Not Only Have Offensive Injuries Caught Up With Bucs, They May Doom Bucs
November 19th, 2025
Bucs OC Josh Grizzard.
When you don’t have a defense, you better have an offense. A powerful offense.
All the injuries the Bucs have had finally caught up with them in Detroit. And the offense really hasn’t fully recovered.
The best the Bucs offense has looked in maybe a month was in Buffalo. The offense wasn’t really explosive, but explosive enough to win a game — provided the Bucs had a defense.
The way the Bucs’ defense has played, or more correctly, hasn’t played, the Bucs need a fully explosive, dangerous offense to overcome a defensive sieve. And thanks to the injuries to the skill position players, the Bucs don’t have that.
In typing about the Bucs offense, Brooke Pryor of BSPN also believes the injuries on offense may have Pearl Harbored the Bucs.
What has gone wrong? The aforementioned injuries have caused a big headache for the first-year playcaller. Receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan; running back Bucky Irving; and offensive linemen Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke and Cody Mauch have all missed multiple games. Beyond that, the Bucs’ offense has especially struggled on third down where they rank in the bottom third, converting 36.2%.
The Bucs had a solid day in Buffalo on Sunday with third-down conversions, turning over half of their third downs into first downs. That’s not bad.
But again, despite the run game breaking out, the Bucs simply don’t have the horses on offense to put up 40 points a game. Not now. Not without Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving.
The way the defense is playing (849 yards allowed in the past two games), 40 points a game is exactly what the Bucs need to stay in the playoff chase.
November 19th, 2025 at 4:04 am
Don’t sleep on our division games to close out the season. Everyone will chirp that those should be easy W’s but division rivalries are always tough regardless of records. Just sayin.
November 19th, 2025 at 5:39 am
Good points, Joe.
Many injuries, and Mike being out is a biggie. Like many others have commented, his long legs are needed. Really missing him. Heart and soul on the field.
Not to forget all the bad calls on us, and the lack of calls on opposing teams. The refs have been bad most of the time for us. And we will all never forget the non-whistle and taking away a valid TD.
November 19th, 2025 at 6:30 am
Todd is being mocked by every ex football player. Everyone is calling him a quitter. I have to agree.
November 19th, 2025 at 6:36 am
I think injuries caught up to us in Detroit when Mike Evans went down for the season. And this is why it’s hard to categorize the Bucs as pretenders or contenders. They should get Bucky and Godwin back soon. But Bucs fans cannot expect Godwin to return to his Pro Bowl level. Right now it’s all about getting into the playoffs and winning ugly if we must.
November 19th, 2025 at 6:43 am
#99 the big fella – Respectfully, not every single ex football player is mocking Todd. Many still stand behind him, including our own players.
November 19th, 2025 at 6:43 am
Bowles has worn out his welcome in Tampa as far as the vast majority of fans are concerned. This team has lost it’s way because the HC/DC has lost his way. I couldn’t care less if they squeeze into the playoffs somehow. My guess right now is this team completely collapses in the weeks to come.
November 19th, 2025 at 6:46 am
The season started to go south with all the injuries. I know people will say it was bad luck but someone really needs to look at the training and conditioning staff. Plus, Bowles is accountable for putting JMac (at the time a starter) into a situation where he was playing with the 3rd string QB who was rusty and had barely played at all the past 2 seasons and then the kid ends up with a broken neck when Bridgewater should have been throwing passes to JAGs who would be frying wings at Hooters the next week.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:13 am
It’s always going to be something with this team. Too many injuries, now they heal and the excuses will give them time to play together as they lose 3 more games. By that time more injuries and the season will be over.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:31 am
Hey Jude it was a general statement, just watch espn for a couple hours you will see many. His own players might say they support him publicly but we really don’t know how they feel. I was Todd’s biggest supporter. I argued with many people here. I just can’t do it anymore. Every year it’s the same crap with this defense.
Injuries hurt this offense, but most of the defense has been healthy. It’s definitely time for a change.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:33 am
We use to have a defense that said, give us 17, and we’ll make it stick. Now 32 isn’t enough. Todd Bowles defense will always let you down, and his in game decisions will always leave you reeling. By now it should be apparent to all Todd has taken us to his limits. This year might be different. Carolina is good enough to beat us. It won’t shock me if they do. If that happens, and Coen has more success in J Ville than Todd? Glazers might want to start putting out coaching feelers.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:13 am
If you score 32 points –
You should win.
