Uncomfortable Numbers From Bucs’ Win Over Cardinals
December 2nd, 2025
Can a defense be fixed in December?
Joe has had a lot of folks ask on this here corner of the interwebs and on social media ask why “this Joe” (and only this Joe) is down in the dumps over a win.
Basically, it’s because Joe believes the Bucs played down (?) to the Cardinals.
Yes, Joe gets it: The Bucs held the Cardinals to their second-lowest point total of the season. Remember watching that game Sunday afternoon? Did you at any time think the Bucs had that game locked up until the Bucs defense posted a four-and-out (!) to slam the door?
The Bucs had so many chances to put that game away and kept Arizona hanging around. And it damn near bit the Bucs in the arse.
The Bucs, who held a 10-3 lead at halftime, were outscored 14-10 in the second half by a team that has lost 9 of its last 10 games. With a backup quarterback. A team that ought to have a top-five pick in the draft.
A good playoff team would have stomped on Arizona’s throats and put them out of their misery much earlier.
In Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ mind, a win is a win. It doesn’t matter by how much or against whom.
“Most of these games are tough in this league – they’re one-score games,” Bowles said yesterday. “We knew they were going to try to make a run. We couldn’t get the quarterback down before the half. I think he got out two or three times and we had hands on him, and we couldn’t get him down.
“Even on one of the touchdowns [where] [Jacoby Brissett] scrambled, we had two guys free and couldn’t get him on the ground. Credit to him – he made a play. …
“But the guys came out in the last series and they closed it out. Considering we lost the last three, that’s pretty good.”
That’s great that the defense rose up with a four-and-out — after Bowles chewed out his defense for not playing better — but it shouldn’t have come to that.
There was very little about the win on Sunday that made Joe think the Bucs’ troubles are in the past.
Oh, it was great to see Bucky Irving shake off the rust. It was great to see Chris Godwin look like Chris Godwin. Still, Joe has trouble believing Bowles can wave a magic wand and magically transform his defense.
It’s December. The next game will be played (fittingly?) on Pearl Harbor Day. Teams rarely change stripes in December. It’s slowly sinking in for Joe, unfortunately, that having a bad defense is just who the Bucs are in 2025.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:05 am
What about the offense?
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:12 am
It doesn’t matter if the team is mostly healthy or mostly injured, there’s still mid-season losing streaks with Bowles and Baker at the leadership positions on the team. The offense can’t seem to sustain drives and yes, the officiating was horrid but there were still drops and overthrows.
Who on this team can takeover a game? Even at full strength that players isn’t on the Bucs and thats what you need to go deep in the playoffs.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:14 am
The only chance we have to get in and win one game is that the offense kicks it into gear and makes the other team one dimensional on offense. And even if that happens we won’t get past the divisional round.
I guess it could be worse.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:17 am
i think this is accurate. the bucs will only do what they have to, not what they need to. it’s lazy. the idea that they can just turn things up or down depending on the opponent is beyond foolish.
the culture is rotten at one buc place. that isnt a blanket across the board condemnation of everyone and everything. there is rot that has taken hold. the championship culture that came with brady is gone, seems like the memory of it is gone as well. now its just whatever dawg culture.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:25 am
Joe … ‘There was very little about the win on Sunday that made Joe think the Bucs’ troubles are in the past.’
I share your concern Joe. Arizona’s offense put up 22 first downs on us, 386 total yards (including 301 passing yards) as their backup QB threw for 72.5% completions. They only ran it 19 times, but put up 95 yds for a 5.0 YPC average. Cards screwed themselves by losing 2 turnovers; other than that, they could’ve won.
Arizona’s defense held out vaunted attack (ya right) to only 13 first downs in comparison, 279 total yards (including 194 passing yards). We ran it 27 times for 95 yds (same as the Cards got in 19 carries) for a 3.5 YPC average. Bucs punted FIVE times in our 10 drives, compared to the Cards punting only TWICE.
So yes I agree with you Joe … ‘There was very little about the win on Sunday that made Joe think the Bucs’ troubles are in the past.’
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:30 am
Numerous times receivers were totally uncovered by the Bucs defense. It appeared nobody knew who they were suppose to cover. Terrible.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:30 am
Yes Joe you are spot on I stated similar thoughts on another recent article. Yes unfortunately, this is a poor if not bad , below average defense. I keep saying it and will do so, I think McColumn needs to sit . At this point he is really hurting the team. I would put Parish on the outside, I don’t think he would be any worse, how could he and he may be an improvement.
