Judging The Bucs’ Defense
December 16th, 2025
Mostly ugly numbers.
Joe is still triggered by Thursday night’s loss to the Dixie Chicks. It was galling the way the Bucs crapped all over themselves in the fourth quarter to give a win away.
You know the drill: The Bucs coughed up a two-score lead in the fourth. Shameful.
Is the Bucs defense really that bad or was it just a blip? Well, decent teams of late have trashed the Bucs defense. Josh Allen, Matt Stafford, and that ol’ Todd Bowles killer Kirk Cousins had standout performances.
When it comes total defensive yards allowed, the Bucs aren’t great (at all), but there’s worse.
When it comes to average yards a game allowed, the Bucs rank No. 25. Only one team that has allowed a worse yards-per-game average is a credible playoff contender. That’s the Steelers at No. 28.
When it comes to average passing yards a game, it’s gross. The Bucs rank No. 30, allowing an average of 246.9 yards through the air per game.
Believe it or not, the Colts are even worse!
When it comes to the run defense, the Bucs are good, but clearly not good enough to compensate for the rest of the defense. The Bucs’ run defense allows an average of 101 yards a game on the ground, ranked 10th in the NFL.
Being one of the worst passing teams in the league in a passing league isn’t going to win you too many playoff games, if you make the playoffs.
Good thing the Bucs have a defensive-minded coach, so it will be repaired.
December 16th, 2025 at 4:24 am
What’s the problem? The players are playing just like the head coach coaches. At least some of the media is calling him out. Bye Bye TB.
December 16th, 2025 at 4:35 am
Why run against the Bucs when you can simply pass your way down the field
December 16th, 2025 at 4:45 am
bold prediction…
i think winfield gets traded in the offseason
December 16th, 2025 at 5:39 am
Adam, not bold at all. New GM, and, or HC come in no one should be safe. I’ll go one better, Wirfs. He’d fetch a kings ransome. Wirfs now has an injury history. He’s going to miss more games going forward, not less. Remember when the Pats would trade good players before their bottom fell out? Maybe we have a cheaper option in Chuke, or Barton? It would also send the message, no one’s safe, or should be.
December 16th, 2025 at 5:42 am
Good thing the Bucs have a defensive-minded coach so it will be repaired.
I really hope that is your sarcasm Joe
December 16th, 2025 at 5:45 am
Great motto for the year. We suck, but not as bad as the Colts. 👍🏻
December 16th, 2025 at 6:01 am
Close games are won by passing at the end. Bowles keeps it close. Bowles pass defense sux.
December 16th, 2025 at 6:13 am
Whether one coaches offense/defense, the TEACHING process of techniques, skeams or sets has to be with discipline enhanced with VIGOR and RELEVANCE! Failure to use those techniques on a daily basis leads to inconsistent performance! Are Tampa’s coaches good teachers of the game? Outside looking in, maybe but does Tampa have some players who listen but don’t hear, more likely than not!
December 16th, 2025 at 6:14 am
How is it going to be repaired because their performance has been bad for the last few seasons.
December 16th, 2025 at 6:28 am
Don’t see or read much about Ross, Rapone, Johnson, Fitzgerald, Atkinson….
At some point, it’s Bowles responsibility to put together a coaching staff that can coach and teach. I don’t see that our secondary has improved over the past couple of years. I know it starts up front (no edge rush). But geeze it’s hard to watch at times.
December 16th, 2025 at 6:42 am
Bowles is an absolute disgrace. He’s failed miserably. Fire this fraud of a HC. He can’t teach. He can’t develop. He can’t scheme. The Glazers are morons for extending Bowles in the offseason with another year on his contract. Did they think the doors are going to be knocked down with teams clamoring to steal him away from us? Idiotic. Licht needs to pull a Jamaal Dean with Zyon’s contract.
He deserves to be cut not rewarded for his pathetic play this whole year. I read that he has 6 passes defensed the entire season. He’s just awful.
This team has been exposed.
December 16th, 2025 at 6:55 am
Funny that the talk is of trading AWJ, cutting Zyon’s salary, trading Wirfs….The Glazers only need to cut off 1 head, Jason Licht. He is THAT man
December 16th, 2025 at 7:10 am
Judging the Bucs’ offense
Vs Falcons 4th quarter, offense gains 3 1st downs and makes interception
Vs Saints 4th quarter, offense gains 2 1st downs
Vs Bills 4th quarter, offense gains 1 first down and fumbles ball away
They suck as a team in the 4th quarter
Not just the Defense
December 16th, 2025 at 7:15 am
Joe, in the words of the late great Ray Liotta, “your a funny guy”!!
