The Bucs Got Bullied

January 1st, 2024

One reason — not the only reason — Joe is so triggered about yesterday’s loss was that the game was such a curb-stomping by the slimy Saints.

Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield agreed.

“They did a good job beating us up front at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” Bowles said.

Added Mayfield, “I think there’s many reasons [for losing]. But, starting with physicality like I just mentioned. … Like I said, they were more physical today and they threw us off our tempo.”

And the Bucs tried to be physical by slamming Rachaad White up the middle time and again. But when the other team (the Slimy Saints) is beating the hell out of your offensive linemen, running the ball doesn’t do squat.

That’s got to be galling to shot-callers at One Buc Palace who for years have had a goal to build a physical, intimidating team.

Instead, it was the slimy Saints who stole the Bucs’ lunch money.

32 Responses to “The Bucs Got Bullied”

  1. SB~LV Says:

    Saints made it look easy
    Flush !

  2. Boss Says:

    I been sayin it…. I been sayin it….

    All I want for belated x mas is a loss to the kitties and a new coach.

  3. gp Says:

    Game plan to match your strengths to your opponents weaknesses. Also, recognize your weaknesses and reinforce to compensate.
    Apparently, NO did exactly that, and we didn’t.
    When you try to use the same strategy week in and week out, you make it way too easy for your opposition to plan against you.
    Thanks Todd.

  4. BucU Says:

    FU Bowles. This was a disgrace!!
    You and your entire staff are an embarrassment to Buc fans everywhere.

  5. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    There is no question that coaching is an issue with this team…..and that includes Canales…..but Bowles is ultimately responsible.

    Even with the 4 game winning streak, TBBF has little confidence in Bowles. And that won’t change with a victory Sunday.

  6. John Sinclear Says:

    Don’t think the coach was suited up for the game. Seemed like he was on the sidelines all day. Can’t blame it on him.

    Wentz did not have even one grass stain on his pristine jersey – not ONE! And Joe Tryon -whatever seemed to be on the field a lot, probably the reason for the clean jersey.

    All I want for my belated Christmas is two bona fide edge rushers, three offensive line beasts and a couple of fast corners, and I am willing to wait until draft day to get them.

  7. dmatt Says:

    Mayfield is not the answer n doesn’t deserve a big contract. How many batted passes has he had since being a Buc or when he was with the panthers? How many under/overthrows he’s had? He tend to cause his own sacks due to happy feet in the pocket. Canales is nothing remotely close to being a candidate for head coach. He has tunnel vision n as it relates to calling plays he definitely would struggle dealing with players personalities. Several wouldn’t respect him. As for Bowles, he inherited a Super Bowl team n look at the outcome. Let’s move on from him n hopefully bring in Jim Harbaugh, a proven winner.

  8. SB~LV Says:

    Same feeling and commitments this time last year!
    Basically lost a year of rebuilding with the next coaching staff

  9. Mike Johnson Says:

    How you do not have your team fired up for a game of this magnitude is beyond me. You let the Saints march into Ray-Jay, your den and beat the hell out of you. Both shameful and pitiful. I’d fire Bowles right now. And get this, The Panthers might win Sunday. Why? Remember, this is their Superbowl. They got nothing to lose. Nothing at all.

  10. Bucfan Says:

    Even our reliable punter stunk yesterday. Gave the aints a short field several times.

