Red Zone Offense Has To Be Better
November 21st, 2025
Rues missing out on six.
Joe is still tossing and turning at night over Bucs coach Todd Bowles deciding to punt halfway through the fourth quarter Sunday, trailing 37-32 on fourth-and-two from the Bucs-39. The Bucs had been running down the throats of the soft Bills offense.
The Bucs never recovered from that as Josh Allen ran it in from nine yards out on the ensuing drive. Ballgame.
However, Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard thinks the straw that broke the camel’s back came early in the game.
After Jacob Parrish picked off Allen in the first quarter, the Bucs had first down on the Bills-7. The Bucs couldn’t punch it in and had to settle for a field goal.
“It killed us,” Grizzard said Thursday.
“That’s what we hit on right after the game – well, not right after the game, but on Monday – in that when the defense turns it over and we get the ball on the seven-[or] eight-yard line, whatever it is, and can’t turn that thing into seven [points], then that’s definitely a missed opportunity in a game.
“I know it ended up being a 12-point differential, but at that point, we’ve got to be able to play complementary football, like we talked about. They did a great job turning it over, we need to be able to go get seven [points] – and that was not a good part of the game there for the offense.”
The red zone offense of the Bucs stinks this year. After the Buffalo loss, the Bucs are now the No. 25-ranked team for scoring touchdowns in the red zone. It happens just over half the time, 51.75 percent.
That has to improve if the Bucs want to be a playoff team. There are only two potential playoff teams with a worse red zone offense. No. 28 Baltimore (47.2 percent) and No. 31 Houston (43.3 percent).
Joe guesses the struggling red zone offense is the biggest example of the Bucs missing Mike Evans and Chris Godwin?
November 21st, 2025 at 12:30 am
Seahawks had 3 short field goals against LA on Sunday, if they converted a couple of those into TDs nobody would be talking about Darnold throwing 4 picks and the Hawks would be the hot team in the NFC, not LA.
November 21st, 2025 at 1:09 am
We have three tight ends that we don’t even use. I think a big part of this is poor personnel choices
November 21st, 2025 at 1:10 am
Won’t be any NFL teams come calling for Griizzard
November 21st, 2025 at 2:35 am
Well, if he doesnt see it, not much we can do to help.
its stupid…i even missed some work time so i could watch the game and knew this had to be a Todd decision to get away from what was working, the run.
I called these 3 L’s weeks ago, then we start winning again IF we get some injured starters back. If not, its draft time and play for best position there…..ridiculous!
November 21st, 2025 at 3:10 am
Knowing you have a problem and knowing how to fix it are entirely different. I guess it’s a start. Get it together Grizz. Don’t listen to TB.
November 21st, 2025 at 3:54 am
So we have a SINGLE red zone target who’s over 6′?
November 21st, 2025 at 5:03 am
‘Joe guess the struggling red zone offense is the biggest example of the Bucs missing Mike Evans and Chris Godwin?’
I agree wholeheartedly Joe. Bucs were 46-of-69 (66.7%) in Red Zone TDs last season (averaging 4.06 Red Zone trips per game), but this season we’re way off that with only 15-of-29 (51.7%) in Red Zone TDs in 10 games (averaging only 2.90 Red Zone trips per game).
On looking at each one, Bucs have scored 7 rushing TDs & 8 passing TDs this season in the Red Zone, and we’ve also kicked 9 FGs. But we’ve come up empty-handed on 5 attempts, and that’s hurt us. There were also 3 other Red Zone opportunities because our defense gave our offense the ball inside the opponent’s 20-yd line; our offense scored 1 TD & 2 FG on those.
Bucs have had a lot of explosive plays for TDs this season, and I suspect that’s what’s resulted in the 1 fewer Red Zone opportunity per game. Still, we’re settling for FGs too often, and we’ve missed some easy opportunities to get 7 points as opposed to walking away empty-handed.
November 21st, 2025 at 7:18 am
If I was OC Sean Tucker would be RB1 and White would be lining up more as a Slot WR. He actually started his College career as a WR and has good hands. EE2 being doubled Covered takes away one of our best skilled players . Tez, Sheppard and the TE’s have been servicable but not great.
November 21st, 2025 at 7:37 am
Red zone Offense and Defense has killed us.
November 21st, 2025 at 7:43 am
The Coaching decision at that point shows his true mettle as a Coach. He has hit his ceiling. And that Putrid Pass Defense is still this teams Achilles heel and he owns that. We need an Offensive Minded Coach to come in here and change the Defensive philosophy that has proven STINKS! I hope for the best-but just Telling the Truth here. Bowles is just not a Great Coach. This team has Maxxed out with him at the Helm. Go Bucs!!
November 21st, 2025 at 7:45 am
There was not one play that killed but if you have to pick one, go for a defensive gaffe. You score 30 or more, you should win. Simple.
November 21st, 2025 at 7:50 am
Without BIG ME to throw to in the corner of the EZ it is easy peasy to cover the rest of the WR’s
November 21st, 2025 at 9:52 am
Can someone file a missing persons report for Cade Otten, Payne Durham, and Devin Culp please?
November 21st, 2025 at 10:52 am
Yeah, right… And, they dumb aces still insist on going for TWO, every-time they score at 3rd-QUARTER TD. Yeah, makes A LOT of sense. That’s very SMART “coaching” right there! GENIUS. They were ‘TOP-5’ last season in RedZone TD%.
November 21st, 2025 at 11:04 am
7 not 3 will win us games
GRIZZ has to improve the red zone offense
GO BUCS!!!
November 21st, 2025 at 11:17 am
Griz is not acting like a wiz. There was no imagination in his first series after the turnover. I thought it was Buron Leftwich making the calls. This wasn’t the first few games of his tenure. I’m not an expert but certainly neither was griz. We expect better. Look at last year’s plays and learn how Cohn zigged while the other team zagged and always seemed to have the opponents off balance. It’s inexcusable at this point in the season imo
November 22nd, 2025 at 9:38 pm
Nothing will improve as long as Tood Blowes is employed.