Missing The Shutout
January 16th, 2022
Nearly goose egged the Eagles.
Only one postgame subject had Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians less than over-the-top happy.
And that was the Bucs giving up a chance for a rare playoff shutout in the fourth quarter.
The Bucs took a 31-0 lead late in the third quarter after an acrobatic pick by Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett. And then one the very next play, Tom Brady and the Bucs went for the kill shot, hitting Mike Evans for a 36-yard touchdown pass to the right side.
The game was over. The crowd was going bananas. Eagles fans — there weren’t as many as Joe expected — marched out of the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway. Bucs fans, always helpful to help Eagles fans leave, serenaded them and heckled them as they shuffled to the exits, heads hung low.
It seemed Bucs players prematurely wanted to start chugging beers with the fans, too. The defense lost its edge. And the Eagles, desperate to try to get back in the game, took advantage.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles scored on a two-play, 68-yard drive; a pass and a run for 34 yards, each. That stuck in Arians’ craw (not “craw” — “CRAW!”)
“When you have a chance to shut somebody out, you don’t relax,” Arians said. “For three quarters, they were fantastic.”
Look, Joe is not going to quibble. Would a shutout have been cool? Sure. Given that it was the Eagles, that’s almost as good as a Super Bowl win.
But man, playoff games are hard to come by. Home playoff games even harder. Home playoff game wins, well, the last time that happened was 19 years ago (no, the Super Bowl was not a home game, but yes it was located in Tampa).
So beating the Eagles was good enough for Joe.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
The Eagles are Tampa Bay’s biotch!
January 16th, 2022 at 5:43 pm
This game was reminding me of the last home playoff win, the beatdown of the 49ers in the SB year, until that 4th quarter. The 2002-03 Bucs won 31-6, but it should have been 38-6, because Ronde returned another INT for a TD (intended for the overrated TO, who Ronde outplayed for the ball) but stupid Rice commited a PI on the other side of the field when he hit an offensive lineman on the return in something completely unrelated to the play.
BTW, go watch that game from Jan 2003, and how stupid Buck is talking about how the Bucs secondary is overmatched and the weak-link of the defense. What a moron. That was literally the best pass defense in the history of the NFL, and in the history of the NFL playoffs.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:50 pm
The game is 60 minutes Woody Hayes, the Bucs need to be more discipline, a passing teams gets right back into the game. He didn’t address assaulting a player or why on 4 & 2 to close out game they sweep to the limping Wells side and why play your first string All Pro when he can’t walk? Go win but some BAD decisions.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
“When you have a chance to shut somebody out, you don’t relax,” Arians said. “For three quarters, they were fantastic.”
…………….
LOL then why did your gameplan change on Both sides of the ball Coach?!?!?!?!
It wasn’t broke but you and your coordinators tried to fix it.
SMDH
January 16th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
*personal foul, not a PI
January 16th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
I imagine by now an assault report was filed with the Tampa PD by Adams. Arians probably will be investigated maybe even arrested for assault and battery.
Conviction will be a snap as there is video evidence.
or
Could it be that Arians’ tattered Achilles tendon put him in an unbalanced posture and instead of grabbing Adams, he bopped him in the head. did you notice that after that Arians had ice on his heel? You decide. A criminal act or just something that happened?
January 16th, 2022 at 6:00 pm
The defense let up in order to avoid injuries. The game was won. This is the playoffs with the larger goal of winning the Superbowl. This is what smart, veteran teams do.
January 16th, 2022 at 6:16 pm
Yeah but Brady being out there and it is 31-0, no not smart not good at all.
Get your 44 year old azz on the sideline.
As smart as Brady is, he knows that if he gets injured it is over. He wins nothing that way.
And someone needs to get some stones and make Brady stay on the sideline when it is 31-0.
GO BUCS!!!!!
January 16th, 2022 at 6:17 pm
Great defense effort!
The key is staying healthy
Smb should be back
Shaq gets another week to strengthen knee
Lavonte gets some rest on lisfranc
January 16th, 2022 at 6:20 pm
Just like Super Bowl against the Chiefs. That game was over, but Tampa wanted to make sure they didn’t get into the end zone. They wanted to show that it wasn’t an accident they beat them that bad. Same thing here today. Arians wanted to show they can win without that head case AB. Last, another win after putting up 30 points in the playoffs. It’s Tampa’s secret sauce to victory!!
January 16th, 2022 at 6:38 pm
With a 31-0 lead in the 4th quarter, there is no excuse for our starters to be on the field. As injured as our team is….all precautions should be taken….especially with Brady…..
Sure, I’d like the shutout but not at the expense of 1 single starter.
January 16th, 2022 at 6:59 pm
Seriously? Assault?
BA smacked him upside his space aged engineered helmet to keep Adan’s from drawing a penalty. Too bad the 70 yr old , hadn’t been on the other side of the field to stop CD24 for drawing one.
I’m sure BAs hand hurts worse than AAs head.
January 16th, 2022 at 7:19 pm
I’m still reeling from the 4 sacks on Brady. Am I crazy? Does that matter?
January 16th, 2022 at 8:08 pm
No Tom
You are obviously a troll. You repeated that same bland comment thru the open thread. El bucco realistico ?
Way to pretend you are a brady fan by being a new poster name on here as “Tom”
January 16th, 2022 at 8:27 pm
KC’s Super Bowl offensive line showed up for the Bucs today after Wirfs was injured and Jensen was reinjured. Even Wells replacing Wirfs was banged up, getting bull rushed straight back into Brady.
Yes it does matter, it was a night and day difference in the level of play, not encouraging at all.
We will see how fast Wirfs can actually recover. He was not too good on 1 leg.
GO BUCS!!!!
January 16th, 2022 at 8:27 pm
I think it matters Tom but nearly so much if Wirf’s ankle can heal enough to play at even 75% of his normal self.
Josh Wells is a backup for a reason. NO backup is going to replace an AllPro player.
January 16th, 2022 at 8:33 pm
This team gets a big lead and then other teams get back in it, over and again, and the Coach blames the players instead of the coaching? I’m glad it happened. This team needs to be tense and nervous. They were last year. It served them well.
January 16th, 2022 at 9:09 pm
Great win today, but every playoff game will get tougher & tougher. Glad to see our run defense hang tough today, and so many of our ‘walking wounded’ make it through the game relatively unscathed. Also good to see Bernard back. He ended up being our 2nd leading receiver. Impressive.
January 16th, 2022 at 9:17 pm
I remember it like it was yesterday. My dear departed friend Jill Sheldon, upon the Bucs closing the door on the Niners in the’03 playoffs….”Take THAT you Rice-A-Roni-Eating M%#%#$erF3$%$ers!” Still brings a tear to my eye
January 16th, 2022 at 9:48 pm
After the Bucs went up 31-0, the guy wearing an Eagle mask shaking his head was the sight of the day!
January 17th, 2022 at 12:54 am
Hey everyone the bucs player that got the 15 yard penalty for taking his helmet off has GOLD TEETH!! HE WANTED TO SHOW THE EORLD ..
January 17th, 2022 at 12:59 am
BUCS players should just play the game and celebrate when they win the Superbowl again. Them penalties are drive killers.