Can Antonio Brown Save Bucs Postseason Dreams?
December 24th, 2021
How to work around injuries.
Former NFL suit and current BSPN talking head Louis Riddick didn’t mince words.
Riddick said recently on the four-letter that the loss of Chris Godwin for the Bucs is “catastrophic.” You don’t hear that thrown around too often about a football player.
“That’s going to be a huge, huge void they are going to have in the middle of the field,” Riddick added of the Bucs’ passing attack.
But the man who could possibly save the Bucs’ passing attack is the same man so many virtue signalers outside of One Buc Palace wanted banned from the league a few short days ago. That would be furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing Bucs receiver Antonio Brown.
He is expected to play Sunday and Riddick believes Brown could be the riddle to the puzzle of how the Bucs can play winning football without Godwin.
“I think with AB coming back, they will be able to offset [the loss of Godwin] some,” Rddick said.
Riddick added that he is spooked by the hamstring injuries to Mike Evans and Playoff Lenny. A hamstring can pop up at any time Riddick noted, after you have first suffered the injury. Even if you feel dynamite before a game, a few plays later, poof goes the hamstring (again). You just don’t know.
“That’s a big, big deal for them,” Riddick said of Evans and Playoff Lenny.
Well, we always hear the term “next man up.” That has never been more important than it is now for Ronald Jones, Breshad Perriman, Tyler Johnson and Brown. The Bucs need this guys, now. Big time.
The Bucs need a pair of familiar names to step up on offense this weekend in Carolina. #gobucs #nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/MtZng5qkBS
— Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh) December 23, 2021
December 24th, 2021 at 8:02 am
@Joe $10 says AB doesn’t even finish the game. He’s an injury prone shell of himself.
December 24th, 2021 at 8:17 am
That’s why u sit Evans till playoffs. AB saves our season, he’s Santa. Kris Kringle if you will
December 24th, 2021 at 8:17 am
He was bradys favorite target in a lot of games before godwins injury. Now that may have something to do with evans and godwin getting double high looks with a safety
The thing about AB is he has been around for a long time
He knows how to find open space when a play can break down
Dude can cut on a dime and take off in the opposite direction
But him on outside will help gronk in middle of field too
Heck line gronk in slot on some plays. We know he is best blocker on team too that is not lineman
December 24th, 2021 at 8:19 am
If Evans is out also that lets the Panthers double down on Brown not good.
December 24th, 2021 at 8:22 am
The word ‘catastrophic’ is VERY apropos when you lose 4 stars like Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Lenny Fournette & Lavonte David with major injuries in a single game. Instantly that took the Bucs from ‘leader of the pack’ to ‘darkhorse’ in the Super Bowl pursuit.
With all due respect to backup players like Ronald Jones, Breshad Perriman, Tyler Johnson and even others like Le’von Bell, Keshawn Vaughn, Will Minter, Andrew Adams, etc, our prospects of repeating as SB Champions took a MAJOR hit in that New Orleans game.
December 24th, 2021 at 8:26 am
That’s where the other recivers need to step up. Johnson, Scotty and Darden didn’t expect to have big roles. Obviously none were ready to fill the position. I expect different things from them going forward as they are now getting first string reps.
December 24th, 2021 at 8:35 am
Chris Goodwin has been an outstanding player for the Bucs. However, Leveon Bell and Antonio Brown are also outstanding players and can change the results of their next game. The Bucs can win the next three games and can continue to win the Super Bowl as well if their players work very well with the great Tom Brady. Last year they won the Super Bowl because Tom Brady was highly motivated to win all the final games because he did everything possible to achieve great success from all his players. In my opinion the Bucs. team has several great players so they can be motivated to win everything if the team is highly motivated like they were last year!
December 24th, 2021 at 8:36 am
There is a huge difference with AB on the field….you have to double team him and that will take pressure off of Johnson & Perriman……that’s right, don’t forget Perriman….he has speed and can get open…
So instead of Darden, Miller & Johnson….you have AB, Perriman & Johnson….much, much better.
And…..Rojo is arguably a better runner than Lenny…..if he catches the pass…he can do more with it than Lenny…..(if he catches)
December 24th, 2021 at 8:37 am
We have to get the run game going with RoJo!!!
December 24th, 2021 at 8:37 am
At least they have three weeks to figure their stuff out.
