The Morning After
December 13th, 2021
Receiver Breshad Perriman pulls away from Buffalo LB Tremaine Edmunds for the game-winning touchdown Sunday night. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Alright, boys and girls, we got through it. Bucs fans are now over the last speed bump on the schedule en route to an NFC South title. Been a long time since we’ve experienced that. Not there yet but it’s coming. So time to get rolling on this beautiful Victory Monday. Go grab a full mug of coffee and as Tom Brady would say, “Let’s go!”
Game Full of Emotions
What a roller coaster game. From the highest of highs to the lowest of dreaded lows to euphoria on one big-time play! Joe was exhausted.
The Bucs went from alley-beating the Bills to choking dogs in the second half to ending the game with one of the most thrilling regular-season victories in recent memory.
The Bucs went from slapping around the Bills to begging for mercy after gagging away a 21-point lead and a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter. Only the most buxom of cheerleaders didn’t have memories of Peyton Manning on Monday Night Football (2003) dancing in their heads when Buffalo had the ball trailing by three late in the game.
And leave it to a guy who was walking the streets some five weeks ago to make the game’s most impactful play. Breshad Perriman running away from Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds for a 58-yard, game-winning play is one of the coolest rags-to-riches stories Joe can remember this year.
Perriman was cut by the toothless Bears after being released by the lousy Lions in August after the horrid Jets washed their hands of him last year. All of a sudden he’s scoring the winning touchdown for the defending Super Bowl champs.
Somewhere, Perriman is laughing his arse off.
Guess who else is laughing his arse off? The guy that pulled him off the unemployment line, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
Tough Test
OK, you thought beating the Colts on the road was a sign of progression? It was, but last night was an even better one. When Buffalo, a good team, tied the game and sent it into overtime, and had the ball to begin overtime, the Bucs, after throwing up a 21-point lead all over their shoes, could have easily packed it in.
Instead, the Bucs took their best shots from the Bills and came off the ropes and won the game. That shows Joe a lot. Way too many times during the Lost Decade of Bucs teams, a whiff of adversity folded the Bucs quicker than a cheap lawn chair at the beach.
The Bucs — facing a good team — found a way to win. That’s what good teams do. That’s what champions do. That’s what the Bucs are.
Think about it: The Bills were on a “Custer’s Last Stand” game. If they lose not only would their playoff hopes taking a major dent, but any chance of a division title flies out the window. The Bucs were on the ropes in the second half, stayed upright and still got a knockout.
Playoff Lenny Continues To Dominate
This game was so crazy and exhausting, that Joe almost forget Playoff Lenny’s impressive 48-yard run. The plays that stick out for Joe are the Tom Brady pass to Mike Evans that nearly was as perfect an execution as Joe has ever seen. And then, of course, was the Perriman touchdown, a play Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians called, a “home run walk off.”
The blocking on Playoff Lenny’s touchdown was just about as textbook as it gets. Everyone got his man, in some cases, spectacularly. The key block on Playoff Lenny’s touchdown — at least for Joe — was Donovan Smith splashing a Bills safety halfway to Attica.
The more Joe thinks about it, the more Joe believes the blocking was so precise on that play, Playoff Lenny would have had to trip on his own feet not to have scored.
Joe hollered so much and so loudly at the TV on that play that it freaked out his neighbor’s dogs.
Chris Godwin’s Price Continues To Rise
Bucs slot receiver Chris Godwin had another top-shelf game last night. A week after having 15 catches, Godwin led the Bucs with 105 yards receiving on 10 receptions. And he was blocking his tail off.
Godwin now has 92 catches this season with four games to go. Keyshawn Johnson has the Bucs’ franchise record for most catches in a season with 106. So Godwin is 14 catches behind with four games to go.
If Godwin can average four catches a game the rest of the season, he will be your franchise leader for most catches in one year. And he will be a free agent.
Joe hopes when the Bucs exchange Christmas gifts in the coming weeks, Godwin gives Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians and Tom Brady a nice gift because those two guys are helping make Godwin a very wealthy man. As in $20+ million a year wealthy.
Coach Killers?
Now Joe is never rooting for a coach to get fired, unless he is running the Bucs into the ground and proves himself to be fully inept. Boy, the Bucs have come a long way since 2015. Other than that, Joe doesn’t want coaches fired.
