About The Miserable Jets Passing Game
September 18th, 2025
An old friend returns Sunday in a prominent role.
So the Bucs will entertain a sorry football team Sunday at 1 o’clock.
Sure, every NFL team is dangerous and fans have heard all the clichés about trap games, looking past opponents and the any-given-Sunday line. That still doesn’t stop the Jets from being a bad football team that will play Sunday without its starting quarterback.
The Jets have a true No. 1 receiver in Garrett Wilson. He’s opened his career with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. That’s an accomplishment considering his revolving door of quarterbacks.
But after Wilson, that’s it. Consider that the Jets wide receiver with the second-most targets this season has a total of three. Three!
That’s not a typo. And one of them is ex-Bucs receiver Tyler Johnson.
Thankfully, the Bucs defense is rather healthy. Yeah, Calijah Kancey is out, but the Bucs have won plenty of NFL games without Mr. Kancey in the lineup.
It’s hard to believe Todd Bowles won’t sell out to stop the run Sunday and take his chances with the Jets’ sad passing attack.
Former Bucs safety Logan Ryan (2022) says that’s how Bowles will roll, and he’s even looking ahead to the Eagles-Bucs matchup in Week 4.
“He’s taking [the run] way from you with how many run pressures he brings on early downs, plus Vita Vea’s usage, plus Lavonte David’s value,” Ryan told Numbers Game with Cynthia Frelund. “That’s why [they’re successful stopping the run]. They’re committing the numbers and the talent in the box to stop that. And he wants to make you one-dimensional, which is throw the ball and then he’s going to have all these exotic third-down, passing-situation pressures. That is how he plays the game.
“And that truly, and I don’t want to go there too early, but that’s what gets the Eagles every time.
“That’s why he beats Jalen Hurts every time. He’s taking away that run game, he’s not going to let him scramble, and he’s going to make them operate quickly from the pocket with pressure.”
Joe’s not going there with the Eagles. Too soon. As far as the Jets are concerned, it will be stunning if they can find 21 points against the Bucs.
September 18th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
losing record team, check,
backup qb, check.
coming after 2 wins to open the season, check
are we going to lose again ?
September 18th, 2025 at 2:48 pm
Jets seem to play us tough the past several times, we’re pretty banged up and we are known for a let down game here. Not feeling particularly confident, but hey, I’m not on the team. Hope they pull it out. Feeling depressed about the state of the team health. Can we really be a competitor over a long season? Mayfield is fantastic, love the guy. I’m all in on him, think we should keep him long term.
We need to get Mike Evans that record this year! If the team implodes due to injury, but he still beats Rice, that will at least be a silver lining to me.
But I hope we shock everyone and find a way to be great and win.
September 18th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
This seems to be why we don’t see a ton of sacks from the edge rushers in a Bowles defensive scheme. They focus more on stopping the run than rushing the passer and when it comes to third down when they would be rushing the passer he comes with a zone blitz confusing the quarterback and getting LVD or Tykee or AWJ in on the blitz and dropping Reddick or even VV into coverage.
September 18th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Ricki Says:
September 18th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
losing record team, check,
backup qb, check.
coming after 2 wins to open the season, check
are we going to lose again ?
———-
Yeah, that’s all I keep thinking as well as people are already taking victory laps dismissing the Jets as an automatic W.
BUT, I hold out hope. The Bucs never win in prime time, the Bucs have never won in Houston (ever, not once, Oilers or Texans), so I’m hoping times are a changin’, and old trends are no more, and the Bucs do in fact take care of business and rout the Jets.
BUT, if times are changing — that would also mean we can’t count on Bowles to automatically dominate and humiliate the Eagles yet again, and frankly, I’d much much much rather win vs the Eagles compared to winning against the Jets.
Hopefully we get the best of both worlds, and take care of business with the Jets before dominating the Eagles yet again.
September 18th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
He’s acknowledging the past Joe. I’ll go there. The Bucs have DOMINATED the Eagles in recent years.
September 18th, 2025 at 2:59 pm
With so many injuries I doubt there will be a letdown. The defense knows they have to carry the day, the fill-in guys on offense know they have an opportunity. It’s all hands on deck–closer to panic time than letdown time.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Run the football Sunday period.
FOCUS ON THE JETS!!!
