Defense May Save Bucs’ Bacon
November 5th, 2025
Giving the defense props.
Yeah, Joe guesses one could go back to the win over San Francisco and suggest that’s when the Bucs’ defense began to play consistently stingy. Joe won’t argue with you about that.
But man, the past two games, Joe has been very impressed with the defense. The Bucs in Detroit held the mighty Lions to 24 points.
Just on face value, you hold any team to 24 points and you should be in the game or at least have a chance to win. That’s good. But the Lions, up until that game, has a six-game streak at home, including a loss to Washington in the playoffs, where Detroit averaged 37 points a game.
The Bucs held the Lions to two touchdowns less than their average. Not a couple of points, not a field goal or two — but two touchdowns less! That’s impressive.
Then the way the defense of the Bucs tore up the slimy Saints, well, you just hate to see that. 🙂 Damn, that was an impressive, suffocating, curb-stomping of a defensive display.
This has not been lost on Baker Mayfield.
Appearing on the Manning Bros. Show Monday night on BSPN (Joe didn’t see it live as Joe is one of millions of innocent Americans being held hostage by Disney bean counters’ racketeering tactics, denying Joe football.) There, Mayfield made sure to give the Bucs defense props.
Peyton Manning asked Mayfield how he thought the Bucs were at the bye week.
“Good,” Mayfield said. “You know, we’ve had a lot of injuries so far, just banged up.
“The guys are guys are making plays. Guys have stepped up in a big way.
“And I think our defense right now is in a really good place, just the way they’re pressuring.”
In the past three games, the Bucs have racked up 15 sacks from 11 players. Anthony Nelson and YaYa Diaby each have three the past three games. And who will ever forget Nelson’s pick-six of Spencer Rattler?
The way the defense has played lately, it may just be bailing the offense out until the offense can find a way to shake off the cobwebs.
In other words, the defense is playing so well, it is buying the offense time.
Eli: At what point in the week do you practice your scrambling?
Baker: I tried one time in Fayetteville, Arkansas and it didn't go too well. Wound up getting arrested. pic.twitter.com/wyC7Ra1W8i
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) November 4, 2025
November 5th, 2025 at 7:06 am
“In other words, the defense is playing so well, it is buying the offense time.”
This has been the case in just about every game with the exception of the Seahawks game, and even in that game it took a defensive takeaway late to give our offense the opportunity to close the door for the win. Seems some here would rather go out their way to gripe about select players, and stay blind to the fact the whole unit has been playing solid give or take some big plays against/for us.
November 5th, 2025 at 7:30 am
Move Culp to WR to replace Mike Evans, and play Kam Johnson more. We have potential play makers we just need to get them on the field
November 5th, 2025 at 7:35 am
The offense played well at first, buying the defense time to gel.
The defense started to gel just in time as offensive injuries started to pile up.
The bye week came just in time for both teams to get healthier.
Hopefully, both will gel now (or within a couple games).
When both sides are playing well…this team will be unbeatable.
November 5th, 2025 at 7:36 am
When Luke comes back, maybe Otton will be used in the passing game more.
November 5th, 2025 at 7:58 am
@ First Last- I’ve been uttering this for so long man. Just makes too much sense
November 5th, 2025 at 8:18 am
“There are four teams tied for the best record in the conference, and one of them isn’t even a division leader. The Buccaneers, who are near the top of the list and among that foursome of 6-2 teams, have beaten the current #3 and #6 seeds, have lost to #1 and #7 and will be playing #5 in just a few weeks.” – Buccaneers. Com
This may be the best NFC playoff season in years.
Best of all…we will see the Bucs in the SB!
November 5th, 2025 at 8:27 am
Second half of Eagles game
November 5th, 2025 at 8:29 am
Agreed, Culp is the same size as Evans and a little faster. He caught a few passes last year and would like to see him get a shot from the TE position running some deeper routes. Kind of like Gronk or Kelce. Durham also needs to be used more as a receiving TE, if Luke comes back. The offense is not putting enough pressure on defenses. Grizz needs to quit sitting on his hands and come up with some decent plays. The next three games are critical.
November 5th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Find some receivers on practice,squads or the CFL after grey cup.
November 5th, 2025 at 8:40 am
another moral victory post with micro sampling.
the bucs LOST in detroit and gave up 24 points doing it. cant give up 24 points and expect a winning record. 24 is barely enough to beat the falcons. might work against the dreamweaver canales but it likely wont be enough to win the next 3 weeks with a banged up offense that is having trouble. shutting down the saints and thinking the defense is all that is foolish…..