For example, why would Joe want to see Matt Rhule of the Stinking Panthers fired? He’s doing a not-so-good job this year and why would Joe want to see a division rival improve by getting rid of someone who has yet to prove he belongs in the NFL like Rhule? He seems like a really cool guy, but in the NFL, it’s all about wins, baby.
After going 3-0 to start this season, the Stinking Panthers have nose-dived with only two wins since Week 3. Rhule fired his offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who Rhule claims wanted to pass too much and Rhule wants to run the ball (hint: Carolina owner David Tepper very much wants to throw the ball). Rhule has already run through two starting quarterbacks in less than two seasons and now he’s playing musical chairs yanking fan favorite, pouty Cam Newton in and out of the lineup.
Joe thinks it’s 50/50 that Rhule returns for 2022.
What is Joe getting at? Well, the Bucs play the Stinking Panthers twice in the final four games of the regular season. Joe is kind of thinking, wouldn’t it be sort of cool to beat the Stinking Panthers twice and push a coach back into the college ranks as the Bucs march to their first division title since 2007?
December 13th, 2021 at 12:34 am
I don’t care about matt rhule Joe this is better, we clinch, our title and spot and rest the entire starters for the last game some of them the last 2 games
December 13th, 2021 at 12:36 am
Huge win! What a gutsy performance from Josh Allen. Great to have Carlton Davis back. These guys HAVE TO want that #1 seed. The offense, at times, is a clinic but then will fizzle out randomly and put a tired defense on the field.
The offensive line got some love on the broadcast and that was due because this group is the best in the league imo and they are the backbone of the offense.
Richard Sherman looked awful at safety. I know it’s brand new for him but there’s such a thing called the eye test and Sherman failed hard. JTS flashed a little more and hopefully that’s a sign of things to come.
So glad to not be talking draft position or who to fire. Go Bucs!
December 13th, 2021 at 12:41 am
I’ll tend to my blood pressure in February. No need in trying to regulate it now. We clearly thrive off of stressful football. Go Bucs!!
December 13th, 2021 at 12:42 am
I can’t believe we squandered the lead, but this should be happening in the first part of the season not the end. You talk about Dean, but D White looks so off and I love LVD but have to say the same. The coverages in the 3 and 4th were ridiculous and how is CockR even on the field ? First two quarters were great offensively minus the drive where we got 3. Also I think Lenny is playing well, but I don’t know what Ronald Jones did to BA or others because he needs to be on the field !!! I don’t know if they are resting him or not one of Toms guys but he’s a beast and hopefully they are saving him. Yes Allen and the Buffs are good, but that never shouldn’t of happened. I know we are young, but really thought this cockiness after winning would have stopped after the Rams game and realized teams got better and also prepare better because the Bucs are extremely bearable. Whoever is in their ear telling them they are the greatest needs to go and I wouldn’t call it a hangover, but the offense can’t keep bailing out the D !! JPP and others where are you ? Yess stoked we won the SB and still can’t believe it after looking at this same defense so was it just destiny because if we played GB and the the Chiefs I think we would get smoked .. lastly getting the possession first hasn’t really worked out and starting to think BA and the coaching staff work for TB12 and yes a Win is a Win, but I only have one heart and please stop making it so difficult to watch boys !! Go Bucs and Roll Tide
December 13th, 2021 at 12:43 am
Agreed that Sherman looked out of position and flat footed at safety. Wondered why take Adams out for him, but possibly just because everyone was so gassed?
December 13th, 2021 at 12:45 am
Joe, I’m still as giddy as a Girl Scout selling the winning cookies! To me..? This was more exciting than curb stomping the Chief’s in Super Bowl(insert letters here). Dang! Had some Bills fans over to watch the game. What a fun (and scary) afternoon! #Go FreakenBucs! TB12 I believe. Long live BP 16! #NoMoreDenOf Depression!
December 13th, 2021 at 1:28 am
Pinion has to be one of worse punters.
December 13th, 2021 at 1:55 am
we need somebody better than darden returning the ball. kid is scared
December 13th, 2021 at 2:22 am
Brady took the lead in QBR, overtaking Herbert finally.
That is insane. He leads the league in passing yards by nearly 200 yards, has 6 more TDs than who is in 2nd place, and he’s 44-years old.
