Two 3-And-Outs For The Bucs’ First-Team Defense
August 23rd, 2026
Joe hopes Bucs fans hit rewind tonight and took a second and third look at the Buccaneers’ first-team defense against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Joe wept in ecstasy.
The defense was just about perfect. The Chiefs went 3-and-out in their first two series. Kansas City’s six plays totaled 13 yards.
Rueben Bain was a menace. Calijah Kancey looked explosive and Zyon McCollum made a play. Rookie nickel cornerback Keionte Scott made his presence felt.
Todd Bowles seemed very pleased with the results after the game. He should be.
It was only two series, and the Chiefs were missing offensive linemen and Patrick Mahomes. But Joe will take the success without a grain of salt. It was damn encouraging.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:24 am
It was very encouraging to see them get after it tonight. We can only hope that’s a sign of things to come this season. I personally love the infusion of talent brought in via FA and the draft this season!
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:29 am
Couldn’t agree more with you Mac.
August 23rd, 2026 at 12:49 am
Two possessions. One Bain drop into coverage.
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:26 am
Never seen people get so excited over a sample set of 6 plays against a Chiefs team missing starters. Is that where we really are?
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:38 am
I know it was a small sample size and all but damn don’t drop Bain in coverage Todd you are just pissing away rushing attempts with bain and that seems stupid.
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:50 am
Vita wasn’t even in the game this front is gonna be lit don’t waste it Todd.
August 23rd, 2026 at 2:34 am
I’ll preface it by saying the standard “it’s the preseason”, but our defense looks like a completely different unit than what we’ve suffered through for the last few seasons. 9/13 can’t get here soon enough.
August 23rd, 2026 at 4:33 am
I gotta say, it was encouraging. Longevity? Well see.
How about that offense? What offense? Well until the last quarter that is. Daniels Sure looks like HE deserves the number two spot! He brought Energy and Excitement.
Daniels Won the game…
Brown brought sleepy eyes and pretty much mo inspiration AT ALL! Well.. at least he DID give me vibes of hopelessness and despair. So there is that…
August 23rd, 2026 at 6:09 am
I was glad to see Trotter start, but was surprised we didn’t see Dennis at all. Something is up there, could a trade be in the works? Fordham has looked good, as has Bullock. We also have Roseboom, and Jackson. Dennis in a contract year has been invisible all training camp, and preseason. Joe, what’s up?
August 23rd, 2026 at 6:29 am
No reason not to have a pass rush. Walker was not first-team, but he brings the pressure
August 23rd, 2026 at 7:08 am
I appreciated seeing effort, which has been sorely lacking for years, but that wasn’t Mahomes they were up against.
August 23rd, 2026 at 7:09 am
What I liked the most was the constant pressure from the edges and interior that we got from the backups. Looks like we have some good depth.
August 23rd, 2026 at 7:25 am
@Hodad
Yeah I liked Fordham when he was at NC St. They might want to hang onto him & maybe consider giving him a chance some, too!
August 23rd, 2026 at 7:37 am
“Missing offensive lineman and Patrick Mahomes.” -lol. There you go. There was no other acceptable outcome than forcing a punt.
August 23rd, 2026 at 7:57 am
Our year, this is a Bucs website. What did you expect?
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:08 am
Exactly, OurYear.
August 23rd, 2026 at 8:09 am
The question is:
Are Bengals linemen healthy and better than the Chiefs backup linemen in a preseason game?
Don’t get me wrong I loved what I saw.
LFG!!!!!
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:24 am
Thank you Joe Bucs Fan for being the best.
I think Dean, Dennis, and Reddick poisoned our defense.
There is only one left and he needs to go.
Hopefully Mccolum had a awakening.
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:25 am
Promising indeed. I hope Joe Burrow has health insurance. Nahhh, actually I hope he doesn’t.
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:05 am
My biggest beef with Todd’s defense has been getting off the field on third down!
I loved it! I let out a big Hell Yeah! after the second one. Did you guys hear it?
Go Bucs!
August 23rd, 2026 at 10:56 am
The defense was flying around, tackling well and looked good but we still have Bowles. (Sad Trombone)
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:20 am
Bowles was never the problem. Personnel was. Bowles already proved he can put a championship defense on the field with good players. Give him good players, you get a great defense.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:45 am
Stpetematt Says
You are one of only a few posters who understand why we were so bad defensively.
So many posters seen to think Bowles is the problem of how bad the Bucs
defense has been. BOWLES IS NOT THE PROBLEM!!! These posters who are so
anti Bowles and I believe the vast, vast and vast majority never played a college
game in their life. The wise Bill Parcells said the real truth to everyone. “I’s about the Jimmy’s and Joes” and that’s a fact. If our defense stays healthy we will be a
top 10 defense and maybe even better! It want be because Bowles got smarter. It will be because we finally have some “Jimmy’s and Joe’s!!
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:47 am
Great tackle by Scott.
Great tackle by Zion.
Great tackle by Parrish.
They are closing down Ànd not allowing YAC.
I was very happy to see that.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:47 am
I wish Bucks go 17-0, but i will be very happy when Bowles stinks again and then you blame the personnel again.
August 23rd, 2026 at 11:49 am
Main strength of a 3-4 defense is flexibility, allowing hybrid outside linebackers to either rush or drop back to confuse the quarterback. One of the outside linebackers needs to drop back if we are going to rush with 4 only one outside linebacker can go. We will see Yaya or Bain drop in the coverage – we even saw Vita in coverage.
August 23rd, 2026 at 1:32 pm
The last couple of seasons the Bucs D had trouble getting of the field on 3rd and 4th downs!! Last night was very encouraging!!!!!!! The new additions to the D sure looked decent!!
August 23rd, 2026 at 9:51 pm
Garro. Bucs fans heard it. It was music to our ears!