Best Safeties Duo In The NFL?
November 8th, 2025
Balling.
It sure has been nice to watch the past few weeks.
Joe thinks the way Antoine Winfield is playing, he’s back to his 2023 All-Pro self. He’s been dynamite.
And the incompetence of the zebras two weeks ago in New Orleans may have cost Winfield a second All-Pro season. The guy had two defensive touchdowns thieved from him. That just p!sses Joe off to no end!
As it turns out, Winfield isn’t the only Bucs safety balling out. Todd Bowles moved second-year safety Tykee Smith from slot corner to safety this season and he has played excellent football. Smith has 66 tackles and 8 passes defensed through eight games.
His tackles rank third in the league for safeties, and Smith has played one less game than those ahead of him. His eight passes defensed are tied for the league lead for safeties along with Talanoa Hufanga of Denver and Jordan Battle of Cincinnati.
In fact, Smith is the lone NFL player with 65 or more tackles, 2 or more sacks and 8 passes defended.
The way both Smith and Winfield are playing, it’s difficult to argue against the idea that the Bucs have the best pair of safeties in the game.
November 8th, 2025 at 12:29 am
Tykee is the most consistent football player on this team.
Antoine is just reminding us who he is when his body isn’t failing him.
Both should be pro bowl candidates, would need Tykee to get some splash plays in and I think as long as he’s on the field, those’ll come.
November 8th, 2025 at 12:52 am
You could criticize their coverage skills a bit, though maybe it’s just more of a height issue vs taller WRs, but still probably a top-3 safety tandem. Opportunistic with the splash plays for sure though.
November 8th, 2025 at 12:55 am
It’s definitely the best safety play we’ve had since the Superbowl run. Tykee is an absolute stud and opens the door Winfield do Winfield things. Honestly I think our entire secondary is shaping into one of the leagues best. Now about that pass rush….
November 8th, 2025 at 1:33 am
They both have exceeded my expectations. They are a credit to themselves and to their coaches.
November 8th, 2025 at 1:34 am
Talk about Night and Day compared to last year…..
2x MASSIVE Upgrades this year. We’re witnessing the Best safety play In the Business! And it is Quenching and Refreshing for a change!
November 8th, 2025 at 2:44 am
Tykee might lowkey be Licht’s best draft pick in the last two years. He’s looking fantastic.
AWJ has some great highlights this year, but too many bad angle, missed tackles for a $20M safety.
November 8th, 2025 at 3:01 am
GO BUCS
November 8th, 2025 at 3:45 am
the league sleeps on talking tykee…
now that’s a football player
November 8th, 2025 at 4:40 am
Absolutely, Winfield and Smith are a dynamic duo. Both doing awesome.
November 8th, 2025 at 9:05 am
Agree. Hope Izien gets a little bit of playing time tomorrow, too. Go Bucs!!
November 8th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
They’re playing great but it’s to to elevate their games to the next level and win us some more games.
November 8th, 2025 at 1:41 pm
I think Winfield is finally starting to get back to form after some major injuries. I hope so because he was kinda disappointing for a bit there, but has been looking like his pro bowl version recently. As others said tykee is most consistent player on defense. Could probably throw vea in there and maybe Nelson as a guy who is usually solid off the bench
November 8th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
Izien should play in place of SirCantCover. Guarantee in the first quarter some Patriots RB will gash the doof for 40 yards, 33 of it YAC.
November 8th, 2025 at 2:19 pm
I thought they would be going into the season, as soon as Todd announced the Tykee move… I hope they continue proving me right on that one!!!! It will be lots of fun watching them together, for many rears to come. I hope.
November 8th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Fans don’t seem to realize what kind of impact having 2 safeties playing well has on a defense. You can have the best corners in football but if they don’t have help from the safeties they’ll be forced to give up a lot of underneath completions cause they’re covering the entire length of the field.
AWJ and Tykee balling out gives Todd the freedom to call more/different coverage schemes and the CBs freedom to be more aggressive. It’s been a very big part of the turnaround we’re seeing on defense 👍🏼
November 8th, 2025 at 4:53 pm
Hands down the best duo in the league, Joe.