Postseason Pain Ran Deep
May 31st, 2025
Running back weighs in.
So the Bucs were ousted from the playoffs last season because of two brutal mistakes on offense and a defense with a Santa Claus mentality.
It was downright ugly to lose at home like that against a rookie quarterback. Nobody at One Buc Palace brushed off that three-point setback to the Commanders easily.
But the pain ran a little deeper than perhaps some fans realize, per the words of 2023 and 2024 Bucs running back Chase Edmonds. He was on injured reserve last season but continued to be a regular at One Buc Palace and a mentor to younger players.
Edmonds told The Sick Podcast — Pirate Parlay that the Commanders loss was an extension of the one-score playoff loss to the Lions a year prior.
“We talk about that [Lions] game still to this day because we really felt like we gave them that game…” Edmonds said. “And that’s why I know last year for those guys, it was so disappointing. You know, I think it makes you feel a little better when the team that you did lose to goes all the way to at least the NFC Championship. It felt like the [2023] story was being written all over again.”
Edmonds was confident “Philly didn’t want to see Tampa” in last season’s playoffs. He called it a bad matchup for the Eagles, who would have been the Bucs’ opponent if they didn’t fall to Washington.
Joe just hopes all this reflection translates into an angry Bucs defense come September.
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May 31st, 2025 at 9:17 am
It was downright to lose at home like that against a rookie quarterback.
Sure was.
May 31st, 2025 at 9:28 am
Bucs had no answer for Daniel’s. Bowles had no answer.
That is why they lost.
They can be bitter all they want, but until the D can stop a guy like Daniel’s, they will continue the one-and-done…
May 31st, 2025 at 9:30 am
Downright Criminal?
Downright Inexcusable?
Downright Sloppy?
Downright Pathetic?
Downright Weak?
Downright Putrid?
Downright Stupid?
Downright Predictable?
Guys help out Joe and pick one Downright from above or add your own.
May 31st, 2025 at 9:56 am
@Todd
Downright Bowlesh*t.
May 31st, 2025 at 10:03 am
The bottom line is the Bucs did lose those playoff games. A loser mentality thinks, “At least we kept it close. The Lions/Commanders were very good teams.” Other myopic mindsets think, ‘if, if, if, if … Then the Bucs win.’
The Eagles, as much as I loathe their fan base, have been to the last two of three Super Bowls, blowing out KC to win the 2025 edition. GM-Howie Grossman.
The Chiefs have been to the last three Super Bowls, winning two. GM-Brett Veach.
Eagles Record since 2022—39-12 with a 7-2 playoff record.
Chiefs Record since 2022—40-11 with a 9-1 playoff record.
During the past three years there are 13 NFL teams with more regular season wins than the Bucs (27-24 ) (1-3 playoffs). 13!!!!
How is that possible with the greatest GM, Head Coach and QB in football?
There are some who say a team’s record speaks for itself. And I’m one of them!
I have no ill will against Mayfield, Licht or Bowles. They all appear to be great guys. There’s an old axiom that goes something like this: ‘Nice guys finish …’
Emotionally, my heart is with the Bucs. Until proven otherwise, however, I refuse to be blinded by that emotion into thinking the Bucs are something they’re not.
In the meantime I’ll stick with HOPE …
May 31st, 2025 at 10:14 am
Downright embarassing
May 31st, 2025 at 10:15 am
No Jill Tryon is an instant upgrade to the D.
May 31st, 2025 at 10:22 am
Keep blaming the defense
They had 2 4th down stops
Baker gave that game away with that stupid turnover
10 pt swing
Ball security is something he needs to work on for sure
May 31st, 2025 at 10:28 am
Coaching matters.
Two rookies were unprepared for the big moment and were situationally unaware.
And the defense couldn’t make a rookie QB get off the field.
And Todd chose to go with his defense to win the game, something they hadn’t and couldn’t do all season.
Coaching matters. Poor coaching really hurts.
May 31st, 2025 at 10:28 am
The close scores show the Bucs have a fighting chance. That is all I can ask! Sure beats the late 80s/early 90s!
May 31st, 2025 at 10:28 am
Just be happy as fans we have a team now that we can actually discuss playoff losses.
May 31st, 2025 at 10:40 am
@JA
Best honest take I’ve read here in a long time 👍👍👍
May 31st, 2025 at 10:53 am
Barton’s snap.
Bakers fumble (bad play call)
Kancey grabbing Daniels towel.
May 31st, 2025 at 10:58 am
I see we have some new trolls today…
May 31st, 2025 at 11:01 am
the bucs are average, the offense was above average last year, they will be around the same this year. if the D pulls up their socks a bit then there might be an extra W in the win column.
bowles has no killer instinct and seemingly is nothing more than an average HC. he needs to go….
