Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways From Jets-Buccaneers
January 2nd, 2022
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Sage Ira is presented by Bill Currie Ford, home of the nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles. Tampa’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter joined JoeBucsFan.com in 2016. Ira has been typing for a living for nearly 50 years. A renowned french fry connoisseur, Ira is heard weekly on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio and on his heralded podcast.
I wonder what the late John Madden would have thought about Sunday’s game.
The Hall of Fame coach surely would have been thrilled by another Tom Brady miracle finish. The Hall of Fame coach would have been equally appalled at the lack of respect for the game shown by Antonio Brown.
Brown may have survived a fake vaccination card, but he showed his true disposition with an on-field tantrum destined to be shown for the next 48 hours on ESPN and Twitter. If Brown’s agent has a shred of decency, the next phone call should be to a mental health professional because his client needs immediate help.
The Bucs needed a little help Sunday in a game they trailed from the start. The Jets obliged with a mind-numbing call on fourth-and-2 at the Tampa Bay 7-yard line, leading 24-20 with 2:12 remaining.
It was a gutsy decision by Robert Saleh to disregard a chip-shot FG that would have put the Jets ahead by 7, but you could see his point. If New York converts, the game is effectively over.
But the call. Oh my, the call.
On a day they rushed for 150 yards, the Jets went with a QB sneak and Zach Wilson was stopped in his tracks by Vita Vea and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
With Chris Godwin out of action and Brown out of his mind, Brady went to work on a 93-yard drive. He nibbled at the start and remained patient before hitting on a 27-yard throw to Tyler Johnson. Then it was Cyril Grayson to the rescue as Tampa Bay tied a franchise record with its 12th win.
Let’s not forget it was Grayson who hauled in a 20-yard strike from Brady on third-and-20 to spark a TD drive that pulled the Bucs within 24-17. For anyone who questions Brady’s arm strength, check out the tape of that 20-yard dart to Grayson on the right sideline, one of Brady’s best throws as a Buccaneer.
Big day.
For much of the game, the Bucs appeared disinterested. The Jets played very well, capitalizing on poor tackling and a Buc defense sorely missing Lavonte David.
In the end, the Bucs had Tom Brady … and that was enough.
Here’s how Tampa Bay remained in the hunt for a high NFC playoff seed while avoiding an embarrassing setback.
* Rob Gronkowski provided a major boost with 7 catches for 115 yards and it came just in time. Gronk had been struggling the past few weeks and it’s encouraging to know he’s not a beaten-down veteran because Brady will look for him often in the postseason.
* Devin White won’t like the tape when he reports back to One Buc Place. Maybe he misses David’s calming presence. Maybe he’s trying to play through injury. For whatever reason, White was basically invisible. He was credited with two stops as the Jets had their way on the ground.
* Guess what? Brady’s back in the MVP conversation. Two weeks after he was shut out by the Saints, Brady shredded the Jets for 34 completions, 410 yards and 3 touchdowns. He saved the best for last and the confidence he exudes in tense situations has an incalculable effect on teammates.
* Brady saved the Bucs but he couldn’t save his buddy. Bruce Arians dumped Brown on the spot without consulting Brady. Wonder if Brown will blame the media for the meltdown that likely ended his NFL career?
* It didn’t take long to realize Todd Bowles was in for a long day. On the second snap, Michael Carter ran through a huge hole off the right side and rambled 55 yards. The league’s 21st-ranked offense rolled up 240 yards in the opening half in building a 17-10 advantage.
* New York’s first two possessions ended with touchdowns and the second drive was particularly galling for Buc fans because the Jets registered four third-down conversions, all completions by Wilson. Tampa Bay’s pass rush was insufficient with Shaq Barrett sidelined.
Rough day.
* Mike Evans caught a TD pass and gutted it out despite a tender hamstring. With Brady and Arians determined to keep his 1,000-yard streak intact, Evans will be a player to watch in Week 18 against Carolina.
* The Jets entered the game ranked last in the league in both scoring defense and total defense, yet it was the Tampa Bay defense that looked out of sorts. Within the first two minutes, the Bucs were flagged twice for offsides, although one penalty was declined.
* Brady had nine completions of at least 20 yards and he connected with 10 different targets en route to an improbable victory. “We got Tom — and that’s all you need,” was the post-game assessment from Arians. The Jets are too stunned to argue the point.
* The Bucs have an opportunity to set a franchise single-season mark for wins when the Panthers visit Raymond James Stadium. It’s a tune-up for the playoffs, but there’s plenty of motivation for the home side. NFC seeding is at stake, along with Evans’ streak and Brady’s MVP chances. No excuses for a letdown.
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Ira drives a 2020 Ford Escape (cherry red).
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:00 pm
Football fans witnessed the greatness of Tom Brady today.
Unfortunately we also witnessed a nervous breakdown by a once great player.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:03 pm
It was not Tom Brady, bless his heart, that made that 3rd and 20 work, It was Cyril Grayson.