Brady is on pace for 5406 yards passing, 47 TDs — plus another 88 yards rushing and 3 TDs, or 50 TDs total.
His QBR is 67.6, last year it was 66.0. If you don’t following the ratings, QBR is a much more legit stat than the old QB rating that was way too high on competition percentage and allowed players to pad their stats by doing things like throwing 5 yard completed passes on 3rd and 16 (think Mike Glennon).
Overall it’s stunning to still be performing at this high of a level and he absolutely looks like someone who will be playing against next year. Maybe, if he wants to, he actually does play to 50. You’d say, impossible, but who knows at this point.
December 13th, 2021 at 2:27 am
bucschamp Says:
December 13th, 2021 at 1:55 am
we need somebody better than darden returning the ball. kid is scared
———
Darden has fallen off on kick returns, but he’s actually around 12th or so in terms of punt returns. Returning, across the league has gotten quite bad, so while someone might seem to be really bad compared to past years, they’re probably not as bad as they seem. In any case, unless he fumbles, I don’t make any changes since who exactly are you getting? In the offseason I’d love to see the Bucs trade a pick to get a good returner, but that’s the same thing I say ever offseason and they never do it.
December 13th, 2021 at 5:04 am
for a second there this play had shades of the 98 yard “run rojo run” play in carolina last year…
a wee tad bit…
i was yelling “go go go!”…
even perriman said he peeked at the jumbo-tron…
just like rojo said in carolina
December 13th, 2021 at 5:36 am
Bucs have won 4 straight, Lamarcus complains about the punter. Hahahaha
December 13th, 2021 at 5:56 am
Great win! I knew Josh Allen would be a problem for us but we overcame it.
It bears mentioning that this offense is way too pass happy especially in situations that dictate time management. With less than 9 minutes and a 17 point lead, the game should be in the bag.
Huge win!
December 13th, 2021 at 5:58 am
I think Rhule is already done. Panthers are circling the drain. But I’d be happy for the Bucs to finish him off
December 13th, 2021 at 6:06 am
They brought Perriman back to tell Godwin that leaving to chase money can result in some bad times on the field. There’s zero guarantee he will be as successful somewhere else. OBJ is an example.
December 13th, 2021 at 6:09 am
1) Pinion had an off night punting, but he is still a Touchback Machine on kickoffs. Given our coverage (remember the Colts game?), I’ll take that tradeoff.
2) As for returns, I don’t think it matters who handles the ball (as long as he holds on to it), if you do not block, he isn’t going anywhere.
3)
December 13th, 2021 at 6:35 am
I jumped for Joy when we brought Perriman back.
Like they say, “You can’t coach speed” and Perriman can still flat out fly.
December 13th, 2021 at 6:38 am
The Bucs defense sucks. Luckily they signed TB-12.
December 13th, 2021 at 6:42 am
Allen will have a short career unless they change how they’re using him
December 13th, 2021 at 6:43 am
@ModHairKen:
i can guarantee you that they did not bring perriman back to tell godwin that…
that is something the voices in your head simply keeps telling you and only you…
hahaa
#VoicesInYourHead
December 13th, 2021 at 6:44 am
this will be AB’s last year in tampa tho…
i wonder if the voices in your head are telling you that as well ken
December 13th, 2021 at 6:45 am
I thought in the 2nd half there was opportunity to burn more clock and pound their defense with Rojo…..instead we kept passing and passing which is problematic for our defense and keeps them on the field for chunks of time late in games. They seem to wear down…..it seemed like Leftwich could have been a bit more strategic in that regard. Still a good win and frankly I think that’s how games will go in the playoffs. You’ll need a bit of luck to win against teams of that caliber 4 weeks in a row.
December 13th, 2021 at 7:17 am
It’s more typical than not for a team to flat out own the other in the FIRST half, to simply not being able to hold on to that fire in the second. I’d expect it’s more common than not
December 13th, 2021 at 7:22 am
Beeej,
Yeah, 2 examples this past week are Minnesota letting the Steelers come back from 29-0 to make it close and Dallas and the Redskins yesterday.
December 13th, 2021 at 7:29 am
Arians calling a timeout for the Bills in the last minute was nucking futz.
