Rams 30, Buccaneers 27
January 23rd, 2022
The glorious run is over.
Tampa Bay entered today’s game winners of 22 of their last 26 games, including the Super Bowl. And it all came crashing down at The Licht House against Matthew freakin’ Stafford and the Rams.
What the heck happened?
The uninspired first-half effort really troubled Joe. How does that happen — at home?
And how do “leaders” like Ndamukong Suh, Tom Brady and Lavonte David end up with first-half personal fouls? The overall lack of discipline was astounding.
The defensive breakdowns were those of an inexperienced secondary, not a battle-tested unit like the Bucs’.
Pass rush? The Bucs had no pass rush of note and, as usual, Vita Vea (a guy who was having some success rushing the passer) was limited to part-time duty for unknown reasons.
This kind of embarrassment is not supposed to happen to a Tom Brady team. And perhaps, though Joe highly doubts it, this won’t be a Tom Brady team in a few weeks.
Joe feels like he just went to a fantastic restaurant and was served an average and cold dinner with horrible service, a few bugs in the water and a dirty napkin. At least the server looked good.
Little went right for the Bucs today, and that includes atrocious special teams play and horrendous tackling. Sean Murphy-Bunting, Joe’s looking at you.
Joe was really disappointed to see Pro Bowl guard Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith get worked over too many times, and the rest of the line get beaten on, as well. It was expected from Josh Wells filling in for Tristan Wirfs, but it was a rough day for all of them.
Joe has to tip a cap to Antoine Winfield, Jr., Jamel Dean and Suh for forcing fumbles that kept the Bucs in the game. Those are the kinds of plays you need to win in the playoffs, and they must be commended for delivering. Huge, huge plays. The Bucs got three of them and still lost. Unbelievable! What a waste of a heroic comeback.
Joe is going to be sick for weeks over this one, especially with the Bucs coughing up a chance for home field advantage in the NFC Championship.
Yeah, it’s easy to blame the officials and a stupid rule — and Joe will be right there with you — but that’s not why the Bucs lost. It might actually be easier to deal with if that were the case.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:25 pm
Matt Gay…. a kicker the Bucs drafted and then later cut…. beats Tampa.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:25 pm
Really defense???? Had one guy to double up in coverage
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:25 pm
Todd Bowles sucks my balls. 1 on 1 coverage against Cooper Kupp is all you need to know. I truly hate that man
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:25 pm
Oh that hurts. That hurts a lot.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:26 pm
Clean out the coach roach.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:26 pm
No time left, let’s cb blitz and leave the best guy uncovered. WTF
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:26 pm
Todd Bowles blew that.
What kind of absolute moron calls a blitz right there?
I hope he gets hired somewhere else.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:26 pm
Wow that hurts, but what a comeback by the GOAT
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:26 pm
Great game, way to fight back. Proud of this team.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:27 pm
Cupp. How ez to know they would throw to him and not defend it.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:27 pm
The special teams needs special education. They stunk.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:27 pm
TODD BOWLES WITH WORST PLAYCALL IN NFL HISTORY
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:27 pm
WTF!!!!!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Please let us get rid of Bowles.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:28 pm
That secondary has killed them all year long…from the cowboy game till today. They suck, period. You don’t leave your 2nd year safety one on one with the best WR in the NFL.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Don’t forget Succup’s miss!!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Absolutely disgusted. Great to have to stew on this all off-season. I swear to god if they go all out overload on defense and don’t get another veteran Wr this off-season. I refuse to watch that defense again next year.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:29 pm
He blitzed and left Cupp open. What a fool.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:29 pm
Thank you TOM for the Super Bowl and bringing this team back and unfortunately Bowles and the defense ruined another chance 😳 this one is going to hurt for a bit
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:29 pm
I am disgusted but it was a good run.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:29 pm
This team has lousy coaches yet people say i am wrong! How do you blitz in that situation? Stafford has eaten up the blitz!!!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:29 pm
No matter what. Fantastic season.
The bucs are respectable again, everyone deserves credit for that.
Go bucs!
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:29 pm
Do we win thr game if the coordinators actually spend all week developing a game plan and)or if wirfs is healthy? Those questions will haunt me. Why did to take an injury to get Miller in the field?