Grayson got to where he was suppose to be early because he is fast and left the defense behind. The throw was short and Grayson adjusted.
Then Grayson fought for the first down. It showed his worth to the future of this season.
In Brady we trust, most of the time.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:04 pm
When can AB clears waivers? I am curious to see if a team touches this guy with a pole.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:04 pm
Are you happy now, Ira? You got your wish. AB is no longer a Buc.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:07 pm
The final two minute drive was legendary. Glad to see the reserves step up in the clutch.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:07 pm
Craig don’t know what you talking about . That was a good throw by Brady. Look at it again.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:08 pm
I believe that was the worst game I’ve ever seen Ryan Jensen play. His pass protection was fine but every blown up run play saw Jensen behind the guy making the play in the backfield.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:08 pm
It looked like brady was eyeing Grayson all the way. He didn’t even look elsewhere.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:11 pm
AB wont make it to waivers no team will ever touch him again. He had a perfect situation here in Tampa……….he was given a very long leash. He is done hopefully he gets right mentally
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:11 pm
Lets be honest , we have some of the worst fans
People who question brady throughout every game , even saying he sucks and screw brady I mean what a joke
Look how many receivers have gone down Look at the running backs. He is literally playing with backups. But there is one constant. Him. He is not going to save them each week but we always have a chance with him at qb. Sure the saints game was hideous. Go back and watch it. No one was open genius. And lets be honest , we run a pretty blah offense
The dude just drove 90 plus yards in like a minute to win the game. And all you hear is what is wrong with brady. He is off. He is throwing at peoples ankles. He sucks. What we have accomplished in the two years he has been here has been amazing.
Sorry we got some sorry arse fans who live in fantasy land.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:14 pm
Larry Fitzgerald is needed now
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:20 pm
Is this the only team that has to have EVERYONE healthy to play well? If ONE of our three starting corners is out, we can’t cover. If Shaq is out, we have no pass rush. If JPP is out, we apparently have no capacity to set the edge. This was a horribly coached Jets team that outcoached our defense up until the 4th & 2.
I honestly have no idea what Devin White is doing. That’s right: He can’t play without LVD. This was extremely sloppy defense.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:23 pm
Why isn’t the saints vs falcons game being moved to 4 pm? The 49ers vs Rams game is at 4:25. That’s not fair. The 49ers will know if they need the game or not assuming the saints lose to the falcons early at 1 pm. The game should be moved.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:29 pm
Vikings with a lame effort tonight.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:32 pm
Ira, you forgot the two inexcusable penalties on Jensen & Marpet,,,,,,almost costing us the game…..we simply can’t lose our cool like that.
That last pass of Brady’s….under extreme game circumstances was a thing of beauty…..
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:36 pm
Cowards pile on and kick people when they’re down.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:49 pm
Snookman you’re kidding yourself if you don’t think a team might take a chance at AB. I can see a team like the chiefs.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:50 pm
Still just soaking in having the GOAT as our QB.
January 2nd, 2022 at 10:54 pm
It looks like Rodgers might win that mvp.
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:23 pm
Guzman
I’ve noticed you and several places asking about AB signing with another team, let me be clear…
IT
WILL
NOT
HAPPEN
1- The Buccaneers have to officially release him which they have not done yet. They may suspend him for the next week first.
2- The NFL will probably suspend him
3- No playoff team is going to want that distraction coming into their locker room the week before the playoffs begin.
He’s done. He had his chance at a couple million more this season and a decent deal from a team in the off-season. He blew it. He’ll never play again in the NFL
January 3rd, 2022 at 12:47 am
our ” nobody can run on us” defense gave up 160 yrds to the JETS !!!!!..
while we generated only 62 rushing yrds against the JETS..we saw what happen with the slimys when we couldn’t run–it was NOT pretty…..
looks like a one-n-done coming
January 3rd, 2022 at 4:13 am
I agree with David 100%.
January 3rd, 2022 at 5:07 am
Like the great Winstunned fiasco, best to boot the riffraff immediately!
January 3rd, 2022 at 7:55 am
Grayson has proven his worth on the outside, but I’m not sure him, or Perriman can come close to replacing Godwin in the slot. I’d like to see Evans in the slot more. He has the size, and blocking ability to fill that role in this offense better than anyone not named Godwin. Grayson, and Perriman on the outside with Evans in the slot might work well.
January 3rd, 2022 at 8:05 am
Lavonte David was sorely missed today. Minter is horrible against the run and not much better in coverage.
January 3rd, 2022 at 9:35 am
Ira, you always nail the wrap-up. I always cannot wait for your artilcle and pod cast. Without a doubt, you are the best in the business. Keep it up.
January 3rd, 2022 at 3:33 pm
Call Larry Fitzgerald
January 3rd, 2022 at 4:51 pm
Ira, has Larry Fitzgerald been contacted by the Bucs? Would he be interested? Just asking
January 3rd, 2022 at 4:58 pm
Joe wrote a story about this maybe two weeks ago. Feel free to search the free archives.