Bucs Missed Antoine Winfield Terribly
December 19th, 2022
Hidden reason for loss.
One could make a fair argument that Bucs coach Todd Bowles lost last night’s game back in late November.
How does Joe come up with that? Well, that was when Bowles was too scared that the greatest quarterback whoever lived might throw his third pick of the year and took the ball out of Tom Brady’s hands.
Bowles decided it was instead smart to play for overtime against Cleveland. In a league that crows how it is making itself safer for players, Bowles needlessly decided to add an extra quarter of football to his players’ bodies and it terribly blew up in his face.
Not only did the Bucs lose, but Bowles watched the best right tackle in the game go down and one of the game’s best safeties go down with high ankle sprains.
Brilliant!
So what does that have to do with last night? Well, Winfield is still hobbled. Last night he tried to play and reinjured his ankle in the first half. Who knows when or if he can return this year?
And Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow made the Bucs pay. With Winfield out, Joe Cool lit up the Bucs’ arses between the hashmarks. Per NextGen Stats by way of NFL.com, Burrow was damn near perfect throwing down the middle.
Next Gen stat of the game: Joe Burrow was 11-of-20 passing for 65 yards and two touchdowns on passes outside the numbers and 15-of-17 passing for 124 yards with two TDs and one interception on passes thrown down the seams against Tampa Bay.
Nah, the Bucs didn’t need Winfield, the enforcer up the middle. His tackling and coverage skills were unneeded against a loaded passing attack.
Who needs a safety/slot corner and a stud right tackle when you can take the ball out of Brady’s hands and play an extra quarter of football? Such a wonderful decision.
December 19th, 2022 at 4:37 am
No question it was a very timid decision, but injuries are unpredictable. Sure we could of used both these players.
When you go against a high scoring offense, You have to match scores and we
failed to do that. Our offense stalled in the second half due to turnovers.
December 19th, 2022 at 4:41 am
Bucs miss a real head coach.
December 19th, 2022 at 6:23 am
Sad part is you could argue many reasons he lost the game. One thing we know though is he will find a way!
December 19th, 2022 at 6:53 am
So Bowles gets blamed and the backup safeties and tackles get a pass…
December 19th, 2022 at 7:31 am
Alan, it was a away game, D was in prevent mode, the perfect time to try to get in FG range, those 13 seconds are two more plays, they got to the Browns 48, the TO gives them 22 seconds from there not 8.
December 19th, 2022 at 7:42 am
So far we’ve seen a double reverse to back up players to kill a drive in GB game, the total opposite game O game plan against a D with a depleted secondary, bad time management call twice in Cleveland, a 4th & 2 punt on the Browns 37 netting 17yds, a 55 yd FG attempt on 4th & 2, another 50 yd failed attemp knowing your kicker is 50% from that range (wait Bowels wouldn’t know that, it’s a stat), Prevent D when your team is up 17-0 with 1:29 left allowing the opponent to score 3 points and the best of ALL at the circus a fake punt on your own 27 yd line. What’s wrong with this picture?
December 19th, 2022 at 7:46 am
I almost forgot, Lenny’s 25 yard throw across his body across field int to a immobile QB with a knee brace on to kill a scoring drive. Just the