Panthers 38, Buccaneers 10
January 3rd, 2016
Cam Newton slithered away from what would have been George Johnson’s first sack of the season. The Bucs were clobbered in all phases. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Lovie Smith called this game a “measuring stick” during a pregame interview.
Using that logic, the Bucs don’t measure up, and they limp into the offseason as a flaccid bunch, losers of four straight and in desperate need of Viagra in the form of defensive backs, pass rushers and receivers — and much improved coaching.
Joe’s as frustrated as every other Bucs fan. You just can’t close a season by losing three in a row to bad teams, followed by not competing against your division rival.
Even worse, the Bucs didn’t show up. The Bucs trailed by 28 points with 25 minutes to play. They failed in all three phases of the game.
Sure, there were commendable individual efforts. Charles Sims capped a great season. Lavonte David had a hand in two forced turnovers. Mike Evans squeezed footballs and was dangerous, though underused for Joe’s taste.
But overall, it was sickening close to a season filled with brutal growing pains.
Stick with Joe through the night for plenty out of this game. Tomorrow, Joe will be live at One Buc Palace for Lovie Smith’s season-farewell address.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:31 pm
Started the season with a 28 point loss. Ended the season with a 28 point loss. I’m sorry, there was progress this season? Only to loser fans who want to care about the draft more than the playoffs. Lovie sucks and the Glazers are a joke. We’re going nowhere until they are both gone.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:31 pm
This is our playof game and momentum for 2016. FML.
Lovie sucks.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:32 pm
I told you guys this game would tell us how good we will be next year
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:32 pm
Too bad it’s not a coaching-tenure-farewell address..
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:32 pm
Fire the clown
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:32 pm
so who drafted weak-assed evans? who drafted austin sefarian-jenkins?
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:32 pm
I love my Bucs
BUT THIS TEAM SUCKS
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:33 pm
Pretty much what I expected
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:33 pm
How many blowout losses is that for Lovie in only 2 seasons? 3? 4?
Players had quit in their body language today, and Evans getting really whiny and frustrated. Winston had a tough day but took it like a professional. Bright side going into next season.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:33 pm
Lovie should be fired. I’ve been saying this since week 1.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:33 pm
I told my girl this morning we were going to lose 31 – 20. Worse than I could have imagined.
We failed miserably in every phase of the game.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:34 pm
@Joe
I don’t know what measuring stick you used, But mine does not go to micro-millimeters!!!!!!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:34 pm
Another season with double digit losses.
We have a bright young QB. But there’s a lot more to a good team than just that.
The defense is still awful and isn’t that the reason Lovie is here to begin with?
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:34 pm
Haha I got my hopes up when joe said love was giving his season farewell address. I thought that meant he was getting fired
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:34 pm
Joe you are going to lose lots of people on this website due to allowing all of these idiots to comment on your site. I will not be back for quite awhile and you might not care now but it always catches up in the long run. Thanks for providing this form but this is for fans not fans of other teams pretending to be fans of the Bucs. Go Bucs!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:34 pm
8-24 alone is worthy of being fired. This team was uncompetitive in all 4 games. This is every bit the meltdown that we seen from the previous regime without all the off field drama. To me that makes it 10x worse. Dont force us to watch another 16 games of Lovie ball!! Fire Lovie!!!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:34 pm
I know Kevin and did you see his win/loss for the last three seasons. That’s because Carolina fans don’t get it. Now look at Lovies stats it’s as simale as that. Letters will be sent to the Glazers and from most season ticket holders they were sent weeks ago!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:34 pm
Look guys, I know you are upset that your favorite football team is a humiliating abject failure despite the promise of a stud rookie QB and stud RB but please don’t start holding the HC responsible. After all he is a really lovable guy from Big Sandy, TX and he doesn’t use foul language. I am really not ire what you terrible Bucs fans want from the man???
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:34 pm
Evans ain’t week. At least he has fire for the game. Unlike most of our roster. I agree on ASJ tho. Big blow out hopefully means they fire lovie. A man can only hope.
#FIRELOVIE
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:35 pm
You need something stronger than Viagra to get this team up.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:35 pm
As bad as the defense was….the offense was worse……we aren’t going to beat anybody scoring 10 points…….except the Cowboys.
Lane went out…..Koetter called a poor game…..Jameis was off-target much of the day….and threw two picks.
Not scoring at the end of the half and the muffed punt killed us.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:35 pm
Bye Ndog. Much like Lovie Smith, your incompetence will not be missed.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:35 pm
What a fitting end to lovie’s tenure!!!!!!!!!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:35 pm
When you lose your last 4 games, 3 to very bad teams, you are getting worse, not better.
Bucs need a qualified head coach
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:36 pm
@Couch, not sure if it makes it worse, but it sure makes it more of the same.
We have seen this team quite and play weak, pathetic football for 5 seasons straight. And 7 out of the last 9 if you really think about it.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:36 pm
LovI has got to go…same stuff..no improvement…
Mike Evans is a mental midget..has not learned a thing in two years about being a pro…
Loooong offseason…
Do not see how they can prove on defense that much to make a difference.
