Culture Clash
December 13th, 2020
“Stop the bleeding, Tommy.”
When Bucco Bruce Arians arrived in Tampa as a seasoned head coach, he had never lost three consecutive regular season games.
Now compare and contrast that to two other factors.
Tom Brady hasn’t lost three consecutive regular-season games since 2002. But the Bucs have not had a season in which they’ve avoided three consecutive regular-season losses since 2010.
You read that right.
In every season from 2011 through 2019, the Bucs have had a three-game losing streak or worse. It didn’t take Arians long to get there last season, as the Bucs were 2-6 and the Tampa tradition of draft talk by Halloween continued.
So that brings Joe to today against the Vikings. The Bucs are riding a two-game losing streak.
Arians was supposed to change the Tampa Bay culture when he arrived. Maybe he did; perhaps he didn’t.
Brady, however, certainly was supposed to end the Bucs’ loser, self-destructive ways. That’s why the Bucs paid him; that’s why Bucs officials told everyone everywhere that Brady would make all players and the organization as a whole better.
Joe bought in, even though Joe always insisted Brady is human and the Bucs were overexaggerating.
Regardless, here sit the Bucs — on the cusp of the playoffs and/or on the cusp of a three-game losing streak.
What’s it going to be?
December 13th, 2020 at 11:24 am
The team that wants it most… it’ll be easy to see by the hardest hitting defense… hitting being the key word, too much “tackling with arms” … the game has until recently enforcing your will and physicality on the opponent!
Tis’ the season to shut up and play hard nosed football.. Vikings are coming to win today make NO mistake about that. Kirt Cousin has had his way with the Bucs in the past, of course today is different, but not in his mind!
December 13th, 2020 at 11:35 am
On a side note…Fournette is inactive today, Vaughn is active.
December 13th, 2020 at 11:39 am
There may be controversy in offense. We get it Joe.
Joe in Michigan…Sweet! LETS GO KV!
December 13th, 2020 at 12:05 pm
If we don’t win this game, we don’t deserve a playoff spot…..sure, we may end up backing into one if we can go 9-7 & Min or AZ lose……but…..would be terribly disappointing.
December 13th, 2020 at 12:08 pm
Just win.
December 13th, 2020 at 12:10 pm
Fournette has dropped an absurd # of passes, and HE’S (well, WAS) our third down back. As poorly as he’s performed in that role, we might as well had left in RoJo to flail away at catching passes. At least when he DOES managed to snag one, he gets good yardage
December 13th, 2020 at 12:18 pm
@TBBF: fully agree.
This is THE game of the year.
Just Win and the stars may align. Lose and go home in shame.
But a close win would prove little and be no real barometer.
Win BIG and maybe some may start believing in majik…
Do NOT sell the Vikes short. This is their Super Bowl. If they don’t win, THEY go home.
December 13th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
Thank god for viqueens kicker Bailey. He was the Bucs MVP TODAY.