Bucs Survive Two Special Teams Blunders
January 3rd, 2026
There was good today on special teams but the troubles continued.
A clean game on special teams seems so darn elusive.
Thankfully, the blues didn’t bite the Bucs too hard in their 16-14 win against Carolina.
A Sean Tucker fumble on a kick return and a blocked Chase McLaughlin punt were the messes today.
Joe’s got all the love in the world for Bucs punter Riley Dixon’s late-fourth-quarter punt to pin the Panthers at their 3 yard line with 18 seconds remaining. But if the Bucs make the playoffs, and it’s a giant “if,” this horror show on special teams has to end.
What should be the easiest fix for a flawed Bucs team still presses on.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:44 pm
Hurry up and wait.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Baker didn’t throw a 4th Qrt INT. Grizz intentionally called plays to keep Baker from losing the game.
That’s what they actually survived.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Dixon’s punt saved the game. He really rebounded after the SF game.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:46 pm
Sean Tucker shouldn’t be returning kickoffs,
He’s too big and slow with no quickness,
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:46 pm
I remember after preseason game one, someone in the comments said the Bucs wouldn’t even trade Tucker for a 1st round pick after he was 2nd on the team in rushing vs the Titans… I disagreed.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:46 pm
Chase FG was blocked.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:46 pm
early on when eagles and jets were blocking our kicks we should of fired the ST coordinator but no nothing like that, we kept the coach all season and this team and the fans had to pay for that. Bowles is weak and afraid. For years now.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:46 pm
I watched the game with mute on. Where exactly were these STs’ screw up?
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Why does it take him so long to get the punt off ?
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:47 pm
My game ball goes to Josh Grizzard
For keeping the ball out of Baker hands
“”””Great Job””*”
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Not a pretty win, but given the weather conditions, we’ll take it.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:48 pm
When was the blocked FG?
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Sly Pirate Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Baker didn’t throw a 4th Qrt INT. Grizz intentionally called plays to keep Baker from losing the game.
——
Bowles pretty clearly told Grizz to not allow Baker to lose another game, and said keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible.
This was 100% Bowles, just like two weeks ago vs the Panthers. Just this time Baker didn’t blow it by turning it over yet again.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:48 pm
The sad part of all of this is, TODD BOWLES IS PROBABLY STILL OUR COACH NEXT YEAR.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:49 pm
The Bucs become the first team to ever win the Super Bowl following a season with a losing record! Geaux Bucs!
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:50 pm
Daryl Green Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Why does it take him so long to get the punt off ?
‐‐‐——-
What evidence are you looking at that shows he’s slow to get the punt off?
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Todd Bowles isn’t going anywhere
These LOSERS that want Bowles gone will be gone
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Adamant Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:49 pm
The Bucs become the first team to ever win the Super Bowl following a season with a losing record! Geaux Bucs!
‐———–
Hope your boys do their job and don’t Cam Jordan the bed.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Congrats Bucs, you’re still losers because this all but guarantees another year of Bowles.
So get ready next year for more mediocrity, ineptitude, and another soft, cowardly team full of pansies from the coaching staff on down.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:52 pm
Rod, if only you were as good as you think you are.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:52 pm
Blew the season, like the theme @ Mons
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:52 pm
Everyone but Bowles think the special team coach should have been fired about week 5 or 6. If it’s the D, the O or special teams this coaching staff won’t adjust and keeps trying to do the same things all year!! None of these coaches are worth a dang. If you aren’t good enough to make changes and adjust in a league where it’s 100% needed, you don’t deserve to be coaching. 100% falls on Bowles and his inability to do what the job requires
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:53 pm
Grizz discovered rolling baker out ( been wanting this all year) like orlavsky said, it’s like free yards. Baker to Otton today was what the dr ordered.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:53 pm
What really was a telling tale is on that next to last Panther possession, the announcers said where the ball was going, we knew where the ball was going, and the Bucs Defense knew where the ball was going. And Quess what? Our Defense let it get there. The receiver caught the ball.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:53 pm
I like you are In Tampa you watching the weather, you don’t practice with water balls @ practice. Tucker Blah,White just runs up lineman’s backs no peripheral vision @ all
Finally they hit edges. We still have the same special teams coach 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:53 pm
Rod Munch you are really smart for a tard
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:53 pm
Bye turd
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:54 pm
Rachaad White should have been returning kickoffs
They’re not using him for anything else
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:54 pm
Bowles should work at Target next year.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:54 pm
I bet ya dixson was surprised about the lack of blocking on his punts, remember earlier in the season when they said he was taking too long to get kicks off, looks like it was on the blocking the whole time. Everything on ST just has problems.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:54 pm
I really don’t know why the special team coach wasn’t fired weeks ago. The whole idea that we are now kicking every ball into the end zone and giving the opposing team the ball 35 yard line every drive which means that they’re effectively less than 30 yards away from three points every single drive….
