“This One Feels Pretty Big”
November 10th, 2025
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht was talking before yesterday’s deflating loss to the Patriots.
Afterwards, like most Bucs faithful, Licht was hanging his head.
“This one feels pretty big,” Licht said before the game on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“Two really good teams. Hats off to what they’e done and Coach Vrabel … very, very tough, disciplined [Patriots] football team.”
Licht’s words rang true. The game did feel pretty big, especially after it started. The Bucs scored on their opening drive and then stopped the Patriots’ opening drive. The rain came and it felt like an old school physical game was on tap. It was, but then the Bucs screwed up too many old school fundamentals.
Licht was excited for the return of right tackle but was careful to praise the job Charlie Heck did in his absence.
“Having Luke out there lets us do more things,” the GM said.
That seemed like a premonition from Licht, as the run game revived greatly against the Patriots’ top-ranked run defense, amassing 113 yards on just 21 carries with no attempts from Baker Mayfield.
Edge rusher Anthony Nelson also made Licht’s pregame chatter. “He’s saved our season a couple of times, I think,” Licht said. “I call him Mr. Clutch.”
In reality, the Bucs’ loss yesterday wasn’t “pretty big.” If you’re going to lose, and every team does, let it be to a non-conference opponent.
November 10th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
The Bucs didn’t get to Maye enough. Only if the Bucs GM could’ve traded for an edge rusher.
November 10th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
When your defense gives up FOUR explosive plays, 3 for TDs, in a game, I don’t care who you are, your offense is usually not going to be able overcome that. Let alone a beat up offense like the Bucs. I picked them to lose the next three games, but not because of ridiculous defensive lapses. I mean, the offense for all its problems still rushed for over 100 against the number one rush defense in the league. But the defense has no bright spots for their performance to give hope.
November 10th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
Bucs beat Bucs too many mistakes 3 55plus plays given up and usually it’s a blowout, it’s a team wide problem that seems infectious, you can tell pretty early what kind of game it’s going to be, if the Bucs stop beating themselves and we get some better injury luck the rest of the season maybe we can take a step forward, this is the same team 4 years in a row
November 10th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
This off-season Licht will have to use picks and/or lots of money to get a legit big time pass rusher. The inconsistent pass rush among other things is hurting the defense. He’s not good at drafting DEs so go pay for one. Take some of the money they want to give Baker and give it to the defense.
November 10th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
It actually was a big lose even though it was AFC.
The Bucs are not going into Buffalo and beating the Bills who are coming off an embarrassing loss.
The Bucs are not beating MVP Stafford, McVay and the Rams in LA.
That means we’re going to be 6-5 and potentially out of first place.
Patriots were the most winnable game of this 3 game stretch. Big L
November 10th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Bills and Rams next… feels like 6-5 with 3 winable home games to follow.
November 10th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
Weak coaching. Toooooo many bad throws..
November 10th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
If we took the kicks instead of going for it on 4th and two point conversion then its a win.
Shame on Beistline and Grizz.
November 10th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Barney Rubble !!! That’s who Jasón Licht looks like. Letting TB coach shows JL makes decisions like Barney ! lol
November 10th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Fire bowels have been saying it for years now ! His defense strategy is so bad and doesn’t work it’s outdated period ! Our secondary was playing 14 yards off the ball yesterday multiple times when we had them is long down situations wtf was that
November 10th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
This is the start of the annual Todd Bowles swoon. Will probably lose the next two and teater on the brink of missing the playoffs before Bowles wakes up. Super Bowl contenders my arse.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
here comes the gas
November 10th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
Licht, this is on you big fella
You knowingly re signed an injured Godwin, I know it’s tough to see injured guys walk but this team has too many other needs to be overpaying injured players
You gave big extensions to McCullom and Luke G, McCullom has shown little to prove hes worth it. Luke G has had one good year.
You signed Reddick to $15 mill after a season where he had 1 sack????
You sat on your hands at the trade deadline and didn’t even attempt to help a injured team get better
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?????
November 10th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
“Having Luke out there lets us do more things,” the GM said.
Except scoring, that’s still hard for this offense whether Luke was healthy or not.
“When your defense gives up FOUR explosive plays, 3 for TDs, in a game, I don’t care who you are, your offense is usually not going to be able overcome that.”
Yet the most we were down in that game was 11 points, for the math impaired that’s a TD+2 and an FG, our offense couldn’t close that gape with 4 straight opportunities to do that after the score to open the 3rd quarter.
Speaking as if this game got out of hand, when these big plays happened in between our offense AND defense having opportunities to change the game is weird. Mind you, the last huge ran came after our offense struggled to gain 3 yards on back to back plays. Sounds much like the same offense that struggled to pick a yard up for a score against the Saints, of all people.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
Guys we can drop the next 2 games, and lose 1 games in our soft end of season schedule and still hit 11 wins. Probably still win this division with 10 wins….Chillllll
November 10th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
Reading Joe’s posts and listening to Ira’s latest podcast, it sounds like when Licht walked back in after the game he had his head down. Pretty much speaks volumes. He is beat up enough. Just maybe we will win the next game!
