Hidden Hero
December 13th, 2021
A touchdown-saving, likely-game-saving tackle was made with 29 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter yesterday.
It went under the radar, partly because of the stress of the moment and the nature of the play, and maybe be some fans were flabbergasted by the loafing on the play by rookie Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
After Richard Sherman’s open field tackling whiff on tight end Dawson Knox set the Bills up with a 1st-and-10 on the Bucs’ 15 yard line with 54 seconds remaining. Buffalo trailed by a field goal and Bills QB Josh Allen threw incomplete to the right side with Lavonte David covering Knox on the play.
Next up was 2nd-and-10 with 35 seconds remaining. Allen took the shotgun snap and took off running left. He got past Tryon-Shoyinka who appeared to give up on the play (and considering the rookie was the first guy sprinting and celebrating with Breshad Perriman on the game-winning touchdown, Joe will assume Tyron-Shoyinka isn’t hurt).
Allen had a path to the end zone, but in came Lavonte David to push him out of bounds as Allen streaked past him (Screenshot below.)
Without that play, Joe thinks the Bucs would be head-shaking losers this morning.
David hasn’t been playing his typical A-list game in a while. Perhaps it’s his ankle. But when the Bucs needed him most, he delivered in the underappreciated way David seems to do just about everything.
December 13th, 2021 at 10:17 am
Couldn´t agree more Joe…..
That is my main concern…Tackling, and yesterday LVD was tackling like a monster….and some of them where because some of his teammates….
I know a win is a win, and I am happy as hell, but we need to get better on this area…..Playoffs is a different animal….we need to tackle better, we need to throw better, and we need an ever better running game……
December 13th, 2021 at 10:19 am
I agree, because Allen would have scored if not for that play, and we would have lost
December 13th, 2021 at 10:20 am
I’ll also say Winfield is usually such a solid open field tackler that nobody usually makes it last him. He did make such a play earlier, but missed a couple later in the game
December 13th, 2021 at 10:25 am
JTS has definitely hit the rookie wall. He is tough to watch. That loaf will hopefully get the appropriate reprimand during game film review.
December 13th, 2021 at 10:30 am
Give props on the Knox catch, too. It was pure will and skill that had LVD54 on his heels to make the tackle!
December 13th, 2021 at 10:37 am
Absolutely true, that was a game-saving tackle by David.
December 13th, 2021 at 10:44 am
Bills converted only 2 of 16 on 3rd down and the D kept them from scoring on their last 2 possessions when a score would have spelled defeat.
December 13th, 2021 at 10:50 am
It was tough watching the 3rd and 4th quarter as the Buccaneer offense and defense went into a funk after such a dominating performance in the first half.
Getting outscored 20-3 in Q3 and Q4 on your home field??? Mostly on the coaching, way too many horizontal passes. That 7 yard negative pass to Lenny was an awful playcall. Just like the week before, the screen pass. The Bucs are a vertical passing offense, having all of these quick screens isn’t fooling anyone, especially to Gronk and Lenny, either have the burst of Godwin. He’s the only one that makes that play work.
Defensively. just a lot of scrambles and some horrible tackling in the second half. There was a particular play that the Bills needed a 3rd down conversion, maybe even it was a 4th, I don’t recall but Allen threw it to the sidelines and Bills’ receiver grabbed it about 2 or 2.5 yards short. Sean Murphy Bunting may have been the DB that completely had him bear hugged short of the first down but instead of swinging him out of bounds he held on and the guy just went forward a couple of yards and held the ball out for the first down.
A stronger tackle and that Bill doesn’t get that first down. Defensively the Bucs lost all of the intensity that had earlier in the game. Maybe they need to do a better job rotating pass rushers because they looked out of gas towards the end of the game.
December 13th, 2021 at 11:09 am
@Ed…………Read the comment above you. Our D did it’s best considering our offense couldn’t stay on the field. The offense failed us in the second half. Be it coaching, QB play, bad routes by the WRs or wherever you want to put the blame.
Our D was Gassed!
December 13th, 2021 at 11:16 am
Our offense seems to be comfortable at front running until the opponent starts playing with toughness and grit. I mainly blame the lack of run game when we need it the most. Fournette may have been delivering some great plays in key moments, but he is still too inconsistent on a play by play basis and so is our offensive line blocking for him. The run downs were essentially wasted downs in the second half yesterday. I feel like we should incorporate rojo more into the offense. He is the more talented runner of the two and runs like a bully when he sees some success.
