Matchup Could Get Ugly
October 5th, 2017
Might need magic tonight.
Yes, a lot of folks are fixated on the woeful pass defense of the Patriots, last in the NFL if you can imagine such a thing.
But should Bucs fans be more concerned about their pass defense, specifically third-down defense?
The Bucs are rock bottom in the NFL in third-down defense, allowing offenses to convert 50 percent (!) of their third downs. Yes, 50 percent! That’s galling.
It’s one thing to allow Mike Glennon (has the Mike Glennon Mob officially disbanded?) to move the ball on you when he’s trailing, it’s quite another to allow Joe Montana Case Keenum to convert third downs time and again.
Tonight, on the other side of the line of scrimmage stands arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL annals.
You don’t think Tom Brady will slice the defense apart on third downs?
The way Joe looks at it, the Bucs better be efficient running the ball. Might have to play keep-away.
October 5th, 2017 at 10:07 am
It’s GAME DAY FELLAS!!! Let’s Go BUCS!!!!
October 5th, 2017 at 10:08 am
“Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking.”
October 5th, 2017 at 10:11 am
Yes I can imagine that – they’ve been relying on “bend but don’t break” for the past 8 years or so. They’ve won superbowls because they have the greatest and most clutch QB of all time. But a TRUE testament of a great defense is getting off the field and like – you know – stopping people. Points given up and turnovers are misleading and isn’t a sustainable formula. There is absolutely ZERO excuse for the Bucs offense to throw up less than 30 points tonight. None. Not with our offensive talent against a defense giving up 8 thousand yards a game. No excuse for Jameis to not execute. But it would be SOOOO Bucs to completely shi the bed tonight during a prime time game.
October 5th, 2017 at 10:13 am
Stick Carriers MUST SET TONE Tonight BE LOUD, BE CONSISTENT
TAAAAAAAMMMMMMMPPPPAAAAA!!!!
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!
October 5th, 2017 at 10:16 am
3 games is a pretty small sample size to be throwing all these stats around. Just sayin…
Go Bucs!
October 5th, 2017 at 10:22 am
Patriots run short passes where opposing linebackers are key
Are two best linebackers are down again. Gonna be tough. Hoping for wet /sloppy conditions
October 5th, 2017 at 10:23 am
Go Bucs and Beat the Putz!!! Throw Belicheat in the Bay!!
October 5th, 2017 at 10:24 am
Just took a wet sloppy ASJ
October 5th, 2017 at 10:36 am
Huge game from Jameis spreading the ball to a bevy of weapons, and a huge game from the 1-2 punch of Martin and Rodgers will help us win this game.
If the defense could revive some of that magic from last years winstreak, we could dominate these boys.
October 5th, 2017 at 10:38 am
cook something up smitty….if you want to be an HC again, beating bill and brady would go a long ways….BUCS-35 PATS-28….sect 140 row s seats 1 and 2….we turned up!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
October 5th, 2017 at 10:39 am
Or, it could be a nice turnaround for the D. Two ways to look at it. Glass half full, fella’s.
October 5th, 2017 at 10:42 am
The way Joe looks at it, the Bucs better be efficient running the ball. Might have to play keep-away.
^^^^THIS AND TAKE IT AWAY!
October 5th, 2017 at 10:43 am
With the way that defense is playing the Pats I like the bucs in a shootout.
October 5th, 2017 at 10:49 am
DESPARATE TIMES CALLS FOR DESPARATE “ROUTES”
“On behalf of the Tampa Fanbase, Kobe Faker will shriek naked MLK blvd front of the stadium if OJ Stocker gets more than 2 receptions tonight”
Kobe Faker
#FREEOJSTOCKER
October 5th, 2017 at 10:56 am
The rookie LB is getting more on his plate each week!!!!! Still not running the full defense, but will not be as vanilla as the week before!!!! Main thing for this team is to stay calm and not be over amped the first quarter!!!!!! Bucs will squeak out the victory to a shock pats nation that will be in a tailspin!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 5th, 2017 at 11:03 am
The Bucs better run the ball well, chew up clock and score TD’s, otherwise they will get dismembered by Brady.
I pick NE by a wide margin, not even close.
