The Play That Almost Keyed An Upset
November 27th, 2017
Talks about key play.
It was a play that damned near turned the game around.
With the Falcons holding a 27-20 lead and looking to drive for a two-score lead early in the fourth, Terron Ward blasted through the Bucs’ defensive line at the Bucs-23 and looked like he might score.
But linebacker Kendell Beckwith caught him 14 yards downfield and punched the ball loose. By fortune, the ball bounded right into the hands of Brent Grimes who tore up the right sideline and looked for a moment he may be on a housecall. He, too, was caught from behind, but not before he returned the fumble 37 yards.
That play set up what looked to be a game-tying drive by the Bucs when it fizzled on four downs at the Dixie Chicks-18.
Joe spoke with the two responsible parties for the play after the game, Beckwith and Grimes.
“I think [Ward] thought he had an easy touchdown,” Beckwith said. “I [got him from behind]. That is something we work on all the time in practice. We work real hard on that.”
Watching Grimes race down the right sideline, Beckwith thought he was gone.
“I thought he was about to break through,” Beckwith said.
“Somebody got a hand on me,” Grimes said of getting tackled at the Bucs-42. “I tried, I tried.”
When both Beckwith and Grimes headed to the bench as the offense took over, they could feel a comeback was about to happen.
“I think the momentum and everything was on our side,” Beckwith said. “We were excited. We fought our ass off to get back in it.”
Grimes had the same vibe.
“Yeah, we had something going, we had some momentum,” Grimes said. “We drove down and it didn’t go how they wanted. We got out there and [Atlanta] put the [game-clinching] drive together.
“They played a good game. That is a good team we played on their field. They made more plays than we did.”
The table was set for a comeback. Problem was, someone dropped the bowl of soup in their lap.
November 27th, 2017 at 1:30 am
Good job by the rookies again today . Yea Evans got be by Julio on one of his touchdowns but that’s going to happen ( offensive PI if you ask me). My only problem with this game is why in the hell is C . Brate on the field and getting more looks in the passing game then Howard. Howard should be highlighted more IMO. This kid is a nightmare out there. And one other thing I wonder about should we resign Mike Evans? He’s talented but I think we should spend elite money elsewhere. He’s never had a game like Julio or even came close. ME doesn’t separate or run after the catch and that frustrates the hell out of me.
November 27th, 2017 at 6:15 am
Grt2 I’m glad I’m not the only person who feels that way about MEvans. Let him go n get some playmakers that can separate n gain yards after the catch. He’s a catch n fall down type guy. What has he done for us lately…thank u! I watched the Steelers n their receivers r playmakers they separate n fight for yards…that’s good coaching. The packers n their receivers do the same. I would trade Evans n Charles Sims now for some good picks 2018. They don’t play with an eagerness to score or break away for a big play…both r too passive n it’s not good for the moral of the team
November 27th, 2017 at 6:49 am
Koetters stupid play calling lost the momentum of our defense!
November 27th, 2017 at 7:03 am
Mike has been a thousand yard receiver every year he has been in a Bucs uniform and you want to get rid of him, he has one of the highest percentage of first down catches. We don’t or have stopped using him the right way, where are the 50/50 balls, he is 6’5”, when we throw low balls to him you lose the advantage over smaller DBs. We don’t even throw the 50/50 balls to our tall tight ends. He is at his best when he and Jameis improvise.
November 27th, 2017 at 7:41 am
Almost keyed an upset? You’re dreaming Joe.
November 27th, 2017 at 7:49 am
Should-a, Would-a, Could-a and didn’t.
November 27th, 2017 at 7:52 am
Trade ME???? Jesus Christ we honestly have the dumbest fan base. A friend of mine has said this for years and these two morons prove it.
November 27th, 2017 at 7:56 am
Joe, nobody thought the Bucs would have stopped the Falcons from scoring again if they had been able to make it 27-27.