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:55 pm
Fellas … the Glazers have fired a playoff coach before. See Dungy, Tony, in 2001. Glazers are just waiting until the season is over. Even if we make the playoffs, Bowles has done enough to justify getting canned. It just depends on what happens from here.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:55 pm
ST has been an issue all year and today was no different- the STC looking clueless on the sideline is par for the course
Tucker carrying the ball like a loaf of bread, away from his body…ANOTHER BLOCKED KICK
We have had more kicks blocked this year than we have in the past ten years plus combined – it is a literal joke at this point
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:56 pm
Munch,
Grizzard didn’t want to throw for the obvious reason the front three Oline was getting mauled again. Has happened all year and today was happening again. Baker rollouts which Grizzard called were what saved the team. Everyone other than you, Bee and Warren BrooksLoser saw it too.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:56 pm
Jason Anthony Sturgess Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:53 pm
Rod Munch you are really smart for a tard
JohnQCitizen Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:52 pm
Rod, if only you were as good as you think you are.
Hahahaha!!!
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:56 pm
Here’s one …
Speaking of blunders, here’s one that neither the announcers, players, refs, coaches (especially our so called head coach) picked up on.
It was the backward pass, better known as a lateral.
That was a live ball, folks. Yet the players and refs just stood around like a fools convention.
If you heard the TV call, the refs tried to cover their ass by ruling the lateral out of bounds even though the ball was nowhere near the line.
I’m not a fan of name calling, but I’ll have to upgrade ‘fools’ to idiots.
Everybody missed it!
The refs blew the whistle. Inaccurately. –Joe
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:57 pm
Todd Bowles has been with the Bucs for 7 seasons
The Glazers don’t keep him around, because he looks good
Common sense
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:58 pm
I think Dixon leads active punters in blocked punts but he got off a good punt at the end. Lowest net average in the league this year but that is mainly on the coverage team.
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Just woke up…fell asleep last 2 minutes…you mean we actually won? Im not used to being off on weekends.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Raheem will throw the game. Just watch. The rest of the division wants Todd back next year.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:02 pm
JA
I called it in real time.. we could have scooped that up or knocked Dowdle off of it.. but we aren’t well coached and we’re completely unaware.
Agree about the refs.. clueless, and the instructions they get from NY are really damaging the integrity of the game.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Cohen knew how to call plays and how to build a game plan that worked. He would also adjust when things didn’t work. 30ppg to under 20 with more talent on offense. He made changes because Bowles let him coach because Bowles just keeps trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Whole coaching staff needs gone because they have the personality of their head coach. Huge change needed
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:03 pm
@Lakeland, is Todd your Daddy?
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:05 pm
Good or bad, the punter has little to do with the special teams coach
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:06 pm
Let’s get in the Playoffs! Let’s Go Bucs!!
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:06 pm
Told you,
Nope,
I’m just tired of this “”Fire Bowles”” crap
It’s been going on for year, it’s like a broken record
It’s old now, and it’s annoying
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:07 pm
I see these comments and think we have a hateful fan base. We were voted the most ignorant football fan base in all of football in the NFL. Low football IQ to say the least. I see not much has changed. Remember this fan base ran off Doug Williams and Steve Young, both went on to win a Superbowl. Now you want to run off Baker. SMH.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:07 pm
“”””years””””
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:07 pm
3rd and 28…..Never Forget
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:08 pm
Jugheadfla2 Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:07 pm
3rd and 28…..Never Forget
Ain’t that the truth!!
