Buccaneers 31, Falcons 27
December 20th, 2020
Today was textbook 2020 Buccaneers football — and textbook Falcons football.
It’s why one team is 9-5 and the other is 4-10 and looking for a new head coach.
Man, the Bucs have become cardiac kids. Spotting the crappy Falcons a 17-0 lead on the road? No problem.
Yeah, it’s a big problem if you want to be a Super Bowl team, but today Bucs fans will take it.
What a ferocious finish for Tom Brady, who racked up 390 yards on 31-of-45 passing, 2 touchdowns and no picks.
Leonard Fournette was no Ronald Jones, but he did a good job helping ice game late and pounded in two TDs on the ground. It was the most points scored on the Falcons since Raheem Morris took over the head coaching gig 2 1/2 months ago.
Typical Bucs defense, smothering on the ground, very shaky against the pass and enough pass rush to close out a game, with Devin White joining that pass rush for a change.
Joe is not complaining, not today. One more victory and the Bucs are in the playoffs. It’s that simple.
Beastly days for Mike Evans and Antonio Brown, which is how it should be when you have this many freakin’ weapons.
The Bears (7-7) beat the Vikings (6-8). So erase the Vikings from the Bucs’ playoff picture and remember the Bears still own a head-to-head tiebreaker on Tampa Bay.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:12 pm
These starts are PATHETIC
December 20th, 2020 at 4:13 pm
Everyone just has to come in late and watch the second half only. Lot less stress and anger.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:13 pm
Haye the start, love the finish. Playoffs baby!!!
December 20th, 2020 at 4:13 pm
One win seals playing in January. They control their own fate.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:13 pm
Free first downs? Well merry Christmas to us!
December 20th, 2020 at 4:14 pm
Did you notice how Brady kept the game ball afterward? Bro wants to remember the game he brought us back from disaster with his own playcalling and style of play.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:14 pm
NFL is a 60 minute game. All these comebacks should help build some character, at least they’ll be used to it come playoff time.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:14 pm
The team will not half a first half like this again. Brady will be calling the shots on offense and freedom to audible at will.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:15 pm
Thank you, GOAT.
Simple as that.
He saved our season.
Now time to pound Detroit and get in the tournament.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:16 pm
We’ll take it.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:16 pm
Thrilled to come out with the win, but can we learn how to cover receivers and get a pash rush early? Also, can we tell the team the game starts an hour earlier than it actually does?
December 20th, 2020 at 4:16 pm
I knew my halftime giving up superstition would work. Go Bucs! I only changed my jersey twice and raised the flag one level. We entered God mode my friends.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:16 pm
Great team win by this team! These players we focused after the first half and wouldn’t be denied! Very happy..
December 20th, 2020 at 4:16 pm
Bucs cannot have 0 pts against the rams or seahawks in the playoff. They need to have an explosive game for 60 minutes
December 20th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
The play of the game was Winfield’s play in the endzone on that TD pass to Ridley.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Do we really want TB12 throwing 45 passes?
December 20th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Swanee — I hope so. Lesson better be learned after this game. Same thing happened early in the KC game.
We played short-to-long today in the pass game. Set up short, then the deep ball comes open (AB). That’s Brady Ball.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
I can’t believe that 1st down call
December 20th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Now I have to go play Santa for the kids. Thanks Santa for the early gift!
December 20th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Alvin — That was a hell of a play by Winfield. Saved the game.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Love our prevent defense. Damn near prevented us from winning. Again.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
A winning season!!! And the end to this game was just so funny. No way we made that last first down at the end. Hope the dirty birds are pissing and moaning tonight. LOL.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:18 pm
way to turn it around! even without the 1st down game was already over.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:18 pm
Tom Brady is now 1 TD pass (32) from tying the Bucs single season record (33) set last year by Winston.
JAMEIS WHO?
December 20th, 2020 at 4:18 pm
Bucs are not in the playoffs yet, they need to win one of these final two since they’d lose a 9-7 tie breaker to Chicago. People need to stop celebrating early, the Bucs haven’t won anything yet.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:18 pm
Town — call was a gift. But I’ll take it!
December 20th, 2020 at 4:18 pm
We have the most inconsistent football team ever. Love that we got a win our record is the best we have had in forever but geez we can’t start like this in the playoffs. Why are so many WRs running open down the field. Tighten up boys or it will be a short playoff run
December 20th, 2020 at 4:19 pm
It’s good to get Brady Calls for the Bucs! We’ve always been on the opposite end of bad calls for far too long!
December 20th, 2020 at 4:19 pm
Great comeback. Poor showing overall. We’ll take the win and celebrate for sure but these players and coaches better not think this kind of inconsistency will get them far in the playoffs. And as long suffering Buc fans we’re happy to celebrate a victory and winning season (9 wins!) but we know this team can put out it together and be truly dangerous
December 20th, 2020 at 4:19 pm
Atlanta leading or within one score in the 4th quarter of 12 of 14 games this year but are only 4 and 10.
They are not a horrible team for 3 quarters but a horrible team in the 4th quarter.
Glad we were able to get back in the game.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Grisly showed up big time at the right time……
I think only 2 penalties & they were on special teams……
December 20th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
The slow starts are HIGHLY concerning
December 20th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Less zone in first half and give Brady the reigns.. no waiting til you’re down then expecting Brady to clean up the mess his way
December 20th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
At work and missed the 2nd half. But have it recorded at home. Glad to see we woke up and won this thing.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
We play them again week after next. They’ll have a chance to be spoilers….
