Weakness Vs. Weakness
December 6th, 2025
There’s a simple reason why the Bucs should/will beat the two-win slimy Saints tomorrow at The Licht House.
The Saints’ passing offense is too weak to take advantage of the Bucs’ troubled pass defense. That’s the assessment of former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms, who shared his take on his weekly Pro Football Talk picks segment.
Joe has a hard time arguing with Simms.
Tomorrow represents a beautiful and perfect storm for Bucs fans scarred by second-rate offenses routinely carving up the Bucs’ zone defense.
Rookie Saints QB Tyler Shough has thrown 5 touchdown passes in his 4 1/2 games. He’s neither dangerous through the air nor on the ground. Shough is a rare 26-year-old rookie and doesn’t have much speed. Also, Shough’s yards-per-pass-attempt rate has plummeted recently. In his past two games, Shough has attempted 81 passes for only 482 yards.
Can the Bucs hold the Saints at or close to their points-per-game average of the past seven games? That average is only 12.9 points.
If the Saints roll up 20 points on the Bucs tomorrow in Tampa, something New Orleans has only done twice in 12 games this season, that will be a major red flag.
December 6th, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I had a nightmare. Another quarterback having his personal best against our defensive guru. Wake me please.
December 6th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
POOF
December 6th, 2025 at 7:59 pm
Joe I hope you are right, but this defense has a way of making other teams offense and qb’s look outstanding!!. The Qb for the Saints according to nfl network has a 68 percent completion rate so I don’t know about tomorrow. I expect the Saints to target McCokum often with short to intermediate passes and short passes to the Backs in the flat.
With that said the the Bucs should steam roll the Saints, but the Bucs never do anything easy. They like to drag the games and final standings down to the wire. It seems it never fails. They certainly have no killer instinct or ability to put their foot on the gas.
However, I will say this should they lose tomorrow , you may as well stick a fork in them cause they will be done!!!. On paper this game should be over by half time and I would love to see it. However, unfortunately the way they have been playing I can see them matching the Saints level and somehow losing.
I tell you the Saints don’t like us and and would love to throw a wrench in the Bucs playoff plans. I don’t see them rolling over that’s for sure.
I hope I am wrong, but , how do you trust this defense right now.
December 6th, 2025 at 8:01 pm
Sorry above I misspelled McColumn’s name.
December 6th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
Spelling isn’t your strong suit Football 1.
December 6th, 2025 at 8:15 pm
I got Maye and some guys on bye this week. It’s a deeper league so options are limited…
Seen this story too many times vs the Bucs so Shough and Vele are now on my roster. If they suck… great, Bucs win easy I hope.
December 6th, 2025 at 8:38 pm
We SHOULD win easily but I won’t be shocked if they make it interesting 😳
Defensively I’d like to see us continue to get takeaways, reduce any explosives, stuff the run, pressure Shough
Our offense needs to tighten up the operation and cut back on penalties… Run the ball…. Find some kind of rhythm between Baker and somebody besides EE
This should be a game where we show we’re starting to get our sheet together and correcting issues… All 3 phases 🤞🏼
December 6th, 2025 at 8:47 pm
Joe has been banging the keyboard about the lack of edge rush and sacks for a long time, rightfully so!
How do the Bucs compare to other defenses dropping DL’s into to pass coverage?
December 6th, 2025 at 8:58 pm
“In his past two games, Shough has attempted 81 passes for only 482 yards.” Only? You realize that is 247 more yards than Mayfield has thrown for in his past two games.
December 6th, 2025 at 9:04 pm
Slough hasn’t played against our Swiss cheese pass defense yet. Give him time.
December 6th, 2025 at 9:06 pm
Bucs should win handily but you can almost count on SVD and Zyon giving up big yardage, explosive plays during the game and Bowles might put Morrison out there as well to get exposed. Bowles has one system and he will stick to it even if it kills a chance for a win. Reminds me of how stubborn Lovie and Leftwich were before they got launched. Bucs win, but closer than it should be, typical Bowles outing, mediocrity at its best.
December 6th, 2025 at 9:14 pm
There is no such thing as an easy win with the Bucs. Bowles will find a way to screw things up. This defense is so weak it’s pathetic; they could easily give up 500 yards. Against Atlanta, I’m worried that will happen.
December 6th, 2025 at 9:41 pm
@SRQ Bucs Fan,
Almost all DC’s drop defensive linemen into coverage, at least occasionally. There have been good DCs who have done this heavily like Bowles.
Bowles wouldn’t do it as much if he had elite edge rushers or could generate consistent pressure with just 4.
If Kancey returns, hopefully that will help. If they can generate more pressure, that will make the secondary look better. They’ve got to get better at it to have any hope of being a dangerous team in the playoffs (assuming they get to the playoffs).
December 6th, 2025 at 10:05 pm
LEARNIING TO TACKLE WOULD HELP ! WE SUCK AT IT . JOW MANY MISSED TACKLES HAVE WE SEEN DURING GAMES ? IS THAT NOT THE HEAD COACH JOB TO FIX IT . MAKE THEM PRACTICE IT ALL DAY IF THEY HAVE TO. HOW MANY BIG PLAYS WOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED IF THEY JUST TACKLED BETTER !
December 6th, 2025 at 10:23 pm
@Les,
I bet they’d get better at tackling if players got fined for missed tackles. 😉