  11. Pewter power Says:

    This is what everyone wanted. Let’s keep Bowles another year so we can have another mediocre .500 ball club in limbo or as they call it in the offseason no man’s draft land. You’ve never gotten my vote in the polls even on that winning streak and yesterday is why. It’s one thing to lose but he’s always getting his does blown off by tough teams, Let’s trash Bowles

  12. Pewter power Says:

    lol Dave Canales a dark horse in the head coach sweep stakes 😂😂😂😂

    You got a long way to go to be head coach worthy and I think he’ll get there but at least he’s not as old as Bowles still learning how to be a head coach

  13. realistic-optimistic Says:

    When your QB leads the NFL in batted passes (both this year and over his career) it puts a LOT of pressure on the OC. And it’s not just the actual batted passes. He is constantly pulling the ball down and double-clutching to avoid getting his pass batted. Here’s an observation from another outlet:

    “None were more impactful then in the third quarter, when Mayfield had Mike Evans open on a deep crossing route. The double clutch led Evans to believe he needed to carry his route more vertically and change the shoulder he had to look over. Mayfield finally launched the ball to the original intended shoulder and the ball fell to the ground incomplete.”

    He does this almost every time he drops back to pass. As soon as he hits the back of his drop he starts double-clutching. It disrupts timing. It confuses pass catchers. It puts too much pressure on the OL. It limits what the OC can call. It’s the reason we’re almost always playing from behind. It’s the reason he get’s most of his passing yards in garbage time.

    He has looked good against bad DCs, but a good DC (like Dennis Allen) takes away the safe throws. The result is 50 passing yards at halftime. We need a QB that can do work even against good DCs. Win or lose, at least move the chains regularly. This morbid offense is exhausting.

  14. SB~LV Says:

    Tyrek Hill would be a average receiver in Tampa

  15. darengibo Says:

    @John Sinclear. Wentz?

  16. Old Sombrero Says:

    I’m out of the market and wasn’t able to view the game to have an opinion on the play. Sweeping a divisional opponent is a tough task unless the better team is dominant. The Bucs aren’t dominant. That said to lay an egg for three quarters at home is unacceptable when the division could’ve been won. Losing happens but the way they lost was awful. I said it weeks ago that short of winning the division I don’t see Bowles surviving and depending on how they win the division, there’s no guarantee he survives. Winning it through a road game against a 2-14 divisional opponent after a flat effort at home isn’t a good look. Then again what viable HC candidate is out there to take over a team with QB uncertainty? I like what Baker has done but we’re seeing the best of Baker. I don’t see him taking it to another level which is what’s needed.

  17. Statistically Insignificant Reader Says:

    The bandwagon is looking empty today.

  18. Mark hardt Says:

    Saints game: 1. Futile commitment to the run. 2. Way too late on the no huddle offense. Start when two scores down regardless of the Quarter. 3. One interception was an under throw. The other a tip. Both fumbles were bad. Still if you had started the no huddle after going down by 14 you might have won. Baker operates best at pace. I would do two random no huddles every half regardless of the score. Also when you win the coin flip take the damn ball. I don,t care what statistics say. The first drive sets the tone and that long Saints drive to start demorilized the Bucs and they never recovered. Highly paid professionals, yes, but still human. Baker was on roll from the Jags and it would have carried over. Take the ball first if you can

  19. Logged In To Says:

    FSU Bucs fans must be really disgusted after this weekend!

  20. Burl Morgan Says:

    I have been a Bucs Fan since 1976 & yesterdays game has to be one of the most embarrassing games I’ve seen. There was no fight in the dog & literally got punched in the mouth & stomped on. Todd Bowels & his entire staff need to be fired, I think we’ve seen enough. I would not be surprised if they lose to the Panthers next week. Appreciate your post, Happy New Year🏴‍☠️🦜🏈

  21. D Cone Says:

    So how was the Bucs robust passing attack against one of the leagues best defense against it in the first half. Drive before and after half were 3 and out via the pass.

    At 17-0 early in the 3rd OC started attacking their weakness. Run Defense.
    One score and Bucs are down 10 with plenty of time to go. Run was working and White fumbled.

    Three passes were off a bit and two resulted in picks and one in a fumble.

    Blame it on physicality but Players did not do their jobs.

    Job 1 from OTA’s is protect the football.

    Can’t anyone come to the podium and say ‘I failed ? I didn’t do what I am being paid to do? O Line and D Line didn’t throw or carry the ball once.

