Gameday Tampa Bay (Wild Card Edition)
January 9th, 2021
Wild Card Round
Bucs (11-5) at Redskins (7-9)
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m.
TV: NBC (WFLA-TV Channel 8, locally).
Streaming: Fans may stream the broadcast from Buccaneers.com or on a mobile device using one of the following: Buccaneers official app, or Yahoo! Sports app. Geographic restrictions apply.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network WXTB-FM 97.9 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region; 97.9 FM ESPN Radio in Tallahassee (Transmisiones de radio en español en WTMP-FM 96.1 y WMGG-AM 1470 en Tampa); SiriusXM Channel 82 (Bucs broadcast) or SiriusXM NFL Radio Channel 88 (Westwood One national feed).
Weather: Considering it is January and in the teeth of winter, the weather expected for tonight in Landover, Md., home of FedEx Field, isn’t too awful. It won’t even be freezing. Cold? Yes. Per AccuWeather.com, expect a kickoff temperature of 38. That should hold for much of the game. All under clear skies with little wind.
Odds: Per BetMGM, as of midnight Friday, Bucs -8; 45.5-under.
Outlook: Joe had gotten to a point of never believing Joe would ever write a playoff version of a “Gameday Tampa Bay.” But here we are! Welcome to the 2020 NFL playoffs! Damn, it feels so good to type that. The Bucs, if you believe the report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, may be facing Washington’s No. 3 quarterback, this Taylor Heinicke (Washington’s No. 2 quarterback, Dwayne Haskins, was launched last month. And if Alex Smith can go, he’s not the same Alex Smith you may remember beating the slimy Saints in the playoffs while at San Francisco, or the Alex Smith at Kansas City, whose only issue was he couldn’t beat the Belicheats. This Alex Smith is old, and borderline crippled with a damaged, mangled right leg from a gruesome injury in 2018, and from his currently injured left calf. So even if Smith can go, he should be a stationary target for Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett. Joe just doesn’t know how the Redskins will score 20 points on the Bucs unless the Bucs play Santa Claus and give the ball away right and left. Washington’s offense is lame. Just remember, last week with a playoff berth on the line, Washington could not pull away from a team trying to tank. On defense, the Redskins take the personality of their coach, Riverboat Ron Rivera, a former linebacker with the ’85 Bears. They’re defense is tough with a ferocious, if not overstated defensive front line. The Redskins in the past 10 games have only allowed 44 points scored in the second half. That’s insane! That also tells Joe the Bucs can’t be farting around and have to get a lead quickly. No time to wait until halftime to make an adjustment. The Redskins, playing from behind, are truly miserable. Whenever Washington has thrown for 200 or more yards, they are 1-7 with 20 turnovers. So to Joe, this is all very simple. Throw to win. Attack right away. Maybe start with a two-minute offense. Get a lead in the first half and cruise in the second half. It’s the playoffs! There is no tomorrow!