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Nice call coach Bowles, no pass prevent. Worst secondary in the NFL. Brady’s been hit by most of the best defenders in the league and it too BA.and his cronies to send him into retirement. Took Brate out of the backfield as a leading blocker and the run got stuffed. These coaches suck, Darden and Edward’s extra men for Rams. Edward’s exact same play Jackson burnt him on last game. Great preparation.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Couldn’t defend for 30 seconds. You frigging let their only weapon beat you time and time again. Twice for monster gains back to back on that drive. A drive that started with frigging 40 seconds. Inexcusably ignorant. Todd ain’t getting no Head Coaching gig. Everyone saw that laughable incompetence. Not a soul will be willing to hire that idiot. The funny thing is we are stuck with that dipstick. What an absolute buffoon.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Too many mistakes. Bucs gave their all but got beat. Out coached today.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:31 pm
Buc you it’s gay that kept the Bucs alive with his kids earlier. That last kick was almost aromatic at that range
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:31 pm
I no longer care about the stupor Bowl in LA. Thanks Tom and Gronk for the 2 year fun run. Goat did it again only to be undone by Bowles.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:31 pm
All you have to do is don’t let the guy get behind you.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:31 pm
Pinyin, Succop, enjoy your paychecks.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:31 pm
Cmurda we win that game if it goes to overtime. Unfortunately bowles had other ideas.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:33 pm
Lenny should have sat on the 1
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:33 pm
Hopefully, with this loss Shady Brady will say farewell to Tampa. I vowed 2 years ago to not root for this team as long as that cheater was at QB. The NFL golden boy needs to retire, and good riddance.
Just one fan’s opinion.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:33 pm
I am very intrigued at the explanation for not having help over the top on Cooper. This after he already burnt you for the same reason on a 3rd and 20 for a TD. Very interested to hear Todd tell me how they just beat his brilliant scheme and why his scheme included no help over the top. I’m incredibly intrigued at hearing his explanation. We all know there is zero explanation. My 12 year old would know better.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:37 pm
@Bucs14-
Nobody, and I mean literally nobody, gives a chit about you.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Gosh damn, that was exciting as all hell at the end. The Rams were hungrier, more focused, and deserved to win. Hopefully, an embarrassing loss like this is enough to light a fire under some (Suh, Brady and a few others don’t need a fire lit) of our guys and we can make another run next year. I hate losing and I’m pi$$ed, but I’ll take this every time over endless single digit win seasons.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:38 pm
Pinoin, Succop, enjoy your paychecks.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:38 pm
Bucs14 F off you troll! Brady is the greatest QB to ever play the game. Go root for the texans.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:39 pm
BS Joe it’s exactly why the buccaneers lost It’s hard to come back from multiple penalties that the other team initiated and were called on you it was absolutely the ref’s fault We had to be the Rams and the refs tonight and we just couldn’t do it.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:40 pm
I think Bowles smoked a Bowl before the game because he was obviously stoned to call a blitz to allow CK to get behind our defense on that last reception.
Thanks Tom Brady for giving us a Super Bowl and making us relevant these past 2 years.
Hopefully this leaves a sour taste in your mouth so you will want to come back for one more year. If Not, God Bless the GOAT!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:40 pm
How do you let Cooper run down the middle of the field against one high db defense with only seconds left in the game? Give them the short area, but take away the long ball!!!!! Embarassing!!!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Overall we played a really bad game of football.
Donovan Smith is my biggest reason we lost. The chips were down for the OL today. Smith is the first guy we needed to step up and he was the worst player on the field.
Smith cant win one on one vs great players. He was exposed because we had to send help to the right side. Smith is a libality moving forward.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:41 pm
Have to admit. With the “impossible” plays that led to a Bucs tie ballgame with seconds to play, you DO NOT blitz to give them a chipshot FG. You play D to force a 55yd FG to win the game AFTER the kicker just missed a 45yder. Bad playcall to blitz and lose the game. He should have trusted TB12 in OT to come out on top and the Bucs repeat.
This seals the deal on TB12 retirement.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:41 pm
Bowles must have to start his new job early, couldn’t give a 3 week notice. Arse wipe, Bucs matched up perfect against 9ers. FYI, BA could of overruled the blitz!
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:41 pm
Yep, I definitely see how BA is the best buc coach of all times. His team came out fired up, well prepared, disciplined, and focused. Waiting until the 4th to go hurry up and 13 run plays, is exceptional game planning. Oh and Bowles dialing up a blitz on the 2nd to last play was exceptional judgement…why not leave your safety on an island vs a league map candidate and best qb rating against the blitz. Line up boys, tell me how that slop taste in the trough now….maybe a highly “qualified” Swamp can gameplan some more Gabbert/Griff scenarios to prepare us for the future
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:42 pm
If Matt gay is a pro bowler Roberto aguayo is a All pro
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:42 pm
Just goes to show what the NFL popularity contest is
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:42 pm
Oline was horrendous today especially Donny.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:43 pm
Let’s go 49ers John Lynch it’s your year!
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:43 pm
Somebody please help there’s not enough liquor!
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:44 pm
Difficult 1st half 2 Watch. Proud of the Bucs effort when it came down 2 the 4th! Too bad no O/T. – Argghhh
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:44 pm
The missed roughing the passer call was BS, ref was staring right at Brady with his hands on his knees. Did Shaq play today?
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:44 pm
Wowzers what a crazy game… Don’t think I’ve ever seen one quite like that.
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:46 pm
how are we not in OT right now…
wtf
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:48 pm
@ Guzman Ya man that one high defense was the wrong dam call. Give up a short pass and the clock probably runs out.