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:09 pm
Robert,
Trent Dilfer also won a Super Bowl after leaving Tampa
And this cesspool fanbase
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:09 pm
@ Rod Munch Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Bowles pretty clearly told Grizz to not allow Baker to lose another game, and said keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible.
This was 100% Bowles, just like two weeks ago vs the Panthers. Just this time Baker didn’t blow it by turning it over yet again.
—————————–
Did you not see the 1st down pass to Otton?
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:10 pm
You guys want to watch real football? Watch this 49ers Seahawks game, 2 very well coached teams….compared to what you just watched
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:10 pm
@Lakeland, so is your calling for bakers exit. He’s the only guy that’s played with heart this year, even with mistakes and injuries to his line and receivers. That narrative is what’s annoying.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:10 pm
I agree with munch.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:12 pm
The “low football IQ” fans don’t realize how difficult 3rd and 28 is to defend.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:12 pm
Jugheadfla2 Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:10 pm
You guys want to watch real football? Watch this 49ers Seahawks game, 2 very well coached teams….compared to what you just watched
Preaching the truth tonight!! Church!!
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:12 pm
Bowles will never be rehired as a pro head coach
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:13 pm
Curse of Gruden Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:12 pm
The “low football IQ” fans don’t realize how difficult 3rd and 28 is to defend.
I truly hope this is satire……I really do
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:14 pm
I give the Bucs like a 1 in a quadrillion chance of winning the Super Bowl- kind of like the odds of Trump winning all 7 swing states when every other position went to democrats in every state. Suspicious? Nahhhh….
/sarcasm
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:15 pm
👍🏻 Jughead
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:20 pm
For a change I was actually glad to see the Bucs handing off the ball so much in the second half. It just seems there is so much meat left on the bone with this offense. It’s not illegal to throw the ball on 1’st down and to throw the ball farther than 5 yards downfield. Someone needs to tell Josh Grizzard.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:22 pm
You all raise cain about this an actual “fan” site? That always been questionable. A real fan site will have complaints but not the constant negative tone on here. A lot of old guard fans have deserted it. This site has to raise money to stay profitable for the joes. I’m an old guard fan, but I am over it.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Gipper Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:56 pm
Munch,
Grizzard didn’t want to throw for the obvious reason the front three Oline was getting mauled again.
===========
The line was fine today – Baker had all day over and over again and just did his happy feet thing, running around in a circle, etc. But outside another inexcusable God-awful INT, Baker looked better today – easily the best he’s looked since the Bills game. So hopefully come the playoffs, he’s fully ready to go. The only chance the Bucs have in the playoffs is if Baker catches fire.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:23 pm
I hope when they can Bowles he takes the Baker haters with him. Baker was solid today in poor playing conditions. Just that one INT blunder but that was smart for him to roll out on passing plays as the O line is rotten bad.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Lakeland is schizophrenic
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:27 pm
orlbucfan Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:22 pm
You all raise cain about this an actual “fan” site? That always been questionable. A real fan site will have complaints but not the constant negative tone on here. A lot of old guard fans have deserted it. This site has to raise money to stay profitable for the joes. I’m an old guard fan, but I am over it.
I guess I don’t see what you’re saying. Listening to the podcast from the Joes and Ira they have been extremely more positive than the fans. They stood behind the team a lot longer than what a lot of fans thought. But maybe I’m not completely understanding what you’re meaning.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:32 pm
Who was that special teams college guy they were looking to hire before Bowles got way too conservative and hired the goof ball who got fired from the Giants? I think Bowels stays on the contingent that he fires most of his defensive staff and ST coach.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:32 pm
Lightning Buc Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:09 pm
@ Rod Munch Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Bowles pretty clearly told Grizz to not allow Baker to lose another game, and said keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible.
This was 100% Bowles, just like two weeks ago vs the Panthers. Just this time Baker didn’t blow it by turning it over yet again.
—————————–
Did you not see the 1st down pass to Otton?
————–
42 rushes
22 passes
I didn’t mean he literally forbid him to throw it.