Dennis, while playing better still leaves much to be desired.Licht and Bowles missed that one on the mlb position. That should be a position of strength, however, it is a huge weakness being exploited weekly. It appears every opponent is now targeting McColumn, so what does that tell you!!.
Anyway, to win another division title the offense will need to start scoring a ton of points because the defense not likely to be there. I have been saying for awhile don’t sleep on Car. While they are up and down they appear hungry. The Bucs just don’t
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:33 am
I’ve been feeling the same way after that Cards game. They more lost than we won. It was kind of a shame that somebody had be the winner of that game. 2 of our 5 remaining games are against the Panthers. Bodes poorly.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:35 am
Four years in a row with at least a 3 game losing streak.
Four years in a row of substandard Defense, pass rush and DBs.
This is a problem.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:36 am
I wonder if Bowles ever goes back and listens to the pathetic things he says, (see above).
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:37 am
After watching NE STOMP all over the Giants last night…it was a good example of what good teams do to bad ones. Now the Giants probably beat themselves as much as NE did…but my point is that Tampa should have beaten AZ like that. Perhaps they aren’t as good as we want them to be…or like Baker said…no killer mentality.
This weekend is going to be very telling for the remainder of the season.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:37 am
If you look around the league at the other division leaders, you’ll generally see teams on the rise, hitting their stride and/or that do something really well. We’re the outlier- the team hanging on for dear life. The team that doesn’t block, tackle or cover well. The team that barely has a pulse at times and can’t muster up an ounce of ferocity. We don’t scare anyone. We’re not well-coached. We’re locked in a cycle of self-congratulatory mediocrity.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:38 am
It wasn’t just the defense. Offense was bad. Mayfield was mediocre. Line was mediocre. Should have been better all around.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:42 am
Time after time, this team takes its foot of the gas after we get the littlest lead. It’s so “F”ing frustrating. We don’t have any killer instincts. You can always count on the defense to allow the other team to march down the field with less than a minute before the half to score points. I truly believe it’s Bowels mush brain to blame. He hates running up the score. He should go back and coach pop warner. He’s not suited for the NFL. I don’t know how many more games I can take.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:44 am
Too many times this defense “just doesn’t make a play”
Year after year
FIRE TODD BLOWS!!!
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:44 am
This is out of our (the fans) hands.
For those of us who think Bowles is adrift in incompetence, we must turn again to Licht and the Glazers with our hope for a change. Ok, maybe just the Glazers as Licht has his own issues with recent free agent signings, questionable draft picks and stagnation at the trading deadline.
The two best coaching hires this year were by the Bears and the Jaguars. Both teams have improved drastically and left behind teams that are floundering in their absence, especially Detroit. And we had one of those two in our building and let him walk. My guess is Coen would rather have Baker over Lawrence, but he still turned his team around.
We can complain until our mouths run dry, but only the Glazers can make a move.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:48 am
Did you all see how the best team in the NFL came out firing on all cylinders last night against the giants? What a difference a real coach make! Bowles and his weak ass defense and lazy players don’t deserve to make the playoffs.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:48 am
I hate the argument that you have to keep bringing a guy back because he gets one more win than the previous year. It’s great, but imagine what the team could do then with a better coach?
The Bucs are missing that “it” guy on defense. Tykee Smith could be that guy but they need someone with that mentality of “nobody is stopping me” and it’s just no there. They’re almost too nice of guys…
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:49 am
So when is coach gonna grow a set of balls and give zyon an ultimatum. Should have been done 2 months ago. Letting him get toasted weekly because hes bored wouldn’t fly anywhere else especially after paying him.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:52 am
Although, I agree….its’ time to move on…….we have multiple culprits in that game and we can’t blame it all on the defense.
Dropped passes….very untimely penalties….and Baker was off. I don’t think the protection was that good and I still have a problem with us throwing all those passes behind the sticks.
The defense was soft…..it reminds me of the Jets game where we had a commanding lead and let them back in.
We will get beat continuing to do that.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:52 am
That backup quarterback leads the league in yards passing. DVOA has the Buccaneers ranked as the 8th best defense in the league. I know that that ranking doesn’t jive with what our eyes see but they are regarded as the top statistics site on the internet. Buccaneers problem as far as they’ve been and offense that does not control the football, does not sustain drives, does not win time of possession. This is not my opinion. This is the opinion of Aaron Schatz. His methodology ranks Seattle first, LA second, Indy third Strength of schedule is a big factor as well Carolina ranks well below the Buccaneers on nearly all metrics They beat LA because Stafford threw a pick 6 and turned the ball over three times.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:57 am
“Bucs punted FIVE times in our 10 drives, compared to the Cards punting only TWICE.”