November 10th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Wrote this an hour after the game.
“The game changed right before halftime when the genius dc had Nelson drop in coverage to cover the tailback on 3rd and 8 or 9 and he picked up 15. They score and get a touchdown to start 2nd half, game over. 3 tds of 65+ yards is on the genius dc.”
Stands true today, we can still win 11 games and we’ll still be a one and out playoff team. We don’t have the hc to go any further. Name 1 edge rusher or lb that our dc has developed since he took over.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Shut up Jason, you knew you needed an edge rusher and stuck your head in the sand. Same goes with another Vet WR that is also needed.
If you think the defense is going to have an easier time with Allen or Stafford you are delusional. O-3 is right around the corner.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Sounds like Licht knows the Bucs would’ve won with Vrabel on our sideline, and Bowles on N.E.’s. Coaching matters. ” Hats off to coach Vrabel, very, very tough disciplined football team”. Has Licht ever said that about our team? When your GM talks up the opposing coach, it’s the beginning of the end for his coach, good.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:40 pm
So there was something I saw that said the head coach of the Lions called the defense yesterday or something like that. He said he needed to shake things up so he took over the calls. I wish Todd would give up play calling for a game or so to see if it’s him not putting the defense in the best position. Something needs to happen so that he can be a bit more hands on everywhere else. I will admit I watch other teams and see better tackling than what our Bucs have. Our guys seem to do a lot of reaching while others run through the person and wrap up.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
100% Hodad.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
I get it that we play in a bad division but when we play good teams like Philly, Detroit and Nee England we have not shown the offense we got used to last year. If you have a system and plays why isn’t the coordinator using them? I know teams change the verbage. The Bucs ran a Sean McVay hybrid offense last year.
They moved the chains. Can Joe get someone like Jon Gruden to explain what they changed and how can they bring it back. It’s not like Liam Coan put a virus in all of their tablets and erased all evidence of the plays.
Grizzard can still use the same plays. The offensive line knows what to do and White, Otton and Sheppard all know it.
Seems stupid to change what worked. I see too many screen passes that are too fast and smelled out by the defense. Not as many quick passes either.
November 10th, 2025 at 1:55 pm
NEWS FLASH
Bucs aren’t going to win every game. Pats made the 50/50 plays. Bucs didn’t. It’s one game. ATL and CAR also lost. We didn’t lose any ground in the standings. It’s okay.
November 10th, 2025 at 2:11 pm
the thing that impressed me the most was after we scored and it looked like we gained momentum back, Vrable gathered the entire defense to either settle them down or fired them up….
either way it worked….
GO BUCS!!!!
November 10th, 2025 at 2:12 pm
quote from the bucs marketing dept “It’s okay”
November 10th, 2025 at 2:15 pm
Licht failed to improve the non existent pass rush.
He can’t draft end rushers to save his life.
Without Brady he sucks. And is a loser GM
November 10th, 2025 at 2:19 pm
113 yards on just 21 carries with no attempts from Baker Mayfield.
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why didnt grizz continue to pound them!!!!!…wear them down and shorten the game!!!
once we scored on our opening drive, grizz shouldve dedicated the rest of the game running the ball…
imo, grizz lacks killer instant
GO BUCS!!!!!
November 10th, 2025 at 2:19 pm
“Fire the Cannons. We’re Okay!”
November 10th, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Bubba Jason is as delusional about his team as the coaching staff. It’s not good. It’s not going to beat any team with a winning record.
November 10th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
I don’t care when the big runs for TDs happened. They shouldn’t have ever happened. This is a team that is supposed to be run stoppers. And shouldn’t have been given up to the SAME player. And for someone who is math challenged. Don’t give up those played Bucs win.
November 10th, 2025 at 2:59 pm
They are adjusting to the loss of probably the best WR in football (Evans) as well as Godwin and McMillan. Throw in the loss of Irving and of course you cannot move down the field as easily. Grizzard not helping with what appears to be lack of imagination. Since the Oline is not able to give Mayfield much time in the pocket, maybe they should try rolling him out more which will give receivers more time, plus Baker is really good at throwing on the run.
November 10th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
Im done for the year. I can’t believe what I saw yesterday. And off a bye week. This is an average team at best
November 10th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
Running game because they werent running White and rhat translated to better running. White is garbage like his HC
November 10th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
Its the 4th annual mid-season collapse. This will be followed by the 4th annual end of season run, and culminating in the 4th annual early playoff embarrassment.
Is anyone really interested in going for a 5-peat in 2026?
November 10th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
PLawson… Evans is the best WR in football? Dude, come on. We all love Mike but he has never, ever, been the best WR in football.