September 18th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Tyler Johnson had close to 300 receiving yards last season, including a reception for 63 yards, so he can’t be entirely ignored.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Backup QB. This one will be down to the wire again, unfortunately.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:18 pm
Nervous about this Jets game. It has trap written all over it with a running Jets backup QB.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Vs the Jets is exactly the type of game we lose. Hopefully they come out this week fired up and prepared.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Does the backup up qb curse get cancelled out by our o line issues?
September 18th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Logan Ryan (about Todd Bowles’ defenses) … “He’s taking [the run] way from you with how many run pressures he brings on early downs, plus Vita Vea’s usage, plus Lavonte David’s value. That’s why [they’re successful stopping the run]. They’re committing the numbers and the talent in the box to stop that. And he wants to make you one-dimensional, which is throw the ball and then he’s going to have all these exotic third-down, passing-situation pressures. That is how he plays the game.’
Really cool description of how Todd Bowles orchestrates the defense. Frustrating as he11, but he’s spot on. Not hard to see though why our OLBs don’t exactly set the league on fire when it comes to sacks.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
If the Bucs had not been Poleaxed by that 0-2 Broncos team last year by 19 points-then maybe a trap, but the Denver game is still fresh in everyones memory. So about 45-13 Bucs and you can watch anything you want in the second half as this game will be over.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
We will win.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
Tyler Johnson was underrated as a role player in the last Superbowl run.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
I am not worried about the D this week. *drinks heavily Sunday night after Tyrod goes for 275 and 3 TDs*
What is this O gonna look like?
Runs and check downs and punts is what I am used to seeing when the protection is weak or your QB is 45, fragile and going through a divorce.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
Yeah, real exotic. So exotic the Bucs consistently rank in the 20s in pass defense.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
logan ryan described todds philosophy perfectly, 3-0 would take a lot of pressure off the eagles game, patch together a good o line and race to the playoffs
September 18th, 2025 at 3:43 pm
Ricki
Don’t forget it’s at home.
Bucs are 3-10 lifetime against the Jets, and i’ve seen them lose at Raymond James Stadium when we had a good team, Mike Allstott, Brad Johnson, our defense, etc., etc.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:45 pm
that ring smack the texans ran at Baker is exactly what is needed to keep his fire burning stay healthy Baker… that somersault is nfl highlight of the year so far, bake is next level this year
September 18th, 2025 at 3:48 pm
Injuries have them playing with more desperation. They are playing with an “Us against the world” mentality.
They’ll beat The Jets.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:48 pm
Bucs are 13th in scoring defense Joe-Forest for the trees.
September 18th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
Absolute trap game. Look for the Bucs to be shredded with the short passing game. Jets 24 Bucs 13. And Baker gets hurt. Blind side knockout hit.
September 18th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
One game at a time!!!! Take care of business on Sunday!!
September 18th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
When you emphasize stuffing the run (and are successful) people will pass more against you.
* TB faced the 2nd most pass attempts in the league last year
* From Week 12 to Week 18 of the 2024 season, the Buccaneers’ pass defense significantly improved, ranking fourth in EPA allowed and seventh in success rate allowed.
If we weren’t so good against the RUN we’d really be in trouble. Surprised (?) no-one gives props to us, or Todd, for that aspect of our team but ypg allowed passing gets beat to death in spite of it NOT really being indicative of overall (w/l) success…… statistically speaking.
September 18th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
If Todd was as concerned with the pass d as he is with the run d this defense would be decent.
September 18th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
Injuries, creamsicles, and Todd selling out to stop the run. This is gonna be ugly.
Todd won’t bother to take away their only real passing threat. Sanity says you double Garrett Wilson the whole game . Even if he’s on the bench I’d be tempted to have two guys over there watching him. (sarcasm, ladies and lizard)
We know Todd’s too smart for that since it’s simple. Look for brand new zone coverages that are too complicated for the guys and we have lots of busts, of course the obligatory opening drive TD. But exotic stuff that will elicit “ ooh that’s exotic” from the broadcast booth.
Can’t find enough to drink.
September 18th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Jeff, I’d like to be your granddad for one day. No, I couldn’t take a day of you. So it’s a good thing it’d only take a minute or two.
September 18th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
Maybe we don’t let them go right down the field for a quick 7-0 score, like the last 2 games for starters! And I feel like we get a fumble recovery or pick in this game late, that helps secure a tough close call win…I mean might as well keep the heart attack victories coming with a third in a row!