December 13th, 2021 at 11:28 am
ROJO is the better and more explosive back , but the Bucs have a devious plan in place to keep ROJO on the cheap next year when he is UFA. By using ROJO sparingly in his contract year , Bucs know they will be able to sign him for a song next year when Lenny will want to get paid as he will also be UFA next year.
December 13th, 2021 at 11:32 am
Place LVD in the Buccaneers RING OF HONOR NOW!!!!!!! A true Bucs legend!!!! GO BUCS!!!
December 13th, 2021 at 11:36 am
I remember watching that play, it was in the end zone I sit in, and being very thankful LVD made that play. Really it’s what allowed us to win the game. Hidden hero is very astute.
December 13th, 2021 at 11:36 am
Agree!!
December 13th, 2021 at 11:38 am
Off topic, but I have to say that the officiating yesterday seemed to be biased toward the Bucs. There were several calls that could have benefited the Bills. Some holding calls that weren’t called on the Bucs and some iffy interference calls called on the Bills. Won’t complain though, because we’ve had poor calls go against us in other games. Guess it all averages out in the end.
December 13th, 2021 at 11:40 am
On topic, I fully expected the Bills to get a TD as time ran out and win the game.
December 13th, 2021 at 12:13 pm
he also saved the dawson knox touchdown…when i saw that play develop i really thought he was going to score and i dont know what i would have done. couple other bucs may have stopped him but that was a game saving play especially to get him down at the 15 and not later when they certainly could have had some run plays with enough time.
December 13th, 2021 at 12:50 pm
Ed … Good analysis; super excited watching the 1st half, but almost despondent watching whatever that was in the 2nd half. Fully expected that we were gonna lose that game as the Bills drive on that last drive, but we held them to the FG. LVD’s tackle saved it, but so did that last pass defense by Davis (was afraid that he’d get called for that, but the refs let them play & weren’t persnickety).
I’m seeing a trend through 13 games. We’ve won all 6 of our home games, and in each one we’ve been ahead at halftime. IOW, we’ve started strong, and in at least a couple of them (Cowboys, Bills) pretty much hung on to win.
However, in our 7 away games it’s been pretty much a different story at halftime (with the exception of the Eagles & Falcons games away). In the other 5 we were behind at halftime. Came back to win 2 of those (Colts & Pats … barely), but lost the other 3 (Rams, Saints, Washington).
So for whatever reason Bucs are hot out of the chute for home games, but cold as an iceberg when it comes to road games. Just coincidence? Perhaps, IF you believe in coincidence.
December 13th, 2021 at 12:59 pm
Although I am also concerned with the 2nd half letdown I am still happy. A couple of years ago we were losing those types of games and now we are hanging on to win them.
December 13th, 2021 at 1:11 pm
JTS has had a rather disappointing rookie campaign thus far. Anyone care to guess why a wounded JPP is still taking snaps? its because Tryon cant do much.
He just isn’t very impressive.
He ran faster to celebrate the win than save the game.
Thank God for LVD!!!!
December 13th, 2021 at 1:19 pm
Truly missing Whitehead on defense. JA would have taken a pretty good shot at some point that would have had him thinking a little more. We need he and Edwards on that back end, especially since our starting CBS rotate injuries, too much grave digging, but that’s what happens when you come up with your own name. Like LVD, let your play make your name
December 13th, 2021 at 1:44 pm
JTS doesn’t have much WOW for a first round pick. He’s not really done much to help this team with JPP hurting.
December 13th, 2021 at 1:49 pm
JTS needs a press conference where we open the replay on video and ask him some wtf’s
December 13th, 2021 at 1:52 pm
Been a LVD fan since he was drafted. If Brooks can get in the HOF, LVD better! Brooks never had to deal with the coaching musical chairs and losing like LVD has.
December 13th, 2021 at 3:36 pm
LVD is a real pro ,,he did save the game for the bucs…I hope they can rest him, or at least reduce his snaps for the next 4 games –we need him for the playoffs ..
White dam near got called for a taunting–BA better lean on him a bit