Tied for 5th most punts per game with the New York Bi-Plane. We punt > teams like the Vikings, Raiders, Falcons & Bengals on offense.
Didn’t start with this most recent game either, there are multiple examples this year where we’ve punted >50% of our offensive possessions. Y’know, the type of behavior on display to start games, where you have to rally at the end in order to win
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:58 am
Remember even the year that the Bucs didn’t win the Super Bowl with Arians, when the Bucs played a bad team they ran their arses out of the stadium?
This team lets bad teams hang around.
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:05 am
“Remember even the year that the Bucs didn’t win the Super Bowl with Arians, when the Bucs played a bad team they ran their arses out of the stadium?”
That team was more capable than this team is, probably overall talent and Brady got robbed for MVP that season.
Lots of differences between those rosters to make a comparison to this team now a head scratcher.
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:12 am
Joe Says:
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:58 am
After watching NE STOMP all over the Giants last night…it was a good example of what good teams do to bad ones.
Remember even the year that the Bucs didn’t win the Super Bowl with Arians, when the Bucs played a bad team they ran their arses out of the stadium?
This team lets bad teams hang around.
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Which is reflective of poor coaching, look at the past 4 years. And please don’t bring up the Saints game this year, we could have put Riley Dixon at QB that game and still won handily
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:12 am
Stats are for losers. By watching with our own eyes, we know that the Bucs are not in the Rams / Bears / Eagles / Packers / Lions tier. And we can’t outscore the Seahawks any longer. Best we can hope for is to get healthier on offense and limp into the playoffs.
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:14 am
Hey Joe maybe this team lets bad teams hang around because they are abad team too🤷
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:16 am
Back in August the last 6 games of the season seemed like a definite 6 wins. Now it still a puzzle what this team will bring on Sunday.
And no I will never be down about a win. I’m a true fan. But I am disappointed about our performance against a 3-8 team. SMH
This team leaves you scratching your head.
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:17 am
Stats are for losers. By watching with our own eyes, we know that the Bucs are not in the Rams / Bears / Eagles / Packers / Lions tier. And we can’t outscore the Seahawks any longer. Best we can hope for is to get healthier on offense and limp into the playoffs.
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IMHO you can put the Panther’s in that tier as well now with a coach we could/should have retained who could have brought in a competent DC
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:18 am
But then again, the Rams didn’t handle the Panthers last Sunday.
Any given Sunday…
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:18 am
todd bowles is a great man but his defense is predicated on a good pass rush ! he needs to go to the defense he played in super bowl against chiefs . the idea that anthony nelson and yaya diaby can cover the running back 30 yards downfield is crazy . is anyone excited about our 3rd down defense right now ? have a merry christmas God bless rant over ps do you wish we hired ben johnson 2 years ago lol
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:19 am
No convincing wins, no killer instinct. No lead is safe with this porous defense and when the offense cant even get a few first downs late to eat clock.
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:22 am
Super Bowl aspirations going into the season. According to many in this site, we have the best GM in the league.
Let me ask…How many Bucs make the Pro Bowl this year?
Dump this entire front office and that cheesy, clearly ineffective “I am that man” mantra.
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:34 am
Pretty sad when barely beating a three win team breaks you out of a long funk.
Unfortunately the weak schedule will likely keep Bowles employed.
He’s only good versus the drecks of the league. The Polly positive types are happy to be the whipping boys come playoff time.
You can forget the SB as long as Toad Bowels is at the helm.
Good to see Aqualung back. A much needed voice of clarity.
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:46 am
Well, I’d suggest you check out the other side at AZCentral. The Cards are discouraged by the loss, because it’s 7 games by 4 or less. yet they felt that not only were the Bucs in control for most of the game, but seemed to know what play was coming on the 4th down stops.
You only get that through alot of film study. Bucs did not panic, and did what they had to do. Win. AGainst a team that is better then the record indicateds.
And before you dump on Baker for looking “off”, the guy is playing with a shoulder that was sprained 6 days ago. And still threw some good balls.
Stafford and the Rams would have been thrilled with a 20-17 victory.
You guys should be, too. If the Cards get a better OC and a different quarterback next year they will win alot of games. They should go get Cousins after the Dixie Chicks release him this year.
December 2nd, 2025 at 10:55 am
It’s been a VERY UNCOMFORTABLE SEASON!