He’s a shell of his former self, injury prone and much slower. Not his fault, father time is undefeated and we may have seen the last of Evans in a Bucs uniform.
November 10th, 2025 at 3:44 pm
Of all the ideas thrown out there before the trade deadline, I’m really missing the idea of a guard. 🙁
November 10th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
Love him as the GM. However, he gets an F for doing nothing. He failed this teams this season. They can’t compete in the nfc with what we have and all the injuries. Shame. Lost season. He should have done more
November 10th, 2025 at 4:20 pm
Way above average GM. Way above average head coach. Way above average QB. The sky is the limit with this team. The defense was the main culprit in the loss yesterday but there’s plenty of blame to go around. The defense has saved our butts this season. They lost their swagger yesterday and it happens when the whole defense is running after playmakers who they’re not about to catch finishing 74 yard breakout plays. Very quickly that can get out of hand and if they are the group I know they are they’ll recover from that and get their swagger back. We’ll be fine. A good game and a couple of good halves doesn’t a good defense make. Fix that problem first. Get competitive in practice. Where are those LBs-Bullard and Jackson? Call them out. They’re big boys. Let’s get this show on the road.
November 10th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
The statement next man up is a great conceptual thought process BUT in reality if next man up means no excuses , as is said all the time were true we wouldn’t have 1st string, 2nd string etc.. Bucs are decimated by injuries . Period end of story. The bucs have not played a game this season with less than 8 starters out. That includes multiple all pro and pro bowlers out . Next man up is great but if someone thinks all these starters out doesn’t effect your team they are delusional . Great teams overcome the loss of 3-4 starters but when you start getting 8,9,10,11,12 starters out it’s gonna effect your team . Bucs played some games this season with 12 starters out . That’s insane. That over half your team. I’m having some trepidations about our strength and conditioning staff. Don’t get me wrong, when you have a high character team your gonna get more injuries because those type players leave everything on the field every time. Just part of it but this amount we’re having is crazy. If the Bucs make the playoffs and get to where they only have 2-3 starters out they could absolutely make a run.
As always Go Bucs.
November 10th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
@kenton – there is not a single metric that Bowles is above average
I question your opinion and ask for you to back it up with stats.
Licht is a Brady baby. He sucks without Brady.
November 10th, 2025 at 5:33 pm
They’re getting more & more aggravating to watch because it’s like they don’t want to change anything but yet they expect all these changes to happen. All the other playoff teams in the NFC either get stronger or find some way to stay consistent whereas they really don’t do anything & then they think they’re gonna do something. They’d probably lose to whoever they play in the playoffs right now.
November 10th, 2025 at 5:56 pm
Team needs a new GM bad.
November 10th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Sean Tucker looked good tbh. But holy cow you cannot expect the offense to get into a rhythm or run the ball well when you are forcing the ball down the field to play catch up. I don’t think an opponent this year has done that to us except the Lions
November 10th, 2025 at 7:18 pm
The Bucs actually have a GM?
November 10th, 2025 at 7:44 pm
@Boltsfan17
They need new owners, too!
November 10th, 2025 at 9:09 pm
Tell me how and why Licht belongs in the hall of Fame.Other than Evans and Vita Vea, how many all pro player has he drafted and how long did they hold that statues. Licht must give u guys access to the team buffet everyday. He’s drafted guys that start for our team but could they start for anyone elss. Drafting mediocre players doesn’t get you in the HOF.
November 10th, 2025 at 11:43 pm
Bucs4Ever, are you daft? Really, what the hell’s wrong with you? Can you google stuff? Tampa won 62 games in the 11 years from 2009 thru 2019. Thats less than 6 games a year. From 2020 thru 2025 (so far) they have won 66 games including playoffs 5 times and that’s about 11 wins a year. Bowles held Mahommes to zero TDs as the Defensive Coordinator in a Bucs Super Bowl win. He’s won going on 5 straight divisions and has won more games each year he’s been head coach. The entire United States of America knew how bad Tampa sucked for decades. With a few notable exceptions. And a few notable defenses. Since Bowles has been here the entire football world respects the job the Buccaneers have been doing and the kind of team they field. Why don’t you learn how to read dude. Amazing how the world opens up to folks when they can read and comprehend what they are reading.
November 11th, 2025 at 7:48 am
After the season ends and it will end early Bowles should be thanked for his time and effort then be replaced by Jon Gruden.
November 11th, 2025 at 9:10 am
From here on out, every loss is on Licht for not making a couple of moves. He is a legend in his own mind.
November 11th, 2025 at 9:30 am
YOU BLEW IT WHEN YOU DID NOT MAKE COEN HEAD COACH ! HE FIRES UP A TEAM.
November 11th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
Bucs lost for several reasons. #1-They still have a sh1tload of injuries; #2-A rookie OC calling plays; #3-I listen on BR and I can bet the refs backed off on critical situations. No telling what went down w/Vegas and off-shore gambling.