The loss was on the defense
AND Special teams.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:26 am
Excuses, Excuses
The past few seasons the Bucs were a healthier team on offense with better OCs and still lost early in playoffs. The offense isn’t the biggest problem when it scores over 30 pts. Injuries or not this team loses winnable games.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:33 am
Well coming into the season everyone knew except it appears the Bucs that without someone really great talent on both edges the defense would be medicore at best. Well we now see it playing out. Ther Bucs gambled on Reddick and lost. However the rush is better when he is in and without him their is little rush. Then we also hoped Dennis would really step up in the MLB position. That did not happen either. The secondary, has improved with Parrish and Smith, but what has happened to Winfield?, McCollum, just has not panned out. David is good but not what he was. So who plays on defense. Vea, Dean, but he yes misses time all the time, Parrish a rookie and Smith. Yes talk about Todd all you want and agree he deserves some of the blame. However, the defense lacks major talent!. Yes currently the offense can’t carry the team. The result , my prediction, we lose the division to Car, who is now playing hungry and with confidence. The offense will get players back just in time to watch the playoffs at home. Yes this is the season that could have been.
November 19th, 2025 at 8:49 am
#99 the big fella – I fully get it and understand what you are saying.
I have been one of Todd’s strongest supporters too. Not throwing in the towel yet. But, I am from a family in NY that stayed positive through the Buffalo Bills 4-peat years while relocating here in the 90s and switching over to the Bucs. I guess a glutton for punishment, lol. Bills actually were my number two for many years, but no more. Solely Bucs now and hoping for the best.
November 19th, 2025 at 9:24 am
beat the Rams and all is forgotten lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
November 19th, 2025 at 9:58 am
I thought we were using the injuries excuse anymore? What has changed from last week that now injuries are the problem?
LOL!
November 19th, 2025 at 10:05 am
The offense is and will be fine. Its our Defense that will be our Demise
November 19th, 2025 at 10:48 am
Should of gotten a Receiver at the trade deadline.
November 19th, 2025 at 11:08 am
“”Don’t sleep on our division games to close out the season. Everyone will chirp that those should be easy””
Anybody who thinks that are fools. Guess who’s starting for ATL when they play the Bucs again? The Bowles killer Kirk Cousins. He embarrassed this team TWICE last year. Pretty much the only 2 games he played great in. Carolina could beat us twice. Hell Arizona can beat us. The Bucs scare NOBODY. And that’s because Todd Bowles sucks really bad at his job. He’s an utter failure as a HC. And getting worse as time goes by.
November 19th, 2025 at 11:17 am
A Pro Bowl player headed to the Hall of Fame, especially at a skill position, should make a difference in a team’s W-L record. At least one game, maybe more. Yes, I’m thinking Mike Evans. We glibly babble about his excellence, but forget it’s really about making plays that win games. We are 6-4. Would we be 7-3, 8-2?
His mugging in Detroit was devastating, not even a flag at the spot of the foul. A completion and his remaining in the game could have –and would have, in my estimation– turned that gane around. And subsequent scores may well have been different. Going for two points or passing on third or fourth down is a winning call when you have a dominant receiver.
November 19th, 2025 at 11:25 am
Defense is dragging Bucs down
Offense just put up 32 on Bills
November 19th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
How do we not have a D!?
That’s my big question this year. Yeah the offense isn’t where anyone thought it would be but we have Mr. Offseason Bowles talking about scoring more points than the other team, drafting a WR round 1 and then punting on 4th and 2 while his D allows 44 points!
The D has been mostly healthy. Parrish, Roberts, Simmons all look pretty good. Dean and McCollum have played most games. Vea, David, Winfield, Tykee, Diaby… either I have thought way too much of some of these guys or Bowles is just not a consistently good DC.
Some players haven’t looked great but I think we all know it’s the latter. Bowles does not have these guys in a scheme to maximize their abilities. Embarrassing. Flores or Spags or Vrabel or Saleh , the list goes on would be crushing it. No doubt in my mind.
November 19th, 2025 at 7:22 pm
NO.
Not buying the injury excuse any longer. We could have traded for weapons if the injuries were dooming us so badly, but we did not.
The offense has still produced in all but 2 games. The defense OTOH has been atrocious in all but about 3 games.
November 19th, 2025 at 11:16 pm
7 players out of 11. It is amazing we are 6-4. Without Bucky we are just not the same. Without Mike and Chris we just aren’t the same. Without our OL it’s just not the same BUT hopefully everyone with the exception of Mauch will be back and good to go for the playoffs and see that killer offense from last year. If not there is always next year.