The Perfect Week 1
May 17th, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
The Buccaneer defense begins its Redemption Tour in an appropriate setting.
The Atlanta Falcons are the right opponent at the right time as Tampa Bay kicks off its 2025 season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. No rival has bedeviled Todd Bowles more often since he became head coach of the Bucs in 2022.
Week 1 will test the “killer instinct” Todd Bowles wants in his 2025 defense.
Before the Falcons imploded last fall, losing six of their final eight games, they appeared well on their way to ending Tampa Bay’s run atop the NFC South. In building a 6-3 record, Atlanta swept the Bucs in a pair of high-scoring matchups.
That improved the Falcons to 4-2 against the Bowles regime, shredding Tampa Bay’s pass defense in the process.
We’ll see if second-year pro Michael Penix Jr. can continue Atlanta’s habit of torching the Buc secondary. Kirk Cousins, Desmond Ridder and Marcus Mariota all had success against Bowles’ defense in the past three seasons and that Southern hospitality simply has to stop — beginning with the season opener.
In the last six matchups, Atlanta quarterbacks completed 66 percent of their throws with 12 TD passes. More significantly, Tampa Bay defenders registered only two interceptions during Atlanta’s 207 pass attempts.
Bowles says he’s looking for ballhawks. That’s why Tampa Bay selected defensive backs Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish on Day 2 of the draft. Penix is talented, but he’s still raw and the Bucs need to make a statement in Atlanta that they intend to win the division for the fifth consecutive season.
Bowles reviewed every game of the 2024 season in detail, especially the losses. He kept coming back to the number 7. That’s how many balls his defense picked off in 630 opportunities to grab a takeaway.
On the crap table, a 7 is known as a natural. On the football field, Tampa Bay’s 7 is a disgrace.
The most depressing setback of the regular season came right there at Atlanta in Week 5, where Cousins threw for 509 yards and four scores in a 36-30 OT victory. A late fourth-quarter fumble by Bucky Irving proved to be a critical mistake, but most of the blame falls on a defense that allowed 42 completions.
Only seven times in NFL history has a defense yielded more.
Returning to the scene of the crime gives Tampa Bay an early chance to atone for past sins. Bowles has been talking about developing a “killer instinct” in 2025. This Week 1 matchup offers an opportunity to remind the Falcons who’s boss.
Atlanta has averaged 31 points against the Bucs in the last three meetings. The Falcons boast a strong running game, but let’s not confuse their offense with the 2000 Rams.
Now it’s up to Bowles, bolstered by intriguing newcomers, to establish a new defensive tone from the start.
Some NFL clubs aren’t happy with their Week 1 opponent. The Bucs should be elated.
They should thank the NFL’s schedule maker for providing an immediate opportunity to make a statement to the rest of the division — it’s good to be the king.
Ira Kaufman Goes Inside The Simeon Rice Ring Of Honor Selection, Talks Charlie Strong & Antoine Winfield, Todd Bowles’ Description Of David Walker, Trey Hendrickson, The Giant Jon Gruden About Face, And More
May 17th, 2025 at 8:30 am
Show me things have changed. I’m not buying it until I see improved results.
May 17th, 2025 at 8:53 am
Aqualung
Nobody expects you to “buy” anything before seeing results. As they say “Caveat Emptor”
It’s the tone of your skepticism. You’ve ALREADY written off Bowles so many times that nobody feels you’re able to give an objective view of things.
Bowles has had plenty of mistakes, he’s also had plenty of successes, like keeping a team together after a mid season losing streak to rebound for Division titles.
Some people here “Lung” would say it was just a very weak year if the Bucs in the SB,,,first of course it’s meaningless to shoot for a Divison title because it’s derided as the NFC South. I have no doubt if the Bucs advance to the Conference title game and win it will be because the Conference sucks this year according to the trolls.
Nobody expects you to start jumping up and down for Bowles. It would be nice however if you could provide a little balance to your negative expectations.
May 17th, 2025 at 8:54 am
There are many reasons why the defense should be much improved this season- especially because it’s almost impossible to be more injured than last season! And there’s far more talent beginning with a fully healthy Winfield.
May 17th, 2025 at 9:00 am
A well cooked bird is the perfect meal.
