“They Willed Us To Victory On That Side Of The Ball”
December 7th, 2022
While the nation is obsessed with Tom Brady’s magic to conclude Monday night’s game, that’s not the sole focus at One Buc Palace.
In fact, it might not be half the focus when it comes to edging the slimy Saints 17-16.
Joe found it telling when head coach Todd Bowles said yesterday on the Buccaneers Radio Network, following a complete film study of the comeback win against New Orleans, that his defense “willed us to victory on that side of the ball.”
Yes, Bowles shared his love for Brady’s inexplicable and legendary command late in games, but Bowles is put the heftiest credit on his defense.
It’s understandable considering the Bucs have allowed 17 or less points in regulation time over the past four games, three of them victories. And it was the defense Monday that bailed out the Bucs’ miserable offense over and over and over again.
If only the Bucs had a decent offense, they’d be at least sitting pretty in the NFC with an 8-4 or 9-3 record, and Antoine Winfield, Jr. and Tristan Wirfs likely wouldn’t be injured because there never would have been an overtime against Cleveland.
Is the Bucs defense good enough to win a playoff game without much help? Hopefully that question doesn’t have to be answered.
December 7th, 2022 at 11:24 am
D balled out….there is that!
December 7th, 2022 at 11:27 am
Sigh
Andy Dalton… 20-28 with a couple of perfect throws dropped
Let’s not embellish here
December 7th, 2022 at 11:31 am
^^^^^^^^^^^
Yep.
December 7th, 2022 at 11:33 am
Not sure about this defense, they might make Turdy Purdy a hall of famer.
December 7th, 2022 at 11:35 am
I remember when we were hoping for the defense to hold the other team to 27.5 pts for game. I agree that they arent explosive in the takeaways, but consistently keeping it 20 and under is pretty solid work. Playing this consistently gives them an opportunity to catch fire at a good time- like the playoffs. We were always going to need them for a final run, and we have plenty of experience in ugly games this season. Hoping for more successes when it comes out in the wash this year.
December 7th, 2022 at 12:06 pm
they played a team that scored a total of 50 points in the 4 weeks prior. Yes I’m very thankful for Neal’s great tackle but it’s a mute point because they allowed Ingram to almost get the first down had he not gaffed and ran out of bounds by the first down marker.
Let’s not embelish here! This coach SUCKS!
December 7th, 2022 at 12:07 pm
There is no way we win that game without the stellar performance from our defense…..we held them early to some FGs……and stopped them late, giving the ball back to our offense….
Lost the turnover battle & ST…..but still won the game….I think only 1 penalty on the defense and that was a questionable DPI on Davis.
December 7th, 2022 at 12:09 pm
According to Mike Floris it was lack of holding calls on DS that lead to the win. That guy seems to hate the Bucs.
December 7th, 2022 at 12:12 pm
It was a beautiful thing to behold. The Bucs coming back from a 13-point deficit with just a few minutes left in the game. But, let’s not forget, the Saints pretty much gave that game away with a couple of bone head moves on their next to last possession of the game. Ingram running out of bounds short of the 1st down marker not only stopped the clock but kept them from getting a new set of downs that would have eaten up more clock. Then on 3rd and 1, they passed the ball. Had they run the ball instead, more clock eaten up or the Bucs would have had to call a time out. If they made a 1st down, more clock eaten up. Yes the Buc’s D bowed up nicely and gave us a chance, but you take those two offensive downs away from the Saints and it’s unlikely the Bucs have enough time to score twice.
December 7th, 2022 at 12:13 pm
Point is…. The offense has got to score more points if it wants to consistently win ball games.
December 7th, 2022 at 12:24 pm
@Robert G
Its exactly like that, he hates the Bucs AND TB12….and I Hate him!!!
December 7th, 2022 at 12:58 pm
If this defense played this good last year, we would’ve repeat in the Super bowl,
Now that it is keeping teams under 20 a game Bowels had to go and fix something that wasn’t broke.
December 7th, 2022 at 1:08 pm
That last para is SAD when you think of our offense being Mike Glennon production with TB12, Evans, Godwin, Jones, and all the other star-studded pro bowlers we have on this roster! Wake up Jason and Glazers!!!
December 7th, 2022 at 1:09 pm
I really don’t care if the defense takes it away anymore. It put the offense on the field but what good does it do? They will only give it right back. Unless they get it in field goal range. The only thing you can hope for if they take it away is they score. That is how much faith I have in this offense with Bowles and Leftnut in charge this year.
December 7th, 2022 at 1:20 pm
This D is lacking in sudden change plays. Need more turnovers and scores.