September 18th, 2025 at 6:03 pm
Good News. We get to watch a nice Buc Winn1111
September 18th, 2025 at 6:32 pm
This should be a nice CLOSE game.
September 18th, 2025 at 6:47 pm
We can say they’re not good all we want, but when you don’t have an offensive line every game is going to be close or a disaster. They better go all out to get this win because after this week it’s going to be a rough road until they get somewhat healthy.
September 18th, 2025 at 6:59 pm
tyler is a good WR when we let him go i was puzzled thought he deserved to stay. had a huge postseason catch too.
September 18th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
This is the type of game the old Bucs might lose. Let’s see if they can break that cycle
September 18th, 2025 at 7:55 pm
The Jets are gonna get clobbered on Sunday. GO BUCS!
September 18th, 2025 at 8:06 pm
Kidflo that would truly be a low light of this season if they do. Both Mauch and Goedeke out not sure how the offense will work out. Baker might lead all runners with his scrambles
September 18th, 2025 at 9:33 pm
Keeping look past the jets just like you did with the Broncos last season. What was it, like 5 different articles about the Broncos sad, morbid offense and how bad Bo Nix was? And then we got curb stomped.
“Any given Sunday” exists for a reason…
September 18th, 2025 at 10:27 pm
Ricki has a point. We better be very very alert because all indicators are we will get stumped. 1)backup QB named Tyrod Taylor 2) 1st home game 3) we have 2 wins 4) we are wearing orange uni’s 5) rookie head coach 6) Jets are a baaad team so many reasons we need to come out with head on a swivel
September 18th, 2025 at 11:45 pm
The heads of the pass defense players will be fuzzy and cloudy because the Genius will load them up with last minute installs of new zone exotica, which on paper would be lauded by historians centuries from now, but instead will make Tyrod look like Elway and Wilson look like Jerry Rice.
September 19th, 2025 at 6:50 am
“That’s why he beats Jalen Hurts every time. He’s taking away that run game, he’s not going to let him scramble, and he’s going to make them operate quickly from the pocket with pressure.”
It’s so refreshing to hear people who actually know what Bowles’ defense does and how it works elaborate on it while keeping it simple enough for even causal fans to understand.
“Really cool description of how Todd Bowles orchestrates the defense. Frustrating as he11, but he’s spot on. Not hard to see though why our OLBs don’t exactly set the league on fire when it comes to sacks.“
This is NOT what that means at all, lol if the whole point is to discourage the run game and force opposing offenses to beat you from the pocket that factors in to our tendency to play cover 3/quarters or like some erroneously refer to it as “soft” zones, the whole point is to keep the ball in front of you. So now if a team that’s usually good for 20-25 rushes a game only rushes 17 times in a game against us, you’re forcing their hand.
Now if we have offensive that could consistently touch paint, and actually build a lead you’re looking at MORE pass rush reps, which equates to more sack opportunities, but also news flash Bucs nation-you cannot pass rush more if your opposition can move the ball on the ground or are up on the scoreboard.
You think it’s a coincidence Shaq Barrett had 19.5 sacks with a QB that put the defense back on the field 30 times?
Also, every defensive call IS NOT just to produce sacks, it’s to stop what the offense does best. You take away the run, like Bijan Robinson said you also take away portions of their playbook. Granting your defense more pass rush opportunities. You’ve documented on here before DR, our sack totals
September 19th, 2025 at 7:27 am
Here’s the thing, we’re just fans here and we can look past the Jets all we want. Anything that is posted on this site has zero bearing on what the Bucs actually. Why they lose games against bad teams they shouldn’t, it’s fully beyond me but every team does at different points throughout the season.
Due to the injuries, I think the remaining Bucs starting this Sunday are going to be focused and playing at a high level. I like our chances against the Jets and winning a week 3 game in creamsicle is just like winning a Monday night football game. Bucs don’t usually do it but this season is different.
September 19th, 2025 at 11:26 am
I would not call the Jets miserable until we beat them. This might be a TRAP game. I hope not.
September 19th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
Are the Jets a bottom 5 team? Yes.
Is the Bucs offensive line decimated? Yes.
Do the Bucs have a 1 and 4 record wearing the Creamcicles in the last 20 years? Yes.
Does the Bucs defense have a poor record with unknown or little known QBs? Yes.
I desperately want the Bucs to win as they ha e their home opener and honor their 50th season. But for crying out loud, do not overlook the challenges we face, even against a weak team.