May 31st, 2025 at 11:11 am
Agreed. Hope they come out and slay some dragons this season.
May 31st, 2025 at 11:22 am
Bayou—Thanks …
jcscycles—please define “troll???”
My definition would have it being someone who hates the Bucs—someone who is in dire need to draw attention to themself by posting lies with hope to create controversy.
I don’t read that description above. Misplaced blame can be argued, but overall I read takes from those who want this team to win.
Or …
Would a troll be somebody who disagrees with you—someone who doesn’t blindly approve of all decisions by Licht, believes in the coaching greatness of Bowles or sees no difference between Mayfield’s 16 interceptions and Lamar Jackson’s 4?
May 31st, 2025 at 12:04 pm
We have a competitive team, and I know that I’m not the only one who remembers the decades our team was great material for Johnny Carson every Monday night during the season. Appreciate the people doing the work, all of them. The HC/DC is not the enemy. The backup QB is not the enemy. The rookie who didn’t impress last season would not be here at all if someone didn’t see some value in him. Maybe he just needed to play a different position. It is possible to be critical and respectful at the same time. Intelligent people do it easily. Others struggle. We don’t have a perfect team. Nobody does. Every single team in the league has issues. We’re better positioned than most because we already have MOST of the solutions. We just have to put them in the right place and keep them healthy. We’re in the playoffs every year. Who else can make that statement. Appreciate it. We spent decades where we weren’t.
May 31st, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Best thing we can do to help the defense, draft a WR!
May 31st, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Get us a big bodied backup to Vita please. We need more beef on the D Line. We are fairly solid everywhere but there – except LB if injuries continue.
May 31st, 2025 at 2:09 pm
Not as embarrassing as the whipping the lions took at home the following week by Washington. Remember the Lions were supposed to win it all.
May 31st, 2025 at 3:08 pm
@aqualung
How did your favorite coach (who you’ve claimed as a much better coach than Todd) do against the Commanders? What would Dan Campbell have done differently?
May 31st, 2025 at 3:14 pm
“How is that possible with the greatest GM, Head Coach and QB in football?”
Seriously? Who has said Licht is the greatest GM? Seriously without snark.
IMHO and I’ve read others, he’s ONE of the best.
Who has said the HC is the greatest. Again…Seriously? I haven’t read a single post calling Todd the “greatest” anything. Many of us though counter those who say he’s the WORST or assign more blame than he deserves, not calling him the “greatest” or even best coach in the NFL. Simply pointing out that he has won the Division(OPINIONS of the quality of the Division being irrelevant) every year he’s coached. His record has improved THREE straight seasons! That’s NOT calling him “The Greatest”!!! It’s simply pointing out FACTS not opinions!!!
Who has said Baker is the greatest or even best QB in the NFL? Again SERIOUSLY? I defended Baker early when Munchmeister and others were ripping him. I, and I think others here think he has enough ability to lead the right TEAM to a Lombardi trophy. Think Brad Johnson with a different skill set. Did anybody ever call Brad the greatest QB or even the best in the league while he was playing.
Now paste the starting lineup for the Bucs SB team. Is there ANY comparison with the squad that took the field since the GOAT’s departure. Otton is good IMHO but does ANYBODY here compare him to Gronk? There are how many players from that team remaining. 3? 4? How many GREAT players…LVD and Wirfs and Vea? Antoine Winfield, but he missed virtually the entire season last year.
Is there any fool here who really wants to compare the talent on the SB team to the past two years squads? AGAIN Seriously? Is there anybody here who wishes to deny that the cap restraints brought about in securing Brady/Gronk et al created a significant challenge.
Is there anybody among the critics who wish to bring even a SHRED of context?
May 31st, 2025 at 3:19 pm
BTW while you’re comparing the talent on that SB team QB’s by the GOAT recall that they couldn’t even win the Division so many here constantly slander.
Yep New Orleans beat the Bucs. Does that mean Brady’s 7th Lombardi is tarnished? I know many here think the DC got lucky due to injuries to KC.
Of course if Todd is in the conversation regarding any success it’s always LUCK!!!
May 31st, 2025 at 3:27 pm
@JA
Troll
Noun – a person who makes a deliberately offensive or provocative online post.
Verb – make a deliberately offensive or provocative online post with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them.
May 31st, 2025 at 4:01 pm
Perhaps Todd has avoided the Muhammad Ali moniker, but I have read several posters who have said Licht is the best GM in football today.
I may be getting a bit longer in the tooth, but I don’t sit around and conjure up fictions about those who have laid claim to Licht’s greatness.
How can you miss them, Pete?