Trinkets: … QB Tom Brady is the postseason leader in starts (41), completions (1,025), passing yards (11,388), passing touchdowns (73) and Super Bowl titles (6). In 2020, he tied for second in passing touchdowns (a franchise-record 40) and third in passing yards (4,633) and became the fifth quarterback in NFL history with 2+ seasons (2 total) of 40+ touchdown passes. He aims for his sixth start in a row against Washington with 285+ pass yards and 2+ touchdown passes. … RB Ronald Jones set career-highs in scrimmage yards (1,143), rushing yards (978) and rushing touchdowns (7) in 2020. He has a rushing touchdown in 2 of his past 3 road games. … RB Leonard Fournette has 286 scrimmage yards (95.3 per game) and 4 rushing touchdowns in 3 career playoff games. He’s going for his third game in a row in the postseason with 75+ rush yards and a rushing touchdown. … WR Mike Evans ranked fourth in the NFL in receiving touchdowns (13) this season, plus 1,006 receiving yards. He’s the first player in NFL history with 1,000+ receiving yards in each of his first 7 seasons. At Washington, he has 15 receptions for 373 yards (186.5 per game) and 3 receiving touchdowns in 2 career games. … WR Chris Godwin has a receiving touchdown in 4 of his past 5 road games and is among five receivers with 7+ touchdown catches in each of the past 3 seasons. … WR Antonio Brown has 51 receptions for 837 yards (83.7 per game) and 4 receiving touchdowns in 10 career playoff games. … TE Rob Gronkowski has 12 career postseason receiving touchdowns, tied for second-most in NFL history. … LB Lavonte David had his 8th career 100+ tackle (117) season. He has 23 forced fumbles since 2014, tied for the most in the NFL. … LB Jason Pierre-Paul has 12.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries in 13 career games against Washington. He has 4 tackles for loss and four passes defended in 4 career postseason games. … DT Ndamukong Suh has 5 sacks in 6 career postseason games. … Redskins QB Alex Smith has 1,745 pass yards (249.3 per game) and 15 touchdowns (14 passing, 1 rushing) against 2 interceptions in 7 career postseason starts (with San Francisco and Kansas City). Washington is 5-0 in his past 5 starts in 2020. He had a touchdown against 0 interceptions in his last game against Tampa Bay (November 2018). … RB Antonio Gibson (rookie) had 11 rushing touchdowns, tied with Jonathan Taylor for most among rookies. He has a rushing touchdown in 3 of his past 4 home games. … RB J.D. McKissic ranked second among running backs in receptions (career-high 80) and receiving yards (career-high 589) and joined Larry Centers (81 catches in 2000) as the only Washington running backs with 80+ receptions in a single season. He aims for his third in a row at home with a receiving touchdown. He caught a touchdown in his last postseason game (January 2019 with Seattle). … WR Terry McLaurin led the Redskins with 87 receptions and 1,118 receiving yards, the first Washington receiver with 80+ receptions and 1,100+ receiving yards in a single season since Pierre Garcon (2013). McLaurin was 1 of 3 NFC receivers (Davante Adams and DeAndre Hopkins) with 9+ games (9) of 7+ receptions in 2020. … TE Logan Thomas led NFC tight ends with a career-high 72 receptions and ranked second with 670 receiving yards. He aims for his third in a row at home with 7+ catches. … DE Chase Young led all rookies in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (10). He has a fumble recovery in 3 of his past 4. … DE Montez Sweat led the Redskins with a career-high 9 sacks. He has a sack in 3 of his past 4 games. … LB Jon Bostic led Washington with a career-high 118 tackles. … S Kamren Curl was the only rookie defensive back with 85+ tackles (88) and 3+ interceptions (3) in 2020. Has 7+ tackles in 8 of his past 9. … CB Kendall Fuller led Washington with 4 interceptions in 2020. He had an interception in his last postseason appearance (Super Bowl LIV with Kansas City.
The Last Word: Brady and Gronk only need to hook up on one touchdown pass tonight to surpass Joe Montana and Jerry Rice for the quarterback-receiver duo with the most playoff touchdowns. Brady and Gronk are currently tied with Montana and Rice at 12 each.
Together, let’s #RaiseTheFlags as one.#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/wFSRtcIsDe
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 6, 2021
January 9th, 2021 at 1:44 am
Joe this photo makes me think of Cameron Brate’s quote about the game being late. “Don’t blow your load too fast.”
January 9th, 2021 at 2:39 am
17-18 hours till kick off…
blow load now…
right quick…
replenish…
and whoop azz!
January 9th, 2021 at 2:59 am
P R O T E C T BRADY and all will be well. Let him get hit, and that is a problem. GO BUCS!!!!
January 9th, 2021 at 3:54 am
I can’t believe it either that once again it’s time for Bucs playoff football!
Unfortunately I’m heading back to work in Nigeria with a flight that’s scheduled to land right when the game should be ending. Hoping for great news!
–That Bucs Raise the Flags video with Brady narration is fantastic.