November 27th, 2017 at 8:00 am
Evans, Brate, and Humphries all seem to be having a down year, kind of of strange. Not sure whether to attribute it to bad coaching, qb play, or the addition of Howard and DJax. Frustrating though.
November 27th, 2017 at 8:10 am
Evans is a possession receiver….and a very, very good one…..I agree that other teams have receivers that break away for TDs….we have Djax but QBs that can’t deliver the ball to him in stride.
I will say this….OJ Howard looks very, very good out there….looks like a man among boys….and I think Godwin is a real winner.
We need to focus on our Defense…..2 DEs and a CB.
And, Justin Evans is a player….he already has become our best safety.
DJ Ward sucks.
November 27th, 2017 at 8:13 am
My Vucs have always reminded me of that Mel Gibson movie..Apopalypto….ALMOST!
November 27th, 2017 at 8:40 am
Hate to sound like a “Jamies Jerker “, but get that guy back on the field ASAP. The season is over. Fitzpatrick played about as well as I could expect. If the shoulder is close to normal then jog back on to the field. Prayerfully sitting out these past few games turns him back into a winner.
November 27th, 2017 at 9:55 am
Get rid of Mike Evans. Good God almighty. That has to be thee dumbest suggestion ever.
November 27th, 2017 at 10:31 am
I sure hope Brent gives it another year. But even if he does, we need a CB by the third round in the next draft…or we need to sign a competent one in free agency.
(see how easy it is to stay on topic?)
November 27th, 2017 at 10:36 am
Name a team that’s won a Super Bowl with a a top paid Wr in last ten years. I’ll wait.
November 27th, 2017 at 10:56 am
TouchDownTampaBay Says:
November 27th, 2017 at 7:52 am
Trade ME???? Jesus Christ we honestly have the dumbest fan base. A friend of mine has said this for years and these two morons prove it.
Hit the nail on the head.
There are lots of things the bucs need to do but this statement is proof a lot of Tampa bay fans don’t get it. Offense and defensive line is priority #1 and a more accurate passer wouldn’t hurt either. I hope Winston can get some help with his accuracy our we will still be looking for a QB to give a second contract too.
November 27th, 2017 at 11:10 am
Grimes was one step away from taking it to the house, if he had then the 4&1 play would never had occurred. Damn…
November 27th, 2017 at 11:58 am
Moron really? Look what the Saints did traded their #1 Wr to the Pats who won’t sign him to a long term deal. ME is extremely talented but he’s not elite not enough quickness. It’s Jameis job to make those players (wr) better like Brees, Brady and Rodgers. Which I think Jameis can. Football is an easy game from pop warner all the way to the NFL. Run the ball and stop the run but in the NFL you stop the run on the way to the QB. We have the franchise QB already. We just need to get better in the trenches. How many franchise WR do the Pats have…zero buddy. Who got more bang for their buck the Bucs with Jackson or the jags with Campbell. So you my friend are the moron. The template is already been laid out by the Pats. You’re just to dumb to see it!!!!
November 27th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
this explains it… that stalled drive took all the fight out of the defense…
November 27th, 2017 at 4:30 pm
On the play when Beckwith forced the fumble, he was caught behind the play once the RB broke the line of scrimmage. He chased that play from way back to get to the ball–and he does that a lot. PLEASE get some new blood in the DCs office before he loses all that heart. We have what could be one of the best linebacking corps we have ever seen (and that is saying a lot), and they are being wasted on a DL that cannot even decide what gap they are supposed to be filling.
I still can’t get the name Alshermon (sp?) Singleton out of my head every time I see that #51. 🙃
November 27th, 2017 at 4:46 pm
Mike Evans is like 1000 yards in the bank. Some peeps are crazy. I don’t care if he doesn’t have elite breakaway speed. He DOES have elite box-out skills, and his hands are way better than when he came here.
November 27th, 2017 at 4:59 pm
Trade Evans 😂😂😂 that would be a really stupid move. Thank god you flip burgers and you’re not the gm of the Bucs.