December 16th, 2025 at 7:39 am
Funny how? Like a clown?
December 16th, 2025 at 7:44 am
Razorramone, lol. Touché!
December 16th, 2025 at 8:05 am
Same defensive stats every year. Not going to change.
If only we had a top 5 offensive coach on our staff.
Oh we did, last year? Hmmm why didn’t we keep that guy.
I know. Licht was scared of BDE Coen
December 16th, 2025 at 8:23 am
the run defense isnt actually that good. The low rushing yards is because the pass defense is JUST THAT BAD! Who would have thought, that passing more inflates the pass yards and deflates rushing yards a game.
December 16th, 2025 at 8:25 am
If you get $20mill/yr for 3 or 4 yrs you essentially have on the job retirement. Watching NFL players hug each other after games confirms the mutual understanding to prop each other up, collect the cash and leave the game without CTE. Hard to blame them.
December 16th, 2025 at 8:37 am
This is Todd’s scheme, top 10 rush defense, bottom 10 pass defense
NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN 7 SEASONS!!!!
December 16th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Oh come on guys. Quit picking on the defense they’re really just a bunch of Goodfellas. And unfortunately Bowles is Tommy DeVito.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:20 am
Almost like having a defensive head coach that sells out to stop the run is a bad thing in a passing league… who would’ve thought!?
Also, I’ve noticed that whenever the Buccaneers have won the Super Bowl they went out and got a guy or guys to help put them over the top. I understand the relying on the draft to build the team, but for the love of God if Jason doesn’t go out and do something in the offseason to supplement the team I’m going to lose it. Give up the two first round picks for Maxx Crosby. Give them two first round picks and the injury prone corner you drafted in the 2nd round that was a healthy scratch the last 2 weeks or so. This team is frustrating.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:39 am
The best defense in the NFL is the one sitting on the sideline because their team has a lead and the offense is on the field moving the football in a Ball Control Offense.
Thursday, after the kickoff missed the landing zone, the Bucs got the ball at their forty with an 8 point lead and 9:37 left to play in the game, it was time to make that defense shine by playing Ball Control Offense.
The Bucs opened with two quick passes and gained a first down at the Atlanta 45. The Bucs had been successful gaining first downs running the ball, and a first down would put the Bucs into field goal range. It was definitely time to start running the ball and running the clock.
Nope! Two more passes – an incompletion and an interception! Time off the clock for the entire drive, 1 minute and 15 seconds. With the 1st down at the Atlanta 45, the Bucs could have run the ball four times, been stuffed every time, and they still could have run two more minutes off of the clock. Without those two minutes, Atlanta never has the time to get into field goal position to win the game. And, with the Bucs, already averaging over 4 yards per carry, if they average just 3 yards per carry, they get a first down, and the game is practically over. Ball Control Offense! It is a real thing! It wins football games!
Where is this game manager the Bucs hired? Did he even say anything? Like, “Umm, hello; umm, you know, I think maybe we could run the ball once; umm, you know, the odds look pretty good if we do that now.”
And, then on the Bucs last drive, with a two point lead, on 1st and 10, Irving was tackled for a 4 yard loss, and Atlanta used their final timeout.
So, it was 2nd & 14 at the TB 35 with 2:24 left to play. Any run play that doesn’t go out of bounds takes the clock down to the Two Minute Warning. Then, another run play that doesn’t go out of bounds runs the clock down to 1 minute and 20 seconds. If the Bucs pick up the first down running the ball, the game is over. And, if they have to punt, they do with only 1 minute and 20 seconds on the clock.
The way it played out, the clock would have expired before Cousins could spike the ball at TB 36 after the 21 yard pass, and the Bucs win.
This is not about player effort. This is about game Winn management of the offense
All game long, it was about passing too often and not running often enough.
All game long, it was about using Irving the most when he was the least productive RB – is it surprising that Irving is not producing at his peak level in just two games back from an injury?
I will say that Bowles’s pet quote, “ We go with the guy with the hot hand,” is just stupid, IMHO! If someone has fumbled the ball or is getting stuffed on every play or has made some mistake that has shaken their confidence, by all means give them time on the sideline to get their head right. But, otherwise, use your Strength! Three Good RBs mean an opportunity to wear down the defense while rotating the RBs and keeping them fresh.
But, most of all, when you have the lead and can control the clock, do it wisely! It wins ballgames!