuc Says:

    I know the D looked great last week. But let’s not forget that they were playing the 2nd worst rushing offense in the league. Seattle has a top 10 rushing offense, bucs are a bottom 10 D vs rush. My fingers are crossed that more than just offense turns a corner in this game.

  6. sasquatch Says:

    They’re dreaming. The problems are deeper. Leftwich isn’t going to suddenly learn how to call plays.

  7. Kentucky Buc Says:

    The Bucs did that game winning drive twice. Scotty dropped the TD pass on the first one. The 44 second thing is baloney. The Rams D was exhausted from the first drive that should’ve been the game winner. They had nothing left on that last drive.

  8. Redeemer Says:

    IMO the only way things get better up front, is if Jensen comes back soon. It all hinges on tomorrow.

  9. westernbuc Says:

    Fortunately for Eisen he won’t have to alternate between Winston and Watson in this game

  10. BucsFanSince76 Says:

    Seahags gave up 39 to Saints and 45 to Lions-they can be had. Bucs have an offensive explosion and score is 27-21 Bucs.

  11. jd Says:

    I think the true turn around of this offense is the tight end trust developed. the falacy that the rams were playing scotty soft and other teams would have pressed is baloney. scotty was fresh at the end of the game and usually defenses are spent by the end of the game.

  12. Goatfarmer Says:

    Explosive for Bowelswich is three FGs, two or three failed 4th and short conversions, and a late touchdown when the opponent is in prevent.

  13. Mike Johnson Says:

    I’ll hold my breath until the end of the Seattle game. IF..we can beat them, we might be on to something. If not, 4-6 might be close to a finisher.

  14. D-Rok Says:

    Very pointed and poignant posts, gentlemen or gentle-people.

    Flaccid is one of my favorite words, Goat.

    Let’s hope it turns out to be work hard, play hard, DungyDance. I know that’s how I live my life!

    Excellent observation, Kentucky, and it’s easy to imagine you are right.

    jd, my sincere hope and dream is the TE group is finding its way into this offense. Good. We NEED it.

    I dunno guys, I have a bizarre and strange feeling in my gut that we just might win this game. Had a similar feeling before Rams game, but the other games? Pure, unbridled dread, desperation, and dismay.

    GO BUCS!!!

  15. Erik Hesson | Fine Artist | Founder of UniqueModernArt.com Says:

    Our Superbowl season had that pivotal momentum in the season when we were sitting at 7-5 and then snapped out of the funk and went on a run…

    Let’s go Undefeated the rest of the season to make up for this hot mess we’ve been watching for the 1st half of the season!

    Do it, Bucs. We have the horses to make a run. LFG

  16. SufferingSince76 Says:

    Will someone please make sure Devin White doesn’t get bored.

  17. BucU Says:

    I’ll expect to see them play exactly the way they’ve been playing for the last 2 months.
    Offensive ineptness and a defense that tires late from being on the field the whole game.

  18. BucsfanFred Says:

    I sure hope it turns their season around.
    I understand the haters; I really do, but a tiny spark remains and sparks burst into flames … Sometimes.

  19. Redeemer Says:

    D-Rok, who you calling gentleman? I takes that as a high insult. Lol.

    Erik, that 2020 group had Gronk and AB. A stacked O line, and a real head coach. Also a hungry defense with guys in contract years. This group isn’t close as far as talent and coaching are concerned. They also played road playoff games on basically neutral fields, because of the Vid.

  20. orlbucfan Says:

    I gotta read one more comment about nutcase Antonio Brown, I might just scream. 2020 Bucs would have won the SB without his fruitcake arse. That was a favor to Brady. D and ST are ready for this one. Question is the O. Sure would be nice to see plays involving CG14, Otton, Miller, Lenny, and White as receivers. Let ME13 be a decoy cos he’s banged up bad. Go Bucs!!

  21. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    That dropped pass by Evans in the Panthers game hurt…..

    I we lost 2 games this year because we could convert a 2 point play.

    The hits just keep on coming…..

    But, a win tomorrow and we should be in good shape….getting healthy with the bye week….

  22. dbbuc711 Says:

    Only if the players play hard and don’t just think it will happen automatically.

  23. Alvin Scissors Harper Says:

    I’m not optimistic. There will be some sh(t talking with my two Washington State nephews throughout the game.

  24. The Beer Whisperer Says:

    Why not?
    Stranger things have happened.

  25. Deeez NATZ Says:

    Joe went to a German brothel lmao .Ya busy joe catching some saurkrat

  26. NEfan Says:

    Goatfarmer, I would agree if Brady had done this only a few times but he is the all time leader in game winning drives. He was tied with Manning at 54 but last week he set another record. FYI Karen Roger’s is tied with Montana at 28, Kerry Collins and Jake Cutler have more. Once again oralbuc you are incorrect. Without AB Bucs do NOT win SB or NFC South title. You really believe defenses did not have to account for him. He was #1 idiot and #1 receiver when he played for the Bucs.

  27. TDavis Says:

    The problem that I have with the idea of that being a turning point is they ran the offense that way out of desperation. To me their offense was worse than it was against the Ravens. I just don’t have faith that their offensive philosophy and approach has changed.

  28. Defense Rules Says:

    Good article about the END of the game, but the Bucs need to start doing better at the BEGINNING of games. We’ve scored 28 of our 162 points (only 17%) in the 1st quarter. Of those 28 points, 21 points came off of 7 FGs. We’ve only scored ONE TD (a Fournette rush) in the 1st quarter. That’s pretty bad.

  29. G-Buc Says:

    Only one way out!

    #FreeBruce

  30. brooks Says:

    Really we’re going to get stomped tomorrow

  31. FortMyersDave Says:

    Brooks, bet the farm on Seattle then. Put your money where your mouth is. I am not disagreeing with you but just trolling the board without stating facts is a bit below average. Reminds me of that dude TMax…….

    G-Buc I hear you, let Bruce take the headset away from Byron and maybe we have more than 16 ****ing points. The talent is there, just not the coaching!

  32. Goatfarmer Says:

    So, it’s 11pm central standard time in the US. Is Joe asleep in his room, or still throwing it back in a Munchen after hours Club?

    You go Joe! You go Joe!

  33. Goatfarmer Says:

    I am, once again, filled with dread and loathing headed into a game – running QB — a Diva who celebrates like he just scored a game changing play, when all he really did was tackle a guy high about 6 yards after he should have.

    1st down — RUN. 4th down — PUNT.

    Some premier player is wide open for a touchdown – and drops the ball.

    Defense suddenly gives up a couple 60 yard TD runs.

    What a great season.

  34. brooks Says:

    Fort Myer already did I’m way ahead of you buddy