December 7th, 2022 at 1:24 pm
im not sold on bowles as HC. I honestly do not think he has the accumen to be a super bowl winning coach.Let alone any talk of playoffs. I just dont think he,s got it. And, i think Arians knew that.
December 7th, 2022 at 1:38 pm
Defense has been playing well, but we are still seeing too many open guys running downfiled.
Olave and Landry had 3 or 4 big drops between them that had nothing to do with our defense, as they were wide arse open.
Also, can we get a turnover?
December 7th, 2022 at 1:56 pm
Saints averaged 12 pt a game. Nice try Bowels.
December 7th, 2022 at 1:57 pm
Holding down bad offensive teams is one thing. This defense has certainly done that all year. They’ve done their job and it’s the offenses fault the record isn’t better. But they gave up 68 points to the Chiefs and Ravens. Let’s see how they play against SF and the Bengals before we anoint them the 85 bears.
December 7th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
Robert G Says:
December 7th, 2022 at 12:09 pm
According to Mike Floris it was lack of holding calls on DS that lead to the win. That guy seems to hate the Bucs.
zzbuc Says:
December 7th, 2022 at 12:24 pm
@Robert G
Its exactly like that, he hates the Bucs AND TB12….and I Hate him!!!
Both you fellas are on the money. FanBoy Florio has been complaining about this all week…multiple times. He may have sent film to the league office. He and Chrissy Simms are beside themselves when Brady wins.
Florio is a self appointed expert a la Adam Schein…just somehow less athletic than Scheiner.
December 7th, 2022 at 2:22 pm
And there you have it. Yes the D played good not great. Dropped passes and an idiot running out of bounds saved them. Bowles wants the D to win games. This antiquated thinking leaves you at .500 with a top five team. He’s got his foot on the O. The only time he doesn’t is during hurry up. Going nowhere with this fcckkk stick.
December 7th, 2022 at 2:43 pm
First off, it seems a bit self serving saying the defense willed the team to victory. Is that his subtle way of throwing Brady under the bus? Second, is he revealing that he considers himself to the the DC and not primarily the HC?
Yeah, the defense is only allowing around 18 pts/game but I suspect that’s partly because the offense has been so anemic. Opponents don’t have to score many points so they just run out the clock without trying to score.
December 7th, 2022 at 3:23 pm
If Ingram hadn’t made a bonehead miss the yard marker play…this boasting by Bowles wouldn’t be made by him today! Todd, stop trying to pound your chest. Your defense made Taysom Hill look like Jerry Rice on that touchdown catch of his.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:06 pm
Bowles is hopelessly over his head, as is his OC. He’s a Tony Dungy clone. Good defense, anemic offense and stubborn until the bitter end.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
Only thing our Defense is lacking is turnovers picks especially. Last pick was the KC game that’s a long ass time ago. Turnovers could help a struggling O
December 7th, 2022 at 4:34 pm
Talking a lot of smack after 3 balls they clearly dropped that would have completely changed the out come at put us at 5-7 with this archaic mindset on O when he calls the D completely no risk it no biscuit
Denial isn’t just a river in Africa and the hypocrisy is so evident
December 7th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Anyone still hating on Coach Todd Bowles needs to check their ego at the door right now. Every single one of us questioned him when we didn’t go for it on 4th and 10…Especially after how things played out at Cleveland. Guess what, he didn’t let the Cleveland game dictate how he finished the MNF game. And although the he’s had to learn some lessons the hard way this year (reminder:his first as bucs head coach), he’s a great football mind – and I for one won’t question him the rest of the season.
December 7th, 2022 at 4:57 pm
Bucs fans have seen this before – our O is sooooooo bad – the other team stops playing offense. Therefore bumping up your D ranking.
We can’t get pressure without blitzing. We haven’t played against any good QBs lately (but they’ve looked decent to good against us) See San Fran Sunday 🙂
Mr. Bowles has beer goggles for his defense.
I’m thankful for the wins but this team is unwatchable
Go Bucs!
December 7th, 2022 at 6:16 pm
A I agree, a once very entertaining team is now effing boring like their self-promoting HC. The sad part is if they went back to what they did best they could beat the 9ers. Not to worry Bowels will have the O play like they are stuck in mud so get ready for 6-7.
December 7th, 2022 at 6:23 pm
Well said duane
December 7th, 2022 at 9:20 pm
Bowels is a horrible liability. DC? Yes. HC? No. Hell no.
December 8th, 2022 at 6:51 pm
Hope your new QB will be as good as Brady next year. Keep the same OL you won’t have to worry…he will be hurt !