Lots of great stats, Joe, but unless I’m missing it, I haven’t heard anyone anywhere mention that if we lose tonight, it’s the longest stretch in franchise history without a playoff win. Really need this game tonight.
January 9th, 2021 at 4:08 am
Let’s Goooooooo!!!
1st Win of 4 straight starts NOW
Go Bucs!!!
January 9th, 2021 at 5:08 am
Redskins?
January 9th, 2021 at 5:36 am
I have ? For the fans. I got some buccaneers house shoes and two pairs of Bucs
Socks for Christmas to go with my game day uniform. ? Is this, I broke I out
one pair of socks for Detroit wore the same pair for ATL.
Should I break out the new pair for the playoff run ?
January 9th, 2021 at 5:41 am
Great Clip.
January 9th, 2021 at 5:53 am
Mmm nothing like posting a photo of a hot lady covered up in a jacket to get everyone excited. Was that the best google images had to offer!? 😂
January 9th, 2021 at 7:07 am
“Not going to be easy
Minnesota kicker beat the Vikings
And Bucs beat the mighty Atl, Det, Atl
Remember what Kobe Faker said before the season
Key to the 2020 Bucs season is to unplug Byron Leftwich headset”
Kobe Faker
January 9th, 2021 at 7:12 am
Hey joe whats a good time to arrive at big storm to watch the game? Thinking of pulling up solo and rooting for the team along with some fellow fans and enjoy some good food and beer!
January 9th, 2021 at 8:43 am
We ready….we ready…we ready…for y’all! LFG Bucs!!!
January 9th, 2021 at 8:44 am
I hope the Bucs have been watching all the press clippings. (I am sure they have been).
It has all been about the Washington D line.
Bucs O line should be feeling pretty disrespected as awesome as they have been playing.
Bucs D line is just as good and have 3 guys with more sacks than chase young.
Win the trenches and easily put them away!
Bucs 34-16
January 9th, 2021 at 9:00 am
Great Vid. LFG!
January 9th, 2021 at 9:10 am
Pathetic virtue signaling by sticking with the football teams old name.
January 9th, 2021 at 9:16 am
Playoff week is fun!! Lets go earn another one!
January 9th, 2021 at 9:30 am
No way we are losing this game, just no way!
January 9th, 2021 at 9:32 am
LOL, I recently did a search for Premio Italian Sausage, and BOOM! An ad for Premio suddenly appeared here om JBF!
January 9th, 2021 at 9:32 am
31-17 Bucs…… Tight going into half time. Tampa delivers a back breaker mid Q3 followed up by 2 more TDs in Q4 and 3 sacks in Q4. Suh steps up and delivers the back breaker.
January 9th, 2021 at 9:38 am
My 9 year old and 7 year old will get to witness their first playoff game for the bucs! So happy for evans, LVD, Brate, Gholston, and many others who just kept working to finally get this opportunity. Dont waste it boys!!!!
January 9th, 2021 at 10:08 am
FYI the field will be dry. The storm stayed south and it’s clear today. Little to no precipitation in the past 7 days. Perfect Brady weather! Go Bucs!
January 9th, 2021 at 10:23 am
We have :
Better DL
Better OL
Better WR
Better TE
Better LB
Oh yeah and a better QB.
Nuff said
January 9th, 2021 at 11:28 am
Leighroy
Snyder kept all the good stuff in his private wack off collection.
January 9th, 2021 at 11:30 am
Just saw on nfl.com where Brown’s players who tested positive on Thursday might be able to play?? What about Devin white?
January 9th, 2021 at 11:36 am
FYI: Brady has a strict DO NOT shoot your load on game day policy. He has referenced it many times in interviews.
January 9th, 2021 at 11:41 am
If the players are half as impatient to get this game going, I feel for them….
And, Devin White…..if you’re reading this….I feel for you….I’m hoping we’ll win so you can play again this year…..