May 17th, 2025 at 9:20 am
“beginning with a fully healthy Winfield.”
AMEN!
May 17th, 2025 at 9:55 am
Ira … ‘The Atlanta Falcons are the right opponent at the right time as Tampa Bay kicks off its 2025 season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.’
Love that opening Sage. Kicking the snot out of Atlanta will set the tone for the season, and that’s EXACTLY what we need. It’s the perfect season opener, in their house no less.
Todd Bowles is now 3-0 on opening day as the Bucs’ head coach. And 2 of those 3 wins were on the road. Plus the defense played quite well in all 3 games, yielding a total of only 40 points (13 PPG average) against 3 very good offenses.
I think the reason is that we had everyone healthy, and when we’re healthy we can beat just about anyone. When we’re healthy. But there-in lied our problem last year; I can’t imagine any team suffering more injuries than we did and still coming out with a winning record & making the playoffs. This year we’re starting off with better depth and that’ll pay dividends. We got this.
May 17th, 2025 at 10:14 am
stpetebucsfan Says:
Bowles has had plenty of mistakes, he’s also had plenty of successes, like keeping a team together after a mid season losing streak to rebound for Division titles.
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Once our new OC gets comfortable running the offense, allowing Bowles to focus on the defense, this team will be dangerous, especially in the second half of the season after the rookies have had a chance to develop some. If we don’t get hit with multiple serious injuries at a position where we lack depth, this is a team that can go deep into the playoffs.
If some of our 2nd and 3rd year pass rushers can take a step forward and Hassan Reddick can play like he did when he was one of the best in the NFL, our defense should be dramatically improved, even if we hadn’t upgraded the secondary. And while rookie pass rushers don’t usually make much of an impact in their first season, David Walker could be an exception.
Their future is so bright I gotta wear shades! 😉
May 17th, 2025 at 10:20 am
Much in agreement on the injury issue.
Plus there are the other things…
Good punter. Tez as a possible punt returner?
Reddick, Walker added. No JTS. Diaby & Braswell more experienced. Foote coaching.
Morrison, Parrish added. Smith to safety (maybe?). Two more vets added.
Walker & Jones added. LVD still here. Dennis more experience with time in the system.
Roberts added. Kancey only getting better. Watson losing weight as the ultimate run stuffer (I know I’m reaching on that one 😆).
A pretty high powered offense is pretty much the same.. oh except adding a first round pick in Egbuka and who knows how Johnson will play out through camp.
May 17th, 2025 at 10:32 am
I honestly hate Atlanta being the 1st game.
Early in the season before either team is able to develop any groove. Brand new OC and updated defensive scheme will have the Bucs not playing at full speed.
Would much rather have a no name team that doesn’t affect our entire season and postseason rankings.
I’m definitely whining, but I enjoy good football and weeks 1-3 for me are sloppy and usually don’t reflect what a team will look like when they are in stride during the year.
Think back to the Washington game last season and how different they ended up being end of season
May 17th, 2025 at 10:36 am
KABucs Says:
Roberts added. Kancey only getting better. Watson losing weight as the ultimate run stuffer (I know I’m reaching on that one 😆).
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I see Watson as more of a project. If he makes the practice squad so he can continue to be developed, and he can get his weight down to a point where he can be the best version of himself, it will be interesting. I’d love to see him make the active roster either here in Tampa or elsewhere, preferably here though. It would be nice to have him available in the playoffs when facing the Eagles.
May 17th, 2025 at 10:44 am
Bowles is 3-0 on opening day as Bucs’ head coach with wins over Cowboys, Vikings and Commanders.
He will have Bucs ready for a tough game against their closest rival in the division.
May 17th, 2025 at 11:04 am
great writeup on what is at stake and how bad the bucs performance was last year against the birds.
“Only seven times in NFL history has a defense yielded more.”
May 17th, 2025 at 11:05 am
If Bucky doesn’t fumble, we win that game. It was as a terrible call, given an obvious penalty on the play.
May 17th, 2025 at 11:10 am
Redemption Tour? Why do Bucs fans and writers always look up at bad teams. The Falcons were not a playoff team. They are trying to build a team as good as the Bucs. Some fans – and writers – are just permanently scarred by the 1980-90s teams.
