Ryan Clark: The Bucs “As They Are Playing Right Now Aren’t Super Bowl Threats At All”
November 22nd, 2025
Major issues to resolve.
Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark has made a second career for himself with strong takes and quiet apologies. He seems to embrace the philosophy of yell first ask questions later.
As a result, Clark often steps in it and has a mess to clean up afterwards.
Well, Joe cannot disagree with a thing Clark said in a recent edition of “Last Take.” Clark called a spade a spade. Are the Bucs a playoff team? Clark seems to think so.
Can they win in the playoffs? Clark all but said, hell no.
“This team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as they are playing right now, aren’t Super Bowl threats at all,” Clark said. “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when we go back throughout their schedule, you say, OK, Seattle was a quality win. We’ll say the San Francisco 49ers are a quality win.
“In the last two weeks, you played the leaders of the AFC East Division and the Patriots and the Bills — and the Bills game was actually close. Baker Mayfield did have an opportunity in the fourth quarter. A Bills team that can’t stop a nosebleed was able to get the football back to Josh Allen.
“Obviously, Josh Allen has one of those superhuman days, but if [the Bucs] don’t get people back healthy, if Todd Bowles defensively can’t figure out a way to stop the big play, this team can’t compete with the top of the NFC.”
The former Super Bowl-winning defensive back was revolted by how the Bucs played such a matador defense against New England and Buffalo.
“It wasn’t just Drake Maye to Kyle Williams, Drake Maye to Stefon Diggs, Drake Maye to Mack Hollins,” Smith said. “It was last week with Keon Coleman on the sideline; Josh Allen to every damn body.”
Clark noted there is just no way a defense like the Bucs put on the field the past two weeks is going to slow playoff teams.
“And so if they don’t figure out a way to stop people and give Baker Mayfield more help offensively, when you get some people back healthy, this team will be home early in the playoffs like we’ve seen them the last few years,” Clark said.
Joe doesn’t know how anyone who isn’t playing with pom-poms and wearing a skirt can come up with a winning formula when a team is struggling to pass and is downright a complete sieve on defense.
Since the bye, touchdowns scored against the Bucs defense have been from an average of 33 yards away from the end zone. That’s sickening.
The way the defense is playing, Joe isn’t convinced the Bucs can make the playoffs. It’s that bad.
"If Todd Bowles defensively can't figure out a way to stop the big play, this team can't compete with the top of the NFC." 👀@Realrclark25 on if the Tampa Bay Bucs are Super Bowl contenders pic.twitter.com/JOB101M74b
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 20, 2025
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:12 pm
It was Jason Licht that told everybody that he had the team to win it all by making no moves before the trade deadline.
How the F is that going for you Jason??????????????????
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:14 pm
He speaks the truth, unfortunately.
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Is he considered a profit or something? My Scottish Terrier can see what’s going on with the Bucs. What we need is a coach.
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:21 pm
Or Jason thought that no trade could put this team over the edge and decided to roll with what we have
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:22 pm
Sorry Q but we are woefully short of talent at many key positions on Defense.
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:23 pm
No$hit Sherlock
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:28 pm
The sad thing is, it’s not the offense with all their injuries. It’s once again the annual bowles defensive collapse. Please Glazers see this and give us a new head coach.
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:30 pm
This defense is obviously too complicated for even the best of players. Then dropping defensive edge rushers into coverage is completely insane. Why Todd doesn’t see this and make corrections to his scheme is beyond me. Fire that couch.
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Show me a coach with no effective edge rush,no effective outside or mike linebacker that can put a top tier defense on the field.
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:31 pm
No argument here, injuries, crap execution, not being able to rely on all 3 phases to play clean, disciplined football over the course of a single game. Plenty of ball left to be played, but I’m kind of anxious to see what this team does with this adversity moving forward.
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:39 pm
This statement has been true for the past, what, 4 seasons. The combo of Bowles and Baker won’t win a chip for the Bucs. And it’s not because Baker is bad, but Baker isn’t elite and can’t take over a games versus top teams consistently. Especially in the playoffs when it matters most. With guys out Baker needs to put the team on his back especially with this defense.
Bowles on the other hand just isn’t good.
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:47 pm
My question is if we really have the two best safeties and one of the best corners why can’t we stop what safeties are supposed to stop???
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:53 pm
JohnQ,
It all boils down to Bud Licht. He’s been tagging along for years, merely espousing culture as a way to blend in. He’s ultimately responsible for employing a head coach.
His draft picks taken as a whole are hardly impressive. There’s an urban legend that he’s some sort of genius, but that’s just not the case.
November 22nd, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Superbowl?, Superbowl? This team, after tomorrow night should concentrate on the Playoffs. It is obvious we are hitting our annual lull, although there is nothing soothing when it comes to the loosing part of this team. They never beat good teams, if they escape with a win tomorrow then we might see some positive results down the stretch. If not, we will back into pure negativity leading into the playoffs.
November 22nd, 2025 at 1:03 pm
I must agree with Ira and Ronde. Yes Bowles needs to change up the defense because it just is not working. With that said Bowles does not have the personnel on defense to get the job done. Say what you want about Reddick, but the defense was much better when he was playing. My guess, while he was not getting that many sacks teams had to account for him allowing other guys to make plays. Bowles and Licht are responsible for missing the boat by a long shot on defensive personnel. Tell me where the talent is on defense. 3 .5 players. David gets the half. He is playing good , but no longer the difference maker. Then you have Parrish and Smith. Dean I take out as he is often hurt.
I will go 1 step further. Presently the way the defense is playing they won’t even win the division!!. Yes the defense will have to be rebuilt, especially the front 7.
It is that simple. Definitely not rocket science here.
November 22nd, 2025 at 1:04 pm
I must agree with Ira and Ronde. Yes Bowles needs to change up the defense because it just is not working. With that said Bowles does not have the personnel on defense to get the job done. Say what you want about Reddick, but the defense was much better when he was playing. My guess, while he was not getting that many sacks teams had to account for him allowing other guys to make plays. Bowles and Licht are responsible for missing the boat by a long shot on defensive personnel. Tell me where the talent is on defense. 3 .5 players. David gets the half. He is playing good , but no longer the difference maker. Then you have Parrish and Smith. Dean I take out as he is often hurt.
I will go 1 step further. Presently the way the defense is playing they won’t even win the division!!. Yes the defense will have to be rebuilt. It is that simple.
November 22nd, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Clark is the Cam Newton of Stephen A Smiths
November 22nd, 2025 at 1:05 pm
If Licht thinks the players are good enough, then the problem has to be coaching. Big game Sunday for Todd’s defense. They get rolled again, Todd will have 3 stinkers in a row. That happens not sure we pull it together down the stretch.
November 22nd, 2025 at 1:06 pm
It goes higher up the ladder than that.
November 22nd, 2025 at 1:06 pm
Sorry the other person on defense is Vea.
3.5 players who actually play. The offense has 11. There you go 11 v 3.5.