December 24th, 2021 at 8:42 am
The Packers have injuries too-
Starters on OLine, DB and WR are all out of commission in Green Bay.
The coaches have some accountability to prepare this team to win against inferior opponents.
Losing Godwin for the playoffs is huge, but not an excuse to accept losing- still plenty of talent to win against Panthers and Jets, then let’s see where things stand at playoff time.
It comes down to execution and strategy as much as talent.
December 24th, 2021 at 8:56 am
They have to bring OJ Howard off the shelf. He is capable of big plays. If Brady tries to force feed Gronk, could spell trouble against good defenses, which the Panthers have. I hope we win and then sit Gronk, let him be at full strength when the playoffs begin.
December 24th, 2021 at 9:00 am
What you will get from Bell is the same you got from Brown, they know how to be in the right place at the right time, true pros that know the game. Evan’s would be a nice decoy. Keep in mind Brady went 12-4 with a broken Edleman, Jacoby Myers, 38 yr old Ben Watson, Nekeal Harry (1st round bust) and Phillip Dorsett and losing his starting center. Other than Edleman, I’ll take all Bucs back up WR over that crew of misfit toys.
December 24th, 2021 at 9:16 am
+1 Mort.
December 24th, 2021 at 9:40 am
Bring on the underdog role…in fact I prefer it. Every non (real) Buc fan wants Brady and Co. to implode…especially the below sea level sewer rats The Taints.
Brown will come up big…survived the hater movement to run him out of the league.
December 24th, 2021 at 9:46 am
If we can get Perriman and Brown on the field at the same time, watch out!
December 24th, 2021 at 9:49 am
too late for AB to save Bucs. Last week was the chance, we COULD NOT DO IT.
The point spread last week was 11.5 in our favor.
This week is 11 in our favor.
Means NOTHING. They know NOTHING.
Our downfall/vanquish has begun.
So Sad!
December 24th, 2021 at 9:59 am
3 games left and need 1 win. Panthers twice and jets once. Just Get into the playoffs and rest ‘em up until they get here. Play Gabbert and backups so everyone is ready, not just the big dogs. Treat it like preseason
December 24th, 2021 at 10:00 am
BA and BL have to start to scheme guys open rather than count on them to win their one and one matchups. It seems when Chris and Mike went down they didn’t have the ability to adjust.
December 24th, 2021 at 10:03 am
I think OJ could be our Xfactor in next few games. We need to run more with RJIII and with the injuries to the WR, let’s see some more 2/3 TE sets to help with blocking and set up the playaction. Gronk will be shadowed so maybe OJ can show he has some (any?) Juice!!!
December 24th, 2021 at 10:03 am
The Saints defense is the Bucs’ Krytonite. The Saint’s had vengeance on their mind and do everything possible to wreck the Bucs’ hopes. They probably even had bounties in place last week. It’s not like they haven’t done it before. The Saints have the meanest, roughest and dirtiest defense in the NFL. At least TB12 is still in tact. The Bucs will be ok and it’s honestly downhill from here until they go to Greenbay, the enema insertion point of the US.
December 24th, 2021 at 10:06 am
If Leveon Bell can play at 80% of his prime we are golden.
We become the Tampa Bay SteelBucs.
We have AB..one of the best WR’s in the league…and now another former Steeler Bell who would get targeted 100x a year and catch 80 of them when he was with the Steelers.
If these two guys can wring out just another couple of months(Both of these guys have been inactive for the year so their bodies are FRESH. I look for a couple of years from these guys though. AB is not going anywhere and if Bell shows 80% of his former self losing Playoff Lennie to the giant $$$ won’t hurt nearly as badly. Brady LOVES to hit RB’s out of the backfield and Bell is the prototype for that.
December 24th, 2021 at 10:35 am
Don’t ever forget about da gronk.
December 24th, 2021 at 1:51 pm
that poor dude from nfl network looks like a damn hobbit. Nfl network is terrible, they put him in a chair next to nfl players..lol he looks like a little person..haha
December 24th, 2021 at 1:51 pm
We need to be carefull not to put everything on AB ..He could re-injure that “ankle”..
There’s more to that injury than has been told….Perriman has speed & Brady now has trust with him–he has to be the workhorse
December 25th, 2021 at 11:46 am
Godwin playing on a franchise tag also,, now I understand why players don’t want to play when franchised,,hope him the best, but he just lost a bunch of $,, feel sorry for him,,no contact beyond this year