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:50 pm
FLUSH TOILET BOWLES!!! HE DIDN’T FIRE THAT TERRIBLE COACH!
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:53 pm
Why do you allow such negativity here?
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:59 pm
I had no idea Chase was,a punter.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:00 pm
Played not to lose and I guess it worked ,,,, God get a real coach like Lafluer who gets guys open w the play calls ,,, as soon as baker threw the int ,,, they put the handcuffs on him and said your done ,,,, Grizz is done for sure ,, not sure about Bowles
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:01 pm
So Baker singlehandedly won this game. So we,are 5-4 on singlehandedlys Rod.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:04 pm
If Durham had caught a catch able pass,and Chase the Punter did not have that FG blocked it would have been an easy 23-14 win.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:09 pm
Munch,
You are just a complete fraud. Yeah,we get it. Those 3rd string guards were great pass protectors this season and today. In fact, we better tell Mauch and Bredeson that their services aren’t needed next year. Brady would never have tolerated that mushy middle and you know it.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:17 pm
Munch is disappointed that the Bucs won. Have I mentioned he has tiny hands and feet? They served him well in the high school marching band. What else does Munch have that’s tiny? His brain.
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:25 pm
I’m trying to hire an NFL Special Teams coach. By any chance do you know one who’s looking for work?
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:36 pm
Miller5252 Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:27 pm
orlbucfan Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 8:22 pm
You all raise cain about this an actual “fan” site? That always been questionable. A real fan site will have complaints but not the constant negative tone on here. A lot of old guard fans have deserted it. This site has to raise money to stay profitable for the joes. I’m an old guard fan, but I am over it.
I guess I don’t see what you’re saying. Listening to the podcast from the Joes and Ira they have been extremely more positive than the fans. They stood behind the team a lot longer than what a lot of fans thought. But maybe I’m not completely understanding what you’re meaning.
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I don’t do podcasts, I’ve been around since this site started and before. All I read is constant negative. I’ve been a Bucs fan since the beginning so I remember the REAL DARK AGES of back-to-back double digit loss seasons. Grizzard throttled the offense today. He needs to go bye-bye. But it’s been all the howling over Bowles. Catch my drift?
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:38 pm
ohnQCitizen Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 7:54 pm
Bowles should work at Target next year
—-
He’d probably miss.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:12 pm
Gipper Says:
January 3rd, 2026 at 9:09 pm
Munch,
You are just a complete fraud. Yeah,we get it. Those 3rd string guards were great pass protectors this season and today.
——–
We get it Baker Boi… it’s never HIS fault.
I just said I thought Baker played a pretty good game outside the horrific inexcusable INT that should have never been thrown. All I did was point out that Bowles took the ball out of his hands after 4-straight loses due to Baker’s incompetence. That’s just a fact, that’s what happened. I also said Baker will be needed to win games, not just be a game manager, if the Bucs get into the playoffs – and I hope he gets it done. The fact you need nothing but praise, and never a word of criticism is what makes you Baker Boi(s) so cringe.
January 3rd, 2026 at 10:30 pm
The Baker goils have always been deep in their emotions when it comes to even earned criticism of him. They are straight clowns. I don’t think he singlehandedly loses games for us but for the last 8 losses because of our defense and STs he’s heavily contributed to them. He has a lot of heart and gives it his all
January 4th, 2026 at 6:36 am
All the fans on this site are hilarious. Fighting with each other, it’s this dudes fault it’s that dudes fault lmao. The season went the wrong way it sucks, hopefully something positive happens to end the year. What positive that maybe idk, a couple of playoff wins? A new head coach? I can’t predict the future but I do know season isn’t over yet, everyone has contributed equally to wins and losses so I don’t think one person on the team as a whole, coaching or payers deserves any more or less blame than anyone else
January 4th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
Joe, it was a blocked field goal, not punt.
I’ve gone full negative on this team like 90% of the commenters here on this website, but man, some of yall have to be just straight trolls who don’t even watch the games. I see multiple comments complaining about a blocked punt that didn’t even happen!
What is correct to gripe about is our special teams blocking/protection. All season it’s been very problematic. One of the reasons I’m so negative on this team right now, the lack of correction on so many routine issues