December 20th, 2020 at 4:21 pm
Part of bringing Brady in was to get those calls the Bucs never ever get – and that last 1st down was certainly that. Strange call that goes against 100% of the time in the pre-Brady era.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:22 pm
I’m not saying they’re last year’s Chiefs, but I do remember the Chiefs winning a lot of games coming from behind.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:22 pm
So, shut your mouth, Raheem. You’re now not getting the Atlanta job.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:22 pm
Winning is a great deodorant but we all know that good teams bury you in games that start like this one.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:22 pm
Brady was very apprehensive to start the game. Missed Donovan Smith and didn’t trust Josh Wells.
Second half, Leftwich actually abandoned his signature long, slow plays. I hope he can remember to do that some more. Slants and natural picks could get them a long way, maybe all the way home.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:22 pm
TampaTown Says
“I can’t believe that 1st down call”
It really would not have mattered. We would have gone for it and gotten it anyway.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
Flat ass starts and second half turn arounds aren’t going to cut it in January. Would like to see a complete game in the next two weeks or I will maintain lack of faith in BA and staff’s overall competency level.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
Love it! Raheem Morris had another 2nd half meltdown as a head coach! BHAHAHA!!!!!
December 20th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
And Pat’s are officially out of the playoffs.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
wow…….bunting is the new hargreaves
December 20th, 2020 at 4:25 pm
Did the Bucs run a slant today?
December 20th, 2020 at 4:30 pm
Yes they did Munch.
And that was about the same time that we got our heads out of our asses offensively.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:31 pm
Joe’s: why does Bowles have a 3 and 5 but the DBs are playing 11 yards off? Automatic 1st down. Ps Murphy bunting sucks
December 20th, 2020 at 4:32 pm
I see it now…playing possum the first half and then bring it the 2nd half. Ok….if thats what it takes….just win baby!
December 20th, 2020 at 4:32 pm
best play of the game on both teams was Winfield pass defense in the endzone
December 20th, 2020 at 4:35 pm
DoooshLaRue – I don’t know why we’re not using more slants, in particular with Godwin and Brown, they’d thrive on that and keep the pressure away from Brady. But I missed the slants, will look to see how they were calling it when I rewatch it. Thankfully we got the W in any case.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:35 pm
Definitely wasn’t pretty but a win is a win. Let’s go Bucs!
December 20th, 2020 at 4:35 pm
firethecannons – Yeah, that was an exceptional play. It’s amazing how much he physically looks like Ronde on the field, and seems to make plays like him. What a great pick.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:39 pm
Devin White was amazing today and I think that he has 8 sacks on the year. That’s a crazy number for an inside linebacker!
December 20th, 2020 at 4:44 pm
What Alaskabuc said
December 20th, 2020 at 4:47 pm
Evans was amazing today. He and Brady have long found the chemistry I have been waiting for. Mike is my player of the game. Devin White gets the gameball though. He won the game for us!!
The consistency is what seperates us from being elite. Amd its all on the offense. The defense is good enough to make big plays when it matters. But they aren’t going to smother anybody. The offense is built to do that. If the offense can ever start to dominate for 60 minutes we will be good enough to beat anybody.
I am cery impressed with the Bucs this year. They still give some heart ache but they proove every week they are a true contender and a legit reaso to be optimistic!
GO BUCS!!
December 20th, 2020 at 4:48 pm
Yeah but !
WTF is going on with pass coverage in the first half ???
December 20th, 2020 at 4:48 pm
Second week in a row that the refs have bailed out Tom Terrific. Won him a super bowl against the Falcons. Tampa may be on to something. Congratulations! Long time coming
December 20th, 2020 at 4:53 pm
Oh and Buc fans dont give up on the division just yet. 2 game left and theres no guarantee the Saints dont drop em both.
As a long suffered Buc fan I could care less how my team wins The South. I will take any bragging rights i can get. No matter how petty. Feels good
December 20th, 2020 at 4:56 pm
Doesn’t matter what the score is, how many sacks or bad throws, TB is cool under fire and never gives up. He’s a monster in the fourth quarter.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:57 pm
Anybody notice we didnt throw the ball deep the entire first half(i think)?
Everybody asking about our identity this and that…….maybe our identity is just that. Big huge pasding plays on offense…….Its exactly what Licht intended when he built this team.
December 20th, 2020 at 4:57 pm
The 2nd half reminds me of what Adm Yamamoto said in Tora Torah Torah, ” I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant. ” That’s exactly what I feel this offense is, every game it sleeps the first half and then wakes up. It seems as Brady goes it goes. This defense is so frustrating gives up so many plays, but also it can make plays when it counts. Winfield has made 2 game saving plays, Devin White came thru huge today.
December 20th, 2020 at 5:01 pm
The best thing Brady did was use first down to throw those WR screens to Brown and Godwin. Mike Evans cannot make those quick bursts but Godwin and Brown will. That killed the Falcon blitz. Kudos to Leonard Fournette making some key pickups and blocking the blitzed.
December 20th, 2020 at 5:12 pm
Bucs fans down 17-0… “Fire everyone”. Bucs fans after 31-27 comeback win…”uhh, well, uhh, we good” 🤪
December 20th, 2020 at 5:13 pm
Meanwhile may I enjoy kicking someone when they’re down…if they’re like a major jerk?
Brady closes in on the playoffs today…Bill Belicheat and the Pats missed the playoffs for the first time in 12 years with their loss to Miami. Hmmm. Who needed whom?
December 20th, 2020 at 5:14 pm
You like that!!!!
December 20th, 2020 at 5:33 pm
Town and BucsBro – that was a horrible call tho. First they make a bad spot, then the make a bad call when the ball isn’t there when measured. I mean wtf, how do they screw up both things and then compound it with screwing up the review. Probably didn’t matter but that was bad officiating.
December 20th, 2020 at 11:46 pm
It was **not** a bad spot. The ball is spotted where it was when his *body* made contact with the ground. Not where the ball was when he pulled it to his body. At that point, the ball was already dead.