I hope and pray I am wrong and get the surprise of the decade.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:13 am
Pats in a rout…this Bucs defense sucks
October 5th, 2017 at 11:24 am
Come on “Man Boobs” Mike Smith…… put a scheme in place that doesn’t embarrass us on national t.v.
Go Bucs!
October 5th, 2017 at 11:26 am
Kobe, I don’t think MLK Blvd is ready for you to be running up and down the street naked and shrieking in front of the stadium. So hopefully Bucs will get the ball to OJ (and Cam) more tonight.
Joe, after your earlier criticisms of the Bucs’ running game, I never thought I’d see this in print: “The way Joe looks at it, the Bucs better be efficient running the ball. Might have to play keep-away.” But just for the record, I REALLY hope you’re right … like running it 25-30 times tonight. And with at least that many short passes mixed in to run up the TOP & keep Brady on the bench.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:32 am
Oh and Cobraboy, I hope & pray you’re wrong too about NE winning. It’ll take a great game for Bucs to win it, but if our offense is ever going to break out, this is the night to do it. Agree on the TDs too. FGs are for wimps … go for the throat.
October 5th, 2017 at 11:39 am
@TBR we have a chance.
A win over the Pats will create havoc here again in less than a week.
The Stick Carriers will demand respect for our Buccaneer team and fans by having “The Den of Depression” label shoved where the sun don’t shine!!!!!
On Monday, the Stick Carriers delivered a Piñata Beat Down when Martin returned that was heard around the globe.
Will Friday be Piñata Beat Down part II ?
Go Bucs!!!
October 5th, 2017 at 11:45 am
ArthurKoblenzBuc Says:
“Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking.”
GhostofSchiano Says “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue”
October 5th, 2017 at 11:49 am
Arthur
Theres no good week to quit drinking buddy. Its always something. Ive quit numerous times. Luckily I finally got it right but it isnt easy during football season. Go Bucs
October 5th, 2017 at 12:22 pm
If the Bucs run for 130+ yds. and don’t turn the ball over they can win. And they better be damn good on 3rd down.
Time of possession will be critical.
3-and-outs will give NE an easy win.
A team that made Case Keenum look like the GOAT will have a problem slowing down the guy who IS the GOAT.
And if ME can figure out their DB problems—they have talent back there—look out.
October 5th, 2017 at 12:37 pm
DESPARATE TIMES CALLS FOR DESPARATE “ROUTES”
“On behalf of the Tampa Fanbase, Kobe Faker will shriek naked MLK blvd front of the stadium if OJ Stocker gets more than 2 receptions tonight”
Kobe Faker
——————
DESPARATE or Desperate? shriek or streak? Stocker or Howard?
Nobody wants to see you naked… thankfully this OJ Stocker character isn’t on our roster.
October 5th, 2017 at 1:12 pm
stick carriers would need to be extra loud for this home away from home chowdah fan game…….this could be a 21-3 first quarter ugly game real quick with vernon and justin
October 5th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
If we can’t stop the routes through the middle, Brady will hit em all night long.
October 5th, 2017 at 3:21 pm
IF..our Bucs got an answer for One of the best ever done it, Tom Brady? Then we got a shot. But guys, Luv’em or hate’em, Brady is one cool customer under pressure. He appears to get even stronger as the game wears on. Scary but true. Jameis is going to have to play as well and better than he did against the Giants for us to have a chance. Fall behind by 2 TD’s or so? And Pats start pouring it on. This is going to be a great litmus test to see where we really are..progress wise.
October 5th, 2017 at 4:04 pm
I see no circumstances wherein the Bucs beat the Pars.
Unless, they get Brady’s uniform real dirty early and often.
Might be time for ST to make a statement with a KR/TD or a PR/TD.
Looking for Reedy to go 99 for a TD.
Might be time for our rookie SS to step up and tackle Gronk..often.
PLEASE..!!
Go Bucs..!!
October 5th, 2017 at 5:05 pm
If Smith stays with the same no blitz defense he has run the first 3 games, Brady will put minimum 40 points on the board. Can Jameis out score Pats. I seriously doubt it. Come on Smith, turn everyone loose tonight!
October 5th, 2017 at 5:27 pm
If we can’t run the ball, convert 3rd downs, and sack Brady, it is gonna be a long night for us.
Personally, I hope we just KILL The Patriots tonight, on national TV.
Go Buc’s !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!