May 17th, 2025 at 11:11 am
Same reason coaches do and many players.
May 17th, 2025 at 11:13 am
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
May 17th, 2025 at 11:16 am
Only seven times in NFL history has a defense yielded more.
Hope Todd did a bit of self analyisis as well. 500 yards doesn’t just happen.
Go Bucs!
May 17th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
“it’s good to be the king.” – “Oh piss-boy……”
Mel Brooks – History of the World pt 1
May 17th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
In the 80’s you could trade a pack of cigarettes for an end zone seat…
May 17th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Pickgrin – nice reference! Love Mel Brooks.
May 17th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
I live playing in Atlanta week 1. An away division game is something I usually count on a loss, just because div games are always tight. So a loss is not the end of the world or even really dissapointing.
Playing them week 1 before their 2 new d.e. can figure out the NFL and having the off-season to prepare for penix is a bonus. Plus, we are returning all offensive starters and most all defensive starters. The week 1 match up plays into the more veteran filled teams, and that is definitely tampa.
May 17th, 2025 at 1:55 pm
Beej –
End zone ‘seats’ (metal bench) in the early/mid 80s at the big sombrero were $9 (started at $6) – major concert tickets were $7-$10 (plus a quarter service charge)….
Cigarettes were less than $1….
But your point is valid…..
I remember the joke back in the day about leaving 2 Bucs tickets on the windshield in the stadium parking lot (because it was too much effort to try and sell them for a couple/few dollars) – walk back to the car after the game – and discover there are now 4 unused tickets under the wiper blade….. LOL
Its INSANE how much big event sports and concerts now cost….
$1 in 1983 allegedly equals $3.23 in 2025 dollars….
By that measure football games and big concert tickets should’t cost more than $40-$50 max today….. But NOOOOO – Nosebleed seats for a game or concert are now $150+ and if you want “good” seats – WELL – that’s gonna set you back $300-$500+ per seat….
Large gathering ‘entertainment’ prices have gotten so out of hand its not even funny anymore…..
I used to go to quite a few Bucs home games each year and basically every music concert that was worth seeing…..
Now – its very much a pick and choose carefully scenario regarding attending live sports and music ‘entertainment’….. Because the price of these things has escalated beyond all reason…..
May 17th, 2025 at 1:56 pm
This was a gift. Bowles has these guys showing up early in the season. NFL gave us the best possible opponent week 1.
Carolina is gonna be an interesting problem at the end of the season. I’m more worried about those games and what they could do to Bucs playoff odds/seeding.
Say what you will about Canales as an X and O guy, but it’s clear he can orate and confidently lead a group of men. With Carolina’s talent last year, getting 5 wins was no small feat. Missing key defensive pieces.
May 17th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
KABucs listed a few 👍🏼. No one expects you to “buy it” tho. Objectivity and open-mindedness are not easy to acquire and practice but I wish you luck (if you choose to try) in finding them. ✌🏼
It’s funny….when I started rooting for TB I didn’t even know Todd Bowles. It was only after reading SO MANY simple minded put downs of him that I became a fan of his.
May 17th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Wow, those stats are quite damning.
Especially considering it was multiple different QBs, HCs, and OCs doing that… Ugh.
Perhaps we could try playing some man coverage and have the corners press the opposing WRs? Crazy thought, I know.
May 17th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
Pickgrin
Don’t get saucy with me Bernaise…
May 17th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
The Bucs surely improved the DB group. And, Winfield should be healthy.
But, can the ILBs stop Atlanta in the middle of the field? Last year’s weakest position group again looks to be the frighteningly thin. Can a second year QB with an off season to prepare light up the Bucs like Cousins did twice?
ILB CJ Mosley is a free agent and a productive Pro Bowler ILB coming off a season erased by injuries. The last time he did that, he followed up the injury with three very good seasons playing 50 games.
If he passes the physical, Mosley would be a really sharp arrow to add to Bowles’ quiver at a huge discount – less than $5 million guaranteed with incentives for close to $10 million.
The Bucs manufactured the cap space. Maybe Mosley doesn’t pass the physical. But, this is the kind of move the Bucs need to make to close the last big chink in their armor and put the bird in the air fryer.