November 5th, 2025 at 8:41 am
I think our defense really showed its potential in the second half of the Philly game. That defense looked like the 99 Bucs for half a game. If they play like that for the rest of the year, we will be in every game with a chance to win. Couple that with the return of key offensive players, we could be a Super Bowl quality team by the start of the playoffs.
November 5th, 2025 at 8:48 am
Defense has been playing great all year minus the SEA game where we were down to our #3 & #4 CBs….
CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENSE IS ON DISPLAY
GO BUCS
November 5th, 2025 at 9:00 am
Didn’t we stop the Eagles in the second half…so we showed some signs there
November 5th, 2025 at 9:15 am
If the defense can be a competent unit against the pass this weekend, I will have much more confidence in them. For FARRRRRRRRR too long Todd has been confused on how to slow down passing teams. If the pass defense improves then I will be much more confident in this team.
They go nowhere until the pass defense improves
November 5th, 2025 at 9:18 am
They stop the pass just fine when their top secondary is playing. In fact, they are #1 statistically in the league combined and as individual players they are all in the top 16 or so.
November 5th, 2025 at 9:25 am
First Last Says:
Move Culp to WR to replace Mike Evans, and play Kam Johnson more. We have potential play makers we just need to get them on the field
***********************
Culp is the owner of 7 career catches, zero this season and had a problem with drops earlier in camp. Whether he overcame it or not is unknown.
There’s a reason we haven’t seen him this year, and it’s not because they couldn’t use him. If the Bucs don’t believe he’s good enough for 1 target, I’m going to assume they think he’s not going to replace Evans anytime soon.
November 5th, 2025 at 9:37 am
Todd is humming withe the defense.
Let’s go!!!!!
November 5th, 2025 at 10:02 am
ESPN and ABC can FO. I will suffer as long as it takes.
November 5th, 2025 at 10:15 am
Way too early to declare victory for Bucs defense. The recent trend has been fine but the next 3 weeks will be ultimate truth. Bucs very vulnerable in the middle of the field and everyone knows it.
November 5th, 2025 at 10:50 am
I wish Licht would’ve made a move for some receiver depth, but if you look at a healthy Baker with the current receivers he’s done well with them. Once we get Goedeke back at full strength, I think the run game will improve. Defense and running the ball are the driving force in the playoffs.
November 5th, 2025 at 11:39 am
Joe … ‘The way the defense has played lately, it may just be bailing the offense out until the offense can find a way to shake off the cobwebs.’
I see the word ‘lately’ in there Joe, but you have to look at the whole picture (not just the Lions & Saints). On the season the Bucs have played 3 Top-10 offenses … Eagles, Seahawks & Lions.
o Lost to the Eagles 31-25
o Beat the Seahawks 38-35
o Lost to the Lions 24-9
So our #13 defense gave up a total of 90 points in playing those 3 Top-10 defenses … 30 PPG average. And we were 1-2 against those 3 teams.
Against the other 5 teams we’ve already played, Bucs’ defense only gave up only 88 points total … 17.6 PPG average. Mammoth difference. And we’re 5-0 against those teams.
In the playoffs I suspect we’ll be more likely to play teams like the Eagles, Seahawks or Lions than we are to play teams like the Falcons or Saints. Just a suspicion mind you. Those are the teams we need to beat to become Super Bowl champions.
November 5th, 2025 at 11:41 am
Oops, make that ‘3 Top-10 OFFENSES’
November 5th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
“So our #13 defense gave up a total of 90 points in playing those 3 Top-10 defenses … 30 PPG average. And we were 1-2 against those 3 teams.”
No, our defense gave up 83 points in those games. A blocked punt goes against our total points allowed which makes it seem as if our defense gave up those points.
Just like the blocked FG against the Jets that we had to “come back” from, both those plays happened on stalled OFFENSIVE drives.
Yet the offense gets credit in its’ point total for the 16 total points our defense has contributed through 8 games.
So, the 197 total points we’ve score is not the TRUE avg scoring out put of just the offense.
Just like 178 points allowed isn’t our true points given up. Those rankings change if you take these things into consideration.
November 5th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
UGH! I feel Joe’s pain on the BSPN/Disney Hostage Crisis. Really jacked up my College football Saturday. Here’s the kicker. I have D+/Hulu/Espn+ and still hhit another paywall for $10 a month to watch the damn games!! Sorry to hijack the post. Struck a nerve. The D mostly is playing well except for some nasty coverage lapses at least 2-3 times a game in addition to the RB screens/flairs that everybody seem to burn us on about once a week.
November 5th, 2025 at 8:41 pm
The bucs defense has less draft capital and fewer dollars in salary yet again bowles has an elite defense.
Todd is worth it as a coach just for that
These talkers that wont acknowledge that are frustrating to wade through tge comments sometimes