Close Game? Trust Todd Bowles
January 31st, 2021
Stingy in close games.
If the Bucs keep Super Bowl LV close in the fourth quarter, could it be the Bucs have the Chiefs right where they want them?
Vin Masi works for BSPN Stats and Info and dug up a very interesting Bucs trend, and in particular a trend of Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
When a game is close, Bowles finds a way for his defense to clamp down. In fact, Masi types that the defense under Bowles is one of the stingiest when a game is close in the fourth quarter.
The Buccaneers defense late in one-score games have been ridiculously good this season including the playoffs.
– 1st in defensive successful play rate
– 3rd in yds/play allowed
– 3rd in EPA/play allowed(H/T @TruMediaSports for viz) pic.twitter.com/inmwgO3oJ8
— Vin Masi (@VinMasi) January 30, 2021
Joe thinks this played itself out quite well in the NFC Championship game. In the fourth quarter, park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking Bucs quarterback Tom Brady channeled his inner-Jameis and began throwing picks.
The vaunted Packers offense led by Aaron Rodgers had three chances to tie the game. The Bucs held the Packers to one field goal in those three drives.
So let’s think for a second. If the Bucs can keep the Chiefs in a one-score game in the fourth, and the Bucs have a guy like Brady who is notoriously successful in close games, oh boy!
January 31st, 2021 at 4:13 pm
Lets hope our DB’s can keep Cheetah in check. If they can, then it’ll be close, or a bucs lead late. Go Bucs!
January 31st, 2021 at 4:46 pm
It’s our time!! It’s going to be a dog fight but I’m calling it a Bucs dub!
January 31st, 2021 at 4:51 pm
I understand how the analytics play out but I’d really feel a lot more comfortable with a two score lead late in the fourth!
January 31st, 2021 at 4:55 pm
How ’bout a no-brainer like our last SB?
January 31st, 2021 at 5:01 pm
Amem!!!
January 31st, 2021 at 5:16 pm
I was eating tums when the Bucs were up 28-10 vs packers , lol !
We need to blow them out for and semblance of calm.
I better get a big bottle of tums !
January 31st, 2021 at 5:31 pm
Probable overanalysis. Just play good.
January 31st, 2021 at 5:51 pm
I don’t know if I can stand the suspense! I would love to just go to sleep and wake up knowing we won!
January 31st, 2021 at 6:06 pm
The way the defense swarms to the ball carrier is a thing of beauty.
January 31st, 2021 at 6:15 pm
Yeah I’d prefer to be so far ahead that Gabbert is mopping up in the 4th
January 31st, 2021 at 6:29 pm
@Joe … “The vaunted Packers offense led by Aaron Rodgers had three chances to tie the game. The Bucs held the Packers to one field goal in those three Packer drives.”
Be still my heart. I think I just saw Joe heap praise on the Bucs’ defense.
I know, back in the dungeon. Just couldn’t help myself.
January 31st, 2021 at 6:38 pm
mg
It’s hilarious. All these people jib jab about Mahomes like he’s going to sit in the pocket all day. With the return of Vea this front seven at the Super Bowl at Ray Jay is going to be coming for Mahomes throat. Watch out for short yard passes and up the seam.
January 31st, 2021 at 6:38 pm
Bowles coaches these guys to stop the run first and foremost. When games down to the wire or when the Bucs have a lead our pass rush turns on. Vita being back only makes that even more so. When the Packers were trying to come back in the fourth my eyes were on JPp and Shaq. When they pin their ears back big plays happen.
January 31st, 2021 at 6:46 pm
Calling it: Bucs win by 10+ and score 40+!!!
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl LV Champions!!!
January 31st, 2021 at 7:06 pm
Bucs will win, but we’re all gonna need Tums, Gin, joints, something.
January 31st, 2021 at 7:19 pm
Mahomes is quite good against the blitz though. And when he’s flushed out of the pocket, he’s dangerous.
Got to be careful because the Chiefs will certainly try to use the Bucs over-aggressiveness to their advantage.
January 31st, 2021 at 7:22 pm
Vita and Suh just gotta push the middle.. Shaq and Jpp waiting on the edges😁
January 31st, 2021 at 7:26 pm
they should hit Mahomes…. and then hit him again, and again….fear should be installed in his head. We scare him, we got big chance to win this game.
Im happy anyway….this is so great for us, from a crappy/laughable team last year, to supper ball this year. That’s awesome….
January 31st, 2021 at 8:09 pm
Supper ball… love it 😂😂😂
January 31st, 2021 at 8:18 pm
I don’t think that this game is going to be close. The matchup reminds me of our other super bowl game. We were facing the mighty raiders offense, the best in the league. We had a great defense but the offense sputtered. But that game the offense came together and the defense did it’s thing. I’m expecting the offense to put together it’s best game and the defense to do it’s thing. Forty something to twenty somethingBucs!
January 31st, 2021 at 9:04 pm
Jerry
I’m afraid of the same. Our defense struggles with mobile Qb’s. If they Blitz on 3rd down and Mahomes reads it he is gone. Our defense over pursues because its aggressive sometimes.
January 31st, 2021 at 9:39 pm
SOEbuc – Double the tight end on 3rd down and keep the speedster doubled all day.
February 1st, 2021 at 9:49 am
The original 1976 Fan again. I’d like to commend the Ownership, Management, Coaching Staff and Players for making History during an unprecedented season. While achieving something that been Done in 54 SB’s Now it’s Time to Show the Chief’s something which they’ve Never Seen and that’s Defensively extinguish the Torch from their Offense(#10) by allowing the TB (#24) best corner help over the Top even when they’re in 12 personal and we cannot Forget to introduce the best TB ILB (#45) to KC (#87) at the shadow crossing routes. When Todd B allows them to Plaster All Night, there will not be much light left in the Torch, our SB Homecoming at “Ray J” will begin. I can hear Good Ole DDM Now. “Turn Out The Lights” Your Reign’s is Over KC. GO BUCS!!