BTW— Pete, you seem like a likable guy, but you’re a homer defined. The only criticisms I read from you are against those who are critical of the Bucs, be them warranted of otherwise —— something akin to a presidential press secretary defending his/her boss (who can do no wrong).
Gator—The verb would be ‘trolled, trolling or trolls’ to be succinct. It’s a tense thing linked to first, second or third person.
But thanks for the enlightenment just the same …
May 31st, 2025 at 6:10 pm
@1sparkybuc 👍🏼
May 31st, 2025 at 6:38 pm
74 Bucs Fan Says:
May 31st, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Get us a big bodied backup to Vita please. We need more beef on the D Line. We are fairly solid everywhere but there – except LB if injuries continue.
===================================
If Desmond Watson doesn’t fit the definition of ‘big bodied”, who does? Put that guy is the sauna for a couple of months with boxes of apples and he will still be big bodied.
May 31st, 2025 at 8:00 pm
JA
“Pete, you seem like a likable guy, but you’re a homer defined.”
Don’t know about the first part of that sentence but you’re spot on with the second. I AM most certainly a homer defined, kinda like being a JoeBucsfan.
I get honest criticism, but when it’s over the top and totally lacking in respect I confess it triggers me. I’m from the Teddy Roosevelt school of thought in his famous “Man In the Arena” ” “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.”
May 31st, 2025 at 9:40 pm
I think this year’s draft and last year’s is starting to cement Licht as one of the best in the league. He just finds talent. Is he THE best? Probably not, but this team is filled with talent and that starts with the GM. Bowles is clearly an average, at best, Head Coach. Maybe he’s learned something this off-season, as he’s supposedly had a eureka moment on his defense defending the pass. Just have Dennis back there with that shoulder finally fixed correctly will greatly improve the middle of the field coverage (as it was in the beginning of last season before he got hurt). We’ll see if Bowles can do things this year more geared toward making wins out of nothing, as opposed to curling up into a ball at the worst moments.
As far as Baker, if he could consistently play at his top level for most of the season and the entire post season, he could get us to the dance. But we have yet to see that out of him anywhere he’s played. He’s just too prone to doing something dumb at the worst possible time, like the Washington playoff game. Just can’t make the mistakes he does as often as he does. I can’t fault those who root for him, with some of those unbelievable plays he pulls off. It’s just the drive killing mistakes, including taking bad sacks, that drives me up the wall.
May 31st, 2025 at 10:39 pm
Falconrap. Really thoughtful comments. You say our coach is average at best. Our QB is prone to doing something dumb at the worst possible time. Our coach has won the division every single year he’s been our head coach. Improved his record every year he’s been our head coach. Our QB has the best QB rating in the playoffs of any QB in the league. As you said Falconrap, like the Washington playoff game. Where he was 15-18 passing with 2 tds. Unbelievable, 2 TDS on 18 throws. Highest QBR in the playoffs. But you are so soft and gentle Falconrap, and it is hard to think of your opinions as serious. You’re a man of your convictions though, aren’t you? If you had any balls you’d just say it. Fire the coach and get rid of the QB. Say it Falconrap and then tell us how great Licht is to have had our top 2 positions manned by such duds as Bowles and Baker. Because you did say Licht was doing fine, right. Can’t wait for more of your thoughtful comments Falconrap. Love those thoughtful comments.
May 31st, 2025 at 11:16 pm
🔥🔥 TB
May 31st, 2025 at 11:19 pm
Mike McCarthy is available right now.
He knows how to win.
Proof: He beat the great Todd Bowles.
June 1st, 2025 at 12:22 am
@JA – I think you need a little more hyperbole in your last comment.
NO ONE has ever suggested the Bucs have the best HC or best QB in football. They don’t even say that about Licht either, though many say he’s one of the best. I would put him in top-5ish – top-7ish around the league.
BTW- did you black out and forget how many injuries we had last season? The 2024 Bucs had the 7th most missed games due to injury in the entire league. Out of the 6 teams who had more, only a couple made the playoffs and none of them got very far either.
It’s almost like, injuries have a huge effect on the outcome of your season. Imagine that?
June 1st, 2025 at 1:02 am
Some of the dumbest snowflakes on the internet post questions so ignant (misspelling intentional) there are no additional answers because performance answers it all.
Record. Advancing in the playoffs. Winning. Having the sense to deploy a full coaching staff instead of hamstringing your own team because of your arrogance.
June 1st, 2025 at 10:11 am
Lololololololol a lotta same ole assclowns with keyboard diarrhea
June 1st, 2025 at 2:36 pm
8+9+10=27 27 wins, not 24.
June 1st, 2025 at 2:40 pm
This is certainly the best team we have fielded since the Super Bowl season. Let’s see how it plays out…
There’s lots of talent. Limiting mistakes would be huge.