December 13th, 2021 at 7:30 am
We got the win which is great but the way this team tanked on both sides of the ball the entire 2nd half is inexcusable! Just an awful performance.
December 13th, 2021 at 7:38 am
TB-12 should mention to the officials not to let Arians call any time-outs.
What an idiot.
December 13th, 2021 at 7:48 am
Evans one handed catch against the birds is still his best catch ever. But his one last night is for sure up there.
December 13th, 2021 at 7:50 am
Arians called that timeout because the defense was gassed that’s why he did that so the defense could get a breather
December 13th, 2021 at 7:53 am
They should have definitely used more play action and Rojo in the second half offensive play calling in the second half was awful poor clock management poor coaching second half was a complete meltdown so lucky but I’ll take that win wow shouldn’t have been close but a win is a win
December 13th, 2021 at 7:53 am
Big Poppa, don’t know what game you were watching, tired D, they had a 24 point lead.
Bad:
BA killing the momentum before the 1/2 with his I want to be relevant timeout call. Brady was pissed because he had the D on their heels and the right D personnel on the field. Can BA please just turn up that Sony Walkman he has across his chest and let Brady manage the clock.
What kind of call was that 3rd & 6 late 4th quarter, the cameraman scans the field and every receiver is running a 10 to 15 yd route. Brady had to ditch and nobody had turned around yet.
Bowles, how many left tackle runs does Allen have to make before you adjust. Apparently not enough he kept doing it until he couldn’t walk any more.
Winfield please run tackling clinics for the rest of your DB’s teammates.
Nice job Bunting, Bill’s 4th down play at the end instead of bringing the receiver down he’s trying to strip the ball. It was 4th down.
Allen throwing a 25 yd pass down the middle twice because Winfield played back 35 yds. A bit excessive ya think?
White is such a stud but runs around like a chicken with his head cut off.
I can’t stand the defensive offsides anymore. Bottom line this team is not discipline and that’s on their lazy arse head coach.
Joe, BA didn’t call that play to Perriman, that was Brady’s 3rd read.
Why run no huddle ALL 1st half exhaust their D and slow the game down completely in second half. I get the take time off clock but I’ll take a tired D and the points.
If this team doesn’t s ore 30 points or more they lose. That’s a lot of pressure on the O.
Good things:
Brady, Evan’s synergy looked better with the exception of one play.
Godwin & Gronk
Oline are maniacs. That Smith block on Lenny’s td run was sick so was Gronks on the Godwin screen.
Better play calling first half.
Decent special teams.
Most of all Tom Brady. Those 2 passes to Evan’s and Perriman were epic. The man doesn’t quit like the D does.
December 13th, 2021 at 7:55 am
Coaching in the NFL mostly sucks. Why can’t they manage the clock!
December 13th, 2021 at 7:58 am
I Was there last night and man was it a roller coaster of emotions
You could feel the sense of anxiety from buc fans sitting around me. I felt like i wanted to puke at the end. And then like that , greatness happened. The goat bringing us another win. Top 3 drama infused game i have ever seen there. It was great to hear bills fans leaving the arena saying they were the better team. Man they were loud on the way in and during game. Not so much afterwards. 😂
The good:
Lets be honest…licht signing perriman for that one play makes up for money spent. Kudos to perriman for getting to make a play that he will remember for years to come
I give kudos to licht for signing sherman for his int. More on that to come in the bad
When in doubt , trust brady. We dont win that game in years past. We win these games more times then not.
Playoff lenny will get paid by the bucs. Great game…same with godwin. Maybe he can give the 19 per discount
That pass and catch by brady to evans was pure filth. Happened right in front of me. Brady threw that into a 2 x 2 foot box at evans full extension
———
The bad :
The experiment with sherman at safety needs to stop. He was never known for tackling and now he is slow. He is a liability back there. Use him to give dbs a breather. Nothing more. Maybe he can get another int
Coaching coaching coaching. What the heck are we doing going full turtle. No imagination of late. No wonder payton and others have our number. Something needs to change. We play the same movie from netflix each week.
Sorry but ross cockrell is not a good player. Or should i say just to slow cause he does try. He is another weak spot on defense. They were picking on him all night.