The view from the bottom of the division never changes…
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:37 pm
If I’m the Glazers and do not hire a president or CEO to takeover my responsibilities, which is what they really should do, then I’d at least look at the status of Sean Payton and Chuck Pagano for next year. The year end collapse this season would worry the hell out of me. What happens if we start slow next year? Does the team collapse again? Can Lovie rally them through it to the playoffs, which in his third year should be expected? What are the signs he can or will?
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:38 pm
ndog Says:
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:34 pm
Joe you are going to lose lots of people on this website due to allowing all of these idiots to comment on your site. I will not be back for quite awhile and you might not care now but it always catches up in the long run. Thanks for providing this form but this is for fans not fans of other teams pretending to be fans of the Bucs. Go Bucs!
Translation: I’d rather spend my time focusing on drafts picks that offer hope rather than addressing reality: We have one of the absolute worst coaches in the league. Bar none. You obviously have low standards in life.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:38 pm
Ndog
U can leave. Nobody cares. Joe don’t care. Take your garbage opinions to pewter report u illiterate in bread freak
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:38 pm
Started the season with a 28 point loss to a rookie QB and what is now the worst team in football. Ended the season with a 28 point loss to the best team in football. This is what progress looks like under incompetent Lovie Smith. Who’s excited about your TB Bucs in 2016?
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:38 pm
evans is weak. too many drops this year and his head is not on straight. that started last year when he would get off the field after the soft hit.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:39 pm
Don’t worry guys, only one more year of lovie ball
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:39 pm
If you were surprised by the game today, then you have not been paying attention!!!!!!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:39 pm
Joe do us all Bucs fans a favor and get rid of Bucnut the guy is literally pissing me off. The sad thing is its probably a little kid but that’s how big of a fan I am to get irked. The Bucs will prove people wrong we just need fans who believe!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:39 pm
Greg Says:
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:39 pm
Don’t worry guys, only one more year of lovie ball
#truth
Hang in there fans…
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:40 pm
But look at all the yards Winston threw for!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:41 pm
We have seen this team quite and play weak, pathetic football for 5 seasons straight. And 7 out of the last 9 if you really think about it.
—————————-
Very true and even if Lovie is fired, I dont have any confidence Glazers will pick the right guy this time either but trying is all I ask. None of the coaches were good but they just keep getting worse with every hire.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:42 pm
First of all, the Panthers won’t win a SuperBowl. Second, it took Tony Dungy’s team several years to realize that they have to outplay the refs as well as the other team. It’s the same thing here. It’s BS, but it is what it is. The Bucs will never be a favorite in the so-called NFL club. Example: The New England Patriots and Bill BeliCheat. I don’t want to read anymore nonsense about Koetter leaving. He’s not going anywhere. He sure made Mike (Puke) Shula look like a winner. Bucs set another record: 5 years in a row at the bottom of their division. This team has always belonged to its fans, not the idiot sons who inherited them.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:42 pm
You Winston haters are pathetic.
Literally hating on 1 of only 6 or 7 guys on this team with any talent. Oh and he’s a 21 yr old rookie btw.
Just go kill yourselves and end the misery already, k?
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:42 pm
The Bucs will prove people wrong we just need fans who believe!
——————————
Incorrect. We need a coach that has a clue. Its not the fans fault this team has been inept in all areas for 2 long now.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:42 pm
All we heard last year was defense finished strong. Needed a better line and franchise QB. Defense should get better with last years experience under its belt. OK. That was full Sh!t.
And now you think you will trade useless players. Draft starters and all will be fine? Don’t get your hopes . Most realistic people won’t. Not as long as Lovie is here.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:43 pm
Another top 10 pick in the Draft.
It’s sad when you’re a football fan, and April is the most exciting month of the year. Sigh.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:44 pm
@joe
Don’t worry about another humiliating loss on Primetime tv with lovie. I have infiltrated sheep headquarters were they are trying to form a response to another lovie debacle!!!!! The just of it goes “ This was a genius plan by lovie, He tanked the game so other teams will not interview Keotter for Head coach”!!!!!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:44 pm
So where are all the race baiters now?
Just wait on it!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:45 pm
@Couch, it’s sad isn’t it? I have very little faith in them either.
This franchise has been, and still is, the laughingstock of the NFL. Now worse than the Browns and Raiders.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:46 pm
Lovie Smith is worthless. He is a loser.
8-24 is the suck and so is Lovie
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:47 pm
There were a number of “real” Bucs fans that predicted 11-12 wins this year. Those bags are conspicuously absent from the conversation tonight or noticibly singing a different tune.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:48 pm
This GM will have the responsibility for firing the entire defensive backfield coaches which includes Smith’s son. The Bucs have to have NFL caliber coaches and these coaches are not that. Licht has a huge job to draft effectively, bring on FA’s that are worth it, stripping Lovie of his DC job, getting rid of the DC… big job. Wish him well.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:48 pm
Couch Fan Says:
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:42 pm
The Bucs will prove people wrong we just need fans who believe!
