Troy Aikman: “They’re Still The Best In The Game”
January 23rd, 2021
Two months ago, Hall of Fame QB and FOX’s top game analyst, Troy Aikman, said the Bucs were the best team he’s seen all season.
It was a very bold statement at the time, prior to the Bucs’ current six-game winning streak.
So kudos to Aikman. He was on the mark when he talked about the Buccaneers’ great balance on offense and how when Tampa Bay had put a complete game together on both sides of the ball, their greatness topped the NFL.
This week, Aikman was on ESPN TV diving into why he is now confident Tom Brady is operating a luxury vehicle wall the options.
“As this season has gone along, he was getting hit a lot,’ Aikman said of Brady. “And I didn’t feel he had the outlets that he had in New England when he was under pressure and [needed] to get the ball out of his hands. I think that over the course of the season, they’ve given him more of those opportunities, and so now he has outlets. He has places to go with the football, he doesn’t turn it over, he doesn’t take sacks. But it hasn’t taken away their ability for the big plays. They’re still the best in the game. And that’s something that Bruce Arians, of course, has been known for throughout his coaching career.”
And Joe will toss in that the running game is better and deeper, too. But to Aikman’s points, look at how Leonard Fournette and Cameron Brate have emerged as reliable targets, and Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson have proven to be big-game-ready.
Are the Packers really good enough to slow the beastly Bucs offense? Joe doesn’t think so.
January 23rd, 2021 at 10:19 am
Good on Aikman. The downside is Joe Buck calls the game with him. And you’d think Erin Andrews would be a bit more rah rah off the screen (at least) given she’s from Valrico. But Buck and Aikman both seemed disappointed at the end of the Bucs-Saints game, as if they’d hoped Brees would have won it. At least Aikman is candid, and of course he football opinon matters given he’d played the game, very well.
January 23rd, 2021 at 10:22 am
We must go into this fight knowing we deserve to be here and that due to the detail and preparation all week we will prevail. Time to come out guns a blazing and ready to unleash all of our fury. Go Bucs! It’s our time!
January 23rd, 2021 at 10:26 am
Erin Andrews definitely comes off pro Bucs on social media
January 23rd, 2021 at 10:26 am
Here’s to hoping that Todd Bolwes D is up to the task and doesn’t lay back in coverage.
January 23rd, 2021 at 10:38 am
Aikman doesn’t show a lot of emotion when he narrates a game and Erin probably had money on the Saints. Aikman did mention Brady’s outlets of late but it wasn’t visible in the last game that looked like the early struggling offense. 8 out of 10 are picking GB. Maybe they agree you don’t have to be Vince Lombardi to put a def scheme against an offense that runs up the middle every first down and throws bombs on every 3rd & short. Sorry but I think this one goes to GB due to lack of originality and loss of Brown. I hope I get to eat my words.
January 23rd, 2021 at 10:43 am
i am just shocked at how many “experts” think this is gonna be an easy packers win. I feel extremely confident about this game, and it has nothing to do with the week 6 win. we have by far the better defense, a much better o line, better overall skill position players, and freakin brady. it feels like it will be an upset if we lose, but everyone else sees it the other way around. i can’t wait for this game, Im so amped!!!
January 23rd, 2021 at 10:44 am
Agree with Joe’s last comment. I don’t think so either. Bucs should win.
January 23rd, 2021 at 10:56 am
Sacks against TB QB
2019 – winston – ranked 22nd best in nfl at 2.9 average
2020 – brady – ranked 4th best in nfl at 1.4 average
So its true guys could have gotten better from last year ; but cappa may be only on list from last year to this year that made
Jump . Smith, jensen and marpet pretty much the same
Again , no question tristan wirfs upgrade over dotson but dotson new team very pleased with his performance this year. Not sure he really gave up anything this year.
Totals rushing this year was just a few yards shy compared to past 2 years under winston
So dont you think that may have something to do with brady. Somebody posted his next gen stats the other day , and he throws the ball from almost the same spot every drop back.
The reason he can do that? ; he makes quick decisions and gets ball out so fast. And if play not there he simply throws it away.
The GOAT. 🐐
January 23rd, 2021 at 10:57 am
Erin Andrews is pro-Tom Brady — and quick to point out that they are the same age…
January 23rd, 2021 at 10:59 am
This narrative that bucs changed the O to fit brady is wrong. Brady simply understands the offense completely now. It all started 2nd half of ATL game like a switch went off in his head.
January 23rd, 2021 at 11:13 am
Cam Brate was always a reliable target. Lefty finally realized it. Brady knew it before Lefty did.
January 23rd, 2021 at 11:18 am
@BFFL … “This narrative that bucs changed the O to fit brady is wrong. Brady simply understands the offense completely now.”
Very interesting observation BFFL. Brady understanding the offense better & feeling more comfortable running it is undoubtedly at play here, but I’m not sure that’s the extent of it. For one thing, multiple players have ‘matured’ tremendously as this season has progressed. Our OLine is a good example, but so are several other players like Fournette, Miller, Gronk & Brate to name just 4. For another, I think BL has matured a bunch in his game-planning, play-calling and play design as well. Plus he’s undoubtedly gotten a better ‘feel’ for how Tom Brady prefers to operate (and vice versa).
Lack of a real preseason undoubtedly impacted all that, but these guys have now been together for about half a year & you can see how their confidence … as individual players AND as a team … just keeps building. I fully EXPECT to see our Bucs playing in the Super Bowl here at RayJay on February 7th … against the Buffalo Bills.
January 23rd, 2021 at 11:36 am
No one will even talk about how will the Packers slow down the Bucs offense just a bunch of nonsense about how Rodgers will be unstoppable. Even if the defense wasn’t up to the challenge, Packers defense is so average who will stop us even without AB?