December 13th, 2021 at 7:59 am
Bunchs nattering naybobs of negativism all up in here. We WON THE #$€¢π[ GAME
December 13th, 2021 at 8:02 am
This game would’ve been much easier to salt away if we kept feeding Lenny, and Rojo in the second half. We tried for the quick kill passing out of to many empty backfield looks. We should’ve just pounded them into submission.
December 13th, 2021 at 8:03 am
Whose pre-game analysis was more correct: Tiki or Ronde?
December 13th, 2021 at 8:06 am
Watching the Patriots coaching the last 20 years, makes one see how the pros operate.
December 13th, 2021 at 8:08 am
The defense should not be tired. They should be in shape.
December 13th, 2021 at 8:28 am
We have the absolute worst return blocking in the league….I’ll give Darden a pass for now….
And Pinion is usually leading the league with touchbacks…..our coverage is suspect, so I’ll take Pinion any day.
December 13th, 2021 at 8:30 am
How long until Arians throws a challenge flag at a reporter?
December 13th, 2021 at 8:57 am
Great win by the Bucs. I’m sure you covered this elsewhere but I have to believe this is the best start in franchise history. It’s good to turn on the national talking heads (the popular ones) and hear them talk about the Bucs in a positive light.
I’m sure a few people in the media will talk about all the blue jerseys in the stands. It’s really disgraceful that even after the Bucs winning the Super Bowl with the GOAT at QB that local fans *still* won’t give up their old team who’s greatest claim to fame is losing the Super Bowl four years in a row. Yeah….great legacy chumps!
December 13th, 2021 at 11:00 am
Wasn’t it the 600th TD ball that ME gave away? So how was the one to Perriman the 700th?
Toms having a great year but not that great.
December 13th, 2021 at 11:01 am
@Hodad
Actually the offense stalled out in the second half when the Bucs tried running the ball, starting with RoJo. I get what the Bucs were trying to do, they were trying to bleed the clock as they had a big lead. The problem with that was three fold:
1. It was arguably too early to bleed the clock.
2. RoJo is a bit of a poker tell; he isn’t a good receiving back, and he’s poor at pass blocking.
3. Buffalo knew the Bucs would do go run-heavy early, they had done so in the past with leads.
It wasn’t just RoJo’s fault. The Buc receivers dropped some passes, and Brady wasn’t as sharp with his throws as he was taken out of his passing rhythm.
December 13th, 2021 at 11:02 am
@Beeej
Cool, a Spiro T. Agnew reference!
December 13th, 2021 at 11:07 am
LOL Didn’t Pat Buchanan write that for Agnew? 🙂
December 13th, 2021 at 11:41 am
Got it
617 reg season. 83 playoffs.
Hard to keep up with TB records.
December 13th, 2021 at 11:46 am
@JMarkBuc
The 600th ball was the pointless regular season total TD number. The 700th was, in my opinion, the much more valuable ball as it was 700 for regular AND postseason total.
December 13th, 2021 at 11:47 am
Why did the bucs stop playing after they were only up 21 points? You know if you’re not up 35 plus points in first half there’s a big chance you’re going to lose especially when playing a team like buffalo. The bucs should know this especially when Payton Manning beat them with the Colt’s and I think we were up winning by 31 points and Colt’s came to beat them in like 1 quarter. maybe they felt bad for the bills and their coach.
December 13th, 2021 at 11:47 am
All this complaining about the coaching makes we wonder if some of you would like to go back to the days of Raheem or Schiano….
December 13th, 2021 at 1:24 pm
Hey Joes, Spiro Agnew was a ahole and a crook. Right up Nixon’s alley. I lived in MD when the yahoo was governor. So, Cardiac Bucs return only this time they WON. YaaaaHooo. ME13’s pick to clear the lane for Perriman was HOF all the way. Still punching myself. 🙂
December 13th, 2021 at 3:24 pm
Two things the game should of been a blowout, and coaching worries me sometimes, i believe before the half when it was fourth and 5 we should have went for it. We had momentum and it would of put us up majorily before the half! And at the end of the game buffalo went through thier time outs but yet when the bills were running pur of tine we called a time put for some reason which would of pretty much ran the clock out but thank god our defense stopped them. Brady was on fire and moving like he was 20 years old!!! Let brady do his thing and arians ego needs to take a seat. Great game though nice win!! LFGO!! #1SEED!!!