——————————
Incorrect. We need a coach that has a clue. Its not the fans fault this team has been inept in all areas for 2 long now.
It’s the Glazers fault of course. Fans don’t come anymore clearly, but they don’t care either. Can we plant some coke and/or dead hookers on them? Maybe force a sell?
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:49 pm
Didn’t Pettine just get fired after two years going 10-22. That better then the clown Lovie.
Fire the clown!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:49 pm
The Fan police will be here. Count on it.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:50 pm
I have watched the entire season and now I want to give my take on it. While we missed some opportunities along the way (Houston, Washington, Giants, just to name a few ) we are what I thought we’d be…a young team that improved, but needs more pieces before we can make a real claim at being a good team. I’m proud of the way Jameis handled the team in his rookie season. He is a very prideful player and I think that alone will keep him working towards being a better QB…I’m sure he wants to improve on his deep ball accuracy and also understanding coverages better. For 2016 I say we continue to build on what we have by re-sign in Martin, adding 2 veteran WRs, (one with deep speed), a speed DE, a cover corner, and quality depth thru the draft. While I am a bit disappointed in a 4 game losing streak, I see what we can be if we keep chopping wood. Go Bucs in 2016!!!
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:50 pm
The panthers play the same defense and offense as the bucs and the panthers lost their leading reciever the whole season. The difference is the panthers have better players and better coaching. Freaking mike shula called a better game then koetter today.
Lovie should not be fired but his personnel decisions should be stripped. His free agent pick for the past 2 years was a pathetic.
The panthers played with a purpose and did not lay down. That goes back to coaching.
January 3rd, 2016 at 7:58 pm
Damn us fans have got to stick together, and talk sense. I don’t like changing coaches either after two seasons and didn’t want to see Schiano go so fast, but I’m sorry Lovie is just dog gone horrible. He reminds me of Josh Freeman….deer in headlights. I want to see the whole team play with passion and not just a few individuals. Lovie has not taught this team a damn thing but to lose. Come on Glazers I challenge you to pull the trigger.
January 3rd, 2016 at 8:01 pm
What a joke u fans are that want ppl banned from the site and also call those of us who want lovie gone racists… how about lovie sucks as a head coach and bucs fans deserve a winning franchise and mental note people 6-10 sucks… what gruden get fired at 9-7…. lovies team quit he has destroyed the defense his nepotism has ruined the back end.. cut the loser… mike petine is much better than lovie and he was in a clown organization
January 3rd, 2016 at 8:05 pm
Am I the only one who caught that Joe used “limp” and “flaccid” in the same sentence?
Stunningly appropriate.
January 3rd, 2016 at 8:31 pm
Cannot can Lovie, because that would lead to losing Koetter and Bajakian.
Winston needs at least two years with the same OC and QB coach.
January 3rd, 2016 at 8:37 pm
Step One doesn’t mean Step Two happens. Bucs history shows this (Dungy/Kiffin).
January 3rd, 2016 at 8:41 pm
Both Lovie and Licht have had few hits (Winston, Marpet, Kwon and maybe D Smith) and a lot of misses (MJ, Collins, G Johnson, ASJ, Jenkins, Jennings, Hey Jude, etc…) not to mention the promising players like banks and verner were destroyed.
January 3rd, 2016 at 8:44 pm
I predicted 8-7-1 at the start of the season…obviously I was hanging out with Josh Freeman in spirit…what the hell was I smoking thinking this team would be that good!? I’m refusing to believe that Lovie’s job is 100% safe after a 4 game slide that reminded me of the 3rd year of Raheem “quitter” ball. Maybe he survives tomorrow’s coaching purge, but damn hanging your hat on tripling last season’s wins when that number was only 2 really doesn’t seem like a monumental feat worthy of job security
January 3rd, 2016 at 8:51 pm
The list of people who need to be fired is so long I think I’ll keep it shorter by saying who should not be fired.
Linebackers and linebacker coaches.
Mike Evans.
Doug Martin
Everybody on the O-line other than Mankins
Jameis Winston
Dave Moore (yes time to fire Deckerhoff too)
That’s it. Start over from that list.
Everybody else, from janitor to IT guy and especially to the GM and all coaches need to go. Anybody involved in coaching, scouting or responsible for assembling any defensive back on this team needs to be banned from football at all levels to avoid poisoning the game.
January 3rd, 2016 at 9:35 pm
Pelbuc Says:
January 3rd, 2016 at 8:41 pm
Both Lovie and Licht have had few hits (Winston, Marpet, Kwon and maybe D Smith) and a lot of misses (MJ, Collins, G Johnson, ASJ, Jenkins, Jennings, Hey Jude, etc…) not to mention the promising players like banks and verner were destroyed.
You know what’s scary? How much this sounds like Schiano…
Both Schiano and Dominik have had few hits (David, Martin, VJax and maybe Banks and Glennon) and a lot of misses (Barron, Wright, Goldson, Nicks, letting Bennett go etc…) not to mention the promising players like Freeman were destroyed.
Yikes…