The Four-Down Stop
November 30th, 2025
Cornerback Zyon McCollum squares up against Arizona receiver Marvin Harrison today. McCollum and the Bucs defense sealed the win with a four-down stop.
Sometimes it seems so rare for the Bucs defense the past month to force a three-and-out, Joe might need to buy a round of shots.
Well, how about a four-down stop? That rare bird was seen today at The Licht House. And it resulted in a Bucs win, the first since the bye, snapping a three-game losing streak.
Arizona took over trailing by three with just under two minutes left in the game. Even though the Bucs’ defense held Arizona to its second-lowest points total this season, Bucs fans have battered wife syndrome. There wasn’t a sober Bucs fan who at that moment didn’t fear Jacoby Brissett leading the Cardinals on a scoring drive of some sort.
After Bucs coach Todd Bowles scolded his defense, they went to work.
Four passes later, the Bucs held. All that was left was the victory formation.
Brissett’s final pass attempt came on a short pass over the middle that had previously worked so well all game long.
Not this time.
“The guys did a helluva job coming through there,” Bowles said after the game. “We kind of knew what the route was; they did a helluva job jumping the route knowing it was going to come up short.”
Joe doesn’t think it’s overstating to day that defensive stand may have saved the season. The Stinking Panthers are still a half-game behind the Bucs in the NFC South. Carolina beat Los Angeles today, the same team that sealcubbed the Bucs last week in the City of Angels.
The way the Bucs had played since the bye, had the Bucs lost today, Joe doesn’t know if they recover or not.
November 30th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
The defense is still the achilles heal of this team.
November 30th, 2025 at 6:33 pm
heel.
November 30th, 2025 at 6:40 pm
Poor choice with McCollum in the pic here. He needs to be benched. Makes the immortal EJ Biggers look like an All Pro.
November 30th, 2025 at 6:46 pm
Yes Joe had the Bucs lost today their season would have been over. I mentioned earlier that you should not sleep on Car. Today you see why. Slowly they are beginning to play. I have not seen,But a little of today’s game. However, what I did see was McColumn getting roasted by Harrison Jr, and anyone else he was covering.I still say he is hurting this team and should be benched.
I did see Godwin get a first down and he looked like Chris!!. I think he is back.
I see the Bucs having a chance now,
November 30th, 2025 at 6:46 pm
Fans need to take the win and move on….we need to take care of business vs the Saints
November 30th, 2025 at 6:49 pm
Bucsnbeer. I think Coach Bowles is the achilles heal. He is responsible for all the shortcomings on the team as HC. True, the D is the weak link but kick returns, punting and the offense in general have been bad too.
November 30th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
Cow milk.
November 30th, 2025 at 6:55 pm
Long flight for Cardinals players back waste.
Whoever had bucs at -2.5 or Cards at 3.5 should be thrilled.
November 30th, 2025 at 7:17 pm
Something besides cow milk. Censorship has arrives.
November 30th, 2025 at 7:17 pm
We didn’t need to be sober to be scared Joe. Matter of fact, the drunk fans around me gave up way before the sober ones.
November 30th, 2025 at 7:25 pm
@FrontFour
Yeah I was kind of torn on McCollum coming out but yeah I thought he’d look a little better by now.
November 30th, 2025 at 7:26 pm
I ain’t seeing it !
Fools Gold
Heading into this season it was about getting to the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
They are failing miserably
November 30th, 2025 at 7:39 pm
Man, it was disappointing seeing McCollum getting beat by Harrison, who only had one good leg.
November 30th, 2025 at 7:40 pm
I was scared because I remembered the Cards’ field goal drive at the end of the first half when the Bucs not only retreated from the receivers but also gave the timeout-depleted Cards an extra one so that they’d have time for a half-ending
kick. And at the end of the game, they only needed a field goal to take the momentum into overtime.
November 30th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
I bet Ronde Barber would make a good DC. Maybe even HC.
November 30th, 2025 at 8:42 pm
Just think if Teddy was under Center today…..
November 30th, 2025 at 8:54 pm
Head up. We are on the way back if we get healthy.
November 30th, 2025 at 9:04 pm
Great opportunity to continue the tune up and build a little momentum against the the Aints next Sunday.
Don’t forget how we built momentum after our mid-season lull last year!
Go Bucs!