January 9th, 2021 at 11:48 am
True Jmark, greedy Danny lol…. FYI, those browns appear to be false positives, bc they’ve tested negative last couple days. Different scenario for our boy
January 9th, 2021 at 12:00 pm
Great video! I we can’t beat the WFT, we don’t deserve to be here. I think we win this one going away. I would love the Rams or Bears to win as well so we can go beat the Saints before we face the Packers.
January 9th, 2021 at 3:20 pm
The O and D lines need to win. Both should feel disrespected with all the talk about the Washington D line.
BUCS
34-16!
January 9th, 2021 at 4:54 pm
That doesn’t sound right.
January 9th, 2021 at 5:57 pm
Alex Smith is out. We will definitely win.
January 9th, 2021 at 6:06 pm
JOE
That is messed up, if true. Buccaneers should be on the phone with the NFL office is right now. We are assuming Devon White has done nothing but test negative though
January 9th, 2021 at 6:08 pm
Rams are winning, go Bears.
If they both win Bucs will be at home against the Rams!
If just one of them wins, they’ll play at New Orleans instead of at Green Bay.
I would prefer that. New Orleans is not going to beat them for a third time. And the way they rattled Rodgers in the first game, it’s not going to be so easy this time
January 9th, 2021 at 6:12 pm
Bucs win BIG, 34-13! GO BUCS!!!!!!!
January 9th, 2021 at 6:37 pm
It sure is tough sledding if an NFL team is hoping to play the New Orlean Saints next week. It’s true though, who wants to play the Packers in Green Bay this time of year? In Brady we trust! Go Bucs!!!
January 9th, 2021 at 6:38 pm
This game is not a cakewalk. Heinicke is very mobile and we all know how the Bucs perform against those guys.
January 9th, 2021 at 6:43 pm
There is absolutely no reason that anyone on this team should be overlooking Washington. The Buccaneers have not won a damn thing since the Super Bowl. That said, the only reason I brought up Rams and Bears is because I’m watching the game, and also because I don’t think the Bucs are going to have trouble with this game at all.
Bucs v Wash
7-0
14-0
14-7
17-7
17-10
24-10
24-13
31-13
31-16
34-16
Bucs win !!
LoL Pretty specific but that’s how I came up with 34 to 16
January 9th, 2021 at 6:44 pm
Y’all didn’t tell what I should do about my socks !!!
January 9th, 2021 at 6:46 pm
Joe
The headline at NFL.com is gone… but there is this:
Cleveland’s starting strong safety Ronnie Harrison, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, was removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list following a series of negative tests, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported. The team announced tight end Harrison Bryant and linebackers Malcolm Smith and Montrel Meander were also removed from the COVID list in time to take on the Steelers on Sunday night.
It originally said they had tested positive on Thursday… but tested negative subsequently… I’m assuming now that it was a false positive thing.
January 9th, 2021 at 7:22 pm
I heard the same thing
January 9th, 2021 at 7:39 pm
The best protection for Brady, Is Ronald Jones running successfully.
If he can put the defense on its heels- Brady will kill’em.
I expect jones to get 20+ carries tonight- and have a good game.
January 9th, 2021 at 7:41 pm
I predict 38-28 Tampa Bay.
January 9th, 2021 at 7:44 pm
I know they’re not watching the games playing before them but someone should be taking note. Make sure they point out to the BUCS –
see how much the defenses are stepping up in the postseason!?
The O line and D line need to win
January 9th, 2021 at 7:47 pm
Wow. Rams will win.
A Bucs win means at New Orleans or a home game.
Go BUCS!!!
Go BEARs!
January 9th, 2021 at 7:49 pm
Lets get this Bucs!!! These visions are coming true.
Bucs by 21, close game till about midways through the 3rd qtr.
January 9th, 2021 at 8:06 pm
LFG!!!!
January 9th, 2021 at 8:12 pm
Let’s go!
January 9th, 2021 at 8:13 pm
Let’s Go!!!!!! 13 years in the making. So pumped.
January 12th, 2021 at 7:20 pm
@Delawest
For what it’s worth, I would have told you to go with what’s been working. I can’t believe everyone left you hanging!