January 23rd, 2021 at 11:45 am
Bowles will have to change it up. A soft zone that costs us 2-3 games and/or a ferocious defense by crowding the receivers at the line. Brees couldn’t throw the bomb. Well Aaron can and Aaron will. Often if we stop their run. Troy Aikman not showing emotion??????? where have you been hahahahha Erin Andrews? She can do anything at anytime anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 23rd, 2021 at 11:53 am
I don’t think so either Joe. But they just gota do it for one game, so anything can happen. Go Bucs
January 23rd, 2021 at 12:31 pm
Pewter Power.
I don’t think questioning how/if the Bucs will be able to stop Rodgers is quote “nonsense.” The man is the best quarterback in football right now.
January 23rd, 2021 at 12:38 pm
Kevin Harlan and Kurt Warner are broadcasting the game on National radio- Harlan is very good
January 23rd, 2021 at 12:51 pm
Kudos to Tony Romo also for saying that the bucs and chiefs might meet again at the Superbowl after the bucs got beat by the chiefs.
I wonder what that clown Nick wright is saying now, he’s been criticising bucs and Brady all year long. When the win over/under was announced at 9.5 games for the bucs, he said it sounds ridiculous to think bucs would win 9 games this year.
Nick Wright and Dianna Russini, SMH.
January 23rd, 2021 at 1:15 pm
I totally get why Aikman and Buck may have seen the Saints as a sentimental favorite.
It was Drew Brees final game. NOBODY wanted to see him go out like that. I was obviously thrilled with the win but it was hard for even me to see Brees on the sideline with his eyes welling up. Nobody wants to see a seasoned vet and warrior to go out like that.
If Buck and Aikman were pulling for the Saints or at minimum for Brees to end it with a TD and not an interception it’s perfectly understandable.
January 23rd, 2021 at 1:28 pm
Screw drew, smug a hole had his chances. Remember that spit eating grin on SNF? I do, and so did that absolute savage of a human AW31JR as he said after his forced fumble on cook “i made some grown men cry last night and i don’t feel bad about it.” Stpete you probably miss gerald “sorry ben” mccoy.
January 23rd, 2021 at 1:40 pm
Bucs played 61% zone against Pack last time around , so do not expect to see a lot of press man to man tomorrow. Aaron Rodgers has a much poorer record over his career against teams that play zone.
Bucs will break some longish runs tomorrow and should win this one rather easily IMHO.
January 23rd, 2021 at 1:41 pm
Most experts aren’t giving the Bucs much of a chance. They just don’t think the defense can slow down Rogers. And if the Bucs play soft zone 10 yards off the receivers, they are probably right. Packers are going to score 40 pts.
January 23rd, 2021 at 1:51 pm
Protect Brady and the Bucs will be in the game. BTW Erin Andrews grew up in Brandon, and her father Steve Andrews is with Channel 8. So it is not surprising she leans towards the Bucs, especially with Brady on the Team GO BUCS!!!!
January 23rd, 2021 at 1:53 pm
If the Packers score 40, then the Bucs score 50.
Brady’s Bucs seemingly throttle the offense up and down based on the performance of the defense. If the defense is playing well, ground and pound. If they are playing poorly, Air Brady shows up.
However this is the NFC Championship game, all bets are off and they might never let off the gas. The Bucs have the firepower to our score the packers every single game they play.
January 23rd, 2021 at 3:17 pm
I’m disappointed in Joe Buc Fan, especially The Sage. Props to Steve, as he is a believer in a Bucs win. Ira and Lee bet on the Pack. I get Lee doing it , as he is the black hat of Tampa Bay, but Ira?? At this point in the season we need believers and Ira you do not think agree with Aikman. “Your” Bucs aren’t the better team. Time will tell, however I’d rather you pick the Bucs to win THIS GAME if for no other reason then to let the team know YOU believe in them. I’ve cried over this team for 40 years and have seen them create ways to lose, however….for tomorrow’s game I BELIEVE they can win. Ira, there are some on that squad doubting (not 12), so for those I’d rather see you put the team ahead of your prediction record. If you’ve noticed Cosmo acting strange the last couple of days, this may be why. TB 31- GB 21
January 23rd, 2021 at 3:38 pm
Whatever he was the best quarterback when he got smashed by the Bucs last time. Mahomes and Rodgers, all the “best” on the game don’t go undefeated because they are good. Their defense is trash so what defense do you think can get more stops? They can’t run on us and they don’t have unstoppable weapons soooo what I said still stands. I don’t care about him being the best in football he has 1 Super Bowl which means it don’t matter and he can’t do it all by himself or he’d have more rings than Brady
January 23rd, 2021 at 4:12 pm
The New Orleans and Rams Defenses were the toughest we will see. The offense will move the ball and score points. The question is touchdowns or field goals? I dont believe the Packers will run the ball well on the Bucs. Its going to come down to Rodgers making plays and being Tha Man, which I dont see happening either. This may not even be a close game if the Bucs get rolling early. We still havent played our best game as a team.
January 23rd, 2021 at 6:45 pm
I’m gonna keep putting it out there. Scissorman says Bucs by 10!
January 23rd, 2021 at 7:00 pm
A lot of over analysis. Even earlier in the season we knew the recipe for success. When the bucks are balanced – run the ball – they win.
It lets them use play action. It lets the backs have a little space to be an outlet. It helps the line to pass protect better.
I see them putting up high 30s or more again on the Packers
The Packers have been better the last several weeks because they have been balanced but they will not be able to run on the Buccaneers.