Must-Win Day For The Defense
November 30th, 2025
Team Glazer, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht and Todd Bowles are smart people.
Collectively, they’re a group that isn’t fueled by emotion. They lean more on logic and good business. That may not always be fan-friendly or wins-friendly, but that’s a story for another day.
This logical conglomerate has watched the Bucs defense soil its diaper in three consecutive games following a bye week.
Joe looks around and doesn’t see many injuries on defense. Joe also doesn’t see inexperienced coaches. Joe also hears how mature the Bucs leadership is on both sides of the ball.
So Joe looks at today’s game as a must-win for the Tampa Bay defense. The team can’t have a fourth consecutive fail defensively — this time against a sad Cardinals team — and actually believe the defense is viable for a team that considers itself a contender. The folks calling the shots are too smart to stray that far from reality, Joe believes.
Bad is bad.
Joe sure hopes the Bucs defense is good today. If it’s not, that should serve as a massive siren that a difficult offseason overhaul is necessary.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:05 am
We are getting healthier each week. We need this win to just kind of right the ship so to speak. Without our weapons we are not a good football team we hung in long enough to keep the divsion lead. Truth is none of know what this team is healthy! Are they a contender? If everyone is healthy for playoffs? I’d say yes we are!
Regardless of what happens rest of this season I think finally the message is clear find a pass rush or you might be finding a new job. This defense doesn’t work without getting to the Qb in today’s modern nfl sacks us only chance to stop the other team.
I expect a draft loaded with pass rushers will not be surprised if they draft 3 of them. They use that approach with corners draft as many as possible pray they find a few look for that same approach with edge rushers in this draft from the Bucs!
November 30th, 2025 at 10:09 am
I guess Kancey is just a way bigger part of the defense than I imagined. He takes some heat off Vera and frees up a body. The fact is though, apart from Jamel Dean getting hurt (who has come on this year finally) the defense, on paper DID get better.
Injuries is not an excuse for the D anymore, especially with how poor they’ve been. You just can’t excuse the worst defense in the league (per my eye test) because they have 1 starter hurt.
Zyon took the money and ran, SVD is somehow still starting, Yaya and Reddick (when healthy) still can’t finish. Tykee and Parrish are the only bright spots.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:21 am
In the end, today’s game by itself changes nothing. The defense must dominate against a struggling team today; salvaging some semblance of pride is on the line for the D. Regardless the outcome today, the stench of the last 3 weeks lingers and the defense cannot improve that perception outside of the Bucs org. The Bucs defense as it is currently schemed, coached, and executed has proved again this year that it is unable to stop good teams. After today, special teams and the defense remain as glaring weaknesses on an underperforming team. Defense – play well against both good and bad teams; only then will respect return.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Guess they’re all bored and all spent trying to figure out Todd’s D. We cant we just play a normal D scheme? So stupid!!!
November 30th, 2025 at 10:45 am
I think a big issue all season with the D is that they know Bowles will not hold anyone accountable. He does not bench anyone for ineptitude or mailing it in, rather just giving the coach speak BS of “technique and communication”. Perhaps the D has figured out that Bowles’ seat is getting hot and if he goes, many of his guys will be looking for work as well or end up being held accountable by a new regime. Maybe they finally play with some heart, playing like they are playing for their jobs which they should be doing every week if the Bucs held players and coaches accountable for failure. We can only hope they finally turn up. It seems like Bowles is treating this game as a must win as just about everyone who is questionable with injuries has gotten a green light to go.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:47 am
Make no mistake, Todd is coaching for his job today. You can excuse losing on the road in LA. Losing your 4th in a row at home against the cards is a fire able offense
November 30th, 2025 at 10:54 am
It will be boom or bust.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:55 am
Just play the old Tampa 2
November 30th, 2025 at 11:01 am
@Hodad
Agreed. Do I think it’ll happen? No. But what a message it would send that we’re no longer content with mediocrity. Winning the division means nothing while we look as bad as we do and how bad Bowles has allowed us to look.
If the defense looks off today, Bowles should swiftly be out the door. The question then becomes, who takes over, can’t be Grizz.
November 30th, 2025 at 11:07 am
jon gruden chucky he will hold people accountible
November 30th, 2025 at 11:10 am
big vita needs to view the cardinals as snacks…and he will be okay
November 30th, 2025 at 11:22 am
It would be nice if Vita got a stat today.
November 30th, 2025 at 11:32 am
If there is anything left in the tank at all, we should be 9-5 after the next three games.
Arizona, NO, and Dixie Chicks are all bad teams that should be road apples.
Imagine how 9-5 would feel in three weeks time? The regular season could be salvaged.
The playoffs are another story. This defense is not built for postseason play.
If they lose today then fire Bowles immediately to try to salvage the division.
November 30th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
LOL Panters 10 point underdogs….