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:08 pm
I feel like I got punched in the gut man
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:50 pm
Francisco Guzman Says:
January 23rd, 2022 at 6:38 pm
Bucs14 F off you troll! Brady is the greatest QB to ever play the game. Go root for the texans.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Great response, totally agree!
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:03 pm
told you all
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:44 pm
Bowles stupidity cost us this game.
He should have kept a safety back, but instead he allows Kupp to run down the center of the field, with the game on the line.
Our run is over, Brady will retire and take Gronk with him.
We will lose plenty of our good players, and go into rebuilding mode.
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:06 pm
@unbelievable
Your wife did last night…oh and again this morning.
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:29 pm
This loss proves your analysis sucks
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:51 pm
I don’t know why the Bucs defense is considered so good. They had a good run of games in the playoffs last year, but other than that they seem to make just about every quarterback look like the next coming of Joe Montana. The defensive game plan sucked. How Bowles is considered a great coach is beyond me. The last play is on the coaching staff not the players. How does a defense not get a call and be on the same page in their own stadium. The secondary has been and continues to be way over rated. The front seven has been good most of the time, but today, there was zero pass rush. Simply pathetic and a terrible way to lose.
January 24th, 2022 at 2:37 am
Believe it or not, I actually dont blame Bowels so much as I blame the kicker and the refs. 2 out of bounds kick offs and missed field goal. Starting at the 40 yard line dictates what your defense can do, it’s like giving away points. Too soft play puts a team in position for a field goal. Missing an assignment can cost a quick touchdown . I dont think most people see how field position changes things. Special teams was awful. Apparently all the players involved in the blitz did not get the information so maybe if they were all on the same page maybe the blitz would have worked, but even still Bowels should not have let anything get behind his defense. Surprised by how bad gronk played, normally he snatches balls out of the air, he let the smaller players bully him this time. Tyler huge disappintment drops everywhere. Brate was just lost the whole game. Miller is no threat at this point, he can be defended. The o line missed only one player, no excuse for such poor play. I know wirfs was out, but the main pressure came from bradys left side, smith was like a human turn style. Fournette was ok, I would have changed up the offense to Vaughn and Bernard they are better screen runners than fournette. When we were still.in the game, put them in the back field, and do some sweeps with miller and WR screens with Tyler who is a great runner, not catcher. If not for Evans and Brady hanging in there the game would have been an embarrassment. I dont want brady to leave, but if he does he still went out on top, coming from behind to win. The ref Hoculi needs to be fired. Out of all the players on the field he felt threatened by brady. If a player turned to me with a body mouth yelling, in a playoff game, I throw a flag. Then a defenseless receiver gets hit in the head, and somehow the flag is thrown but the other team gets the ball. What kind of sick mess is that. Dead ball foul, HOW!!!! no such thing they made that up on the field. In my opinion .That was the biggest play of the game on 4th down. You hit a defenseless receiver regardless of the down or whether they catch the ball its automatic 15 yards and 1st down. Someone manipulated those strings against tampa. The Rams had 1 penalty in the first half. Hmmmm!!! Rooting for 49ers now.
January 24th, 2022 at 3:10 am
Wow.. what a crazy game..
Refs sukked, hated the call on evans hit. Also on suh and brady… ruined the game. IMO
Miller gets brady again.. ugh. Epic comeback.. out gunned. Ouchy.
January 24th, 2022 at 10:27 am
Poor offensive planning when you know offensive line is not optimal against this defensive front. They should ram the ball to the sizes till defense tired…risk and bisk it when when Tom has more time. We have the running backs that can pound the ball (just see the stats on rushing). When they are balanced offensive they win most of the time. Don’t know why the coach keep emphasize throwing and making the offense one dimensional. Defensive coach did not done a great job as well on the first half and then the last play that lost the game. The defensive plan should have been 2 deep to cover for a high probable chance that ram will throw deep.
Hope both of the coach get their head coach jobs next season so we will get some upgrade.
January 24th, 2022 at 10:42 am
It’s not the coaches. Game was fixed. Hoculli the ref had smirk on his face from the beginning he was smiling. BUCS haven’t had that many personal foul penalties in 20 years let alone 3 to the 3 player’s that never had penalties in there life. And also Rams play dirty. The bucs weren’t confused at all. There’s no way in hell the bucs would give those 2 long passes at the end to anybody in the NFL. Sports have become non watchable because everyone is betting on who scores first which player has most touchdowns interceptions sacks etc.
January 24th, 2022 at 10:54 am
THE REF GOT PAID!!!! 100 PERCENT!!
January 24th, 2022 at 10:56 am
THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH COACHING AND BUCS PLAYERS AND GAME PLAN. WE DIDN’T GET OUT COACHED. WATCH MR REF SMILING THE WHOLE GAME CALLING PENALTIES ON THE BUCS..????