  22. HC Grover Says:

    Me too Burl

  23. HC Grover Says:

    Bowles is a below .500 lifetime HC. Bowles is playing his normal game. This is it. It is all he will ever be. The Bowles Bucs will always be below ,500 as long as his tenure lasts.

  24. Thisisouryear!! Says:

    I’m a diehard fan since 76. Bowles is out of his league. To say the assistants came up was poor game plan, that’s passing blame. Give me a break you don’t look over the game plan and have final say. For the better of the team I want Bowles out next year. Whether it means we lose next week or not, and I hate feeling this way.

  25. TampaBayRudy Says:

    I mean, who makes the ultimate decision about running the ball? The OC? Or does the HC go over and take the playsheet away and call for more cowbell? Listen fans: don’t be duped. Bowles stated clearly his run-first philosophy. And this guy will run the ball if all he has left in the lineup is Lieutenant Dan. He gave Brady the distinction of retiring to the worst offense of his long, prestigious career. Dump this guy like the Jets dumped him when they had enough of his franchise-dismembering mentality 💪🏻💯 #putrid #stubborn #doofis #tonedeaf

  26. ChiBuc Says:

    Bowles: Coach of the Year

    Canales: Hot HC prospect

    Baker: Comeback Player of the Year

    Crickets… chirp, chirp

    You’re nothing til you’re something, and some things I see = nothing

  27. ModHairKen Says:

    Hainsey. Stinnie. Mauch. And the DL. All outmuscled. Pass rush was nonexistent. Zone does not work if guys don’t know what to do.

    Canales is either stupid or stubborn. Once the ball started getting thrown downfield, things happened over the last 6 weeks.

    Yesterday, Canales regressed. So did Bowles.

    They all need to understand that Dungy was fired after making the playoffs. Gruden fired after 9-7 and 9-7.

    You ain’t safe, son. You better win the next two.

  28. Ex-Browns02 Says:

    ModHairKen: I agree completely. It was a difficult game to watch because the coaching regressed to mid-season incompetence. No (or very late) adjustments. Just keep on doing the same things — both offensively and defensively — that are not working! I feel for the players as they were set up to fail. Frustrating!

  29. Alanbucsfan Says:

    The Saints beat the Bucs when they tried to pass as well…
    When Mayfield wasn’t getting sacked, he was getting picked off and the receivers ( not double teamed Evans and Godwin) when they weren’t getting out physical by Saints’ DBs, they were fumbling and falling down.
    Maybe the 3 days extra rest helped the Saints and Bucs’ injuries were factors, but teams don’t win in NFL when you lose turnover battle 4-0.
    Glass 1/2 full take –
    Assuming Bucs beat Panthers, Bucs will likely play Eagles in 1st playoff game- if Eagles D play like they did vs Cardinals, that’s a winnable game.
    Then the Bucs would possibly play at Dallas in Divisional playoff if Rams knocked off Lions -avoiding 49ers

  30. Ed McSherry Says:

    Told ya, the team wins when Bowles is forced into NOT doing what he usually does (insane, running with no run blocking). Then, when they win big (with a pass-game to Chris/Mike), the next game, the idiot thinks he has a run-game (who knows why he thinks when a pass-game works, that means the run-game will work) and does what he usually does again (run-game that isn’t there).

    In other words, the team wins when Bowles stupid ideas aren’t used, and lose when they are.

    Chris Godwin’s first target: the end of the third period.

    Fire idiot Bowles and his yes-man fool Canales.
    Sign Baker (let him call his own plays) and Mike Evens, and just pick a random fan out of the stands each week to coach, and the game-results will improve dramatically; and with no more embarrassing losses

    This is the second year, not just this year, two years of stupid coaching in a row.

  31. orlbucfan Says:

    Bucs had a bad game. Big problem is it was against our most hated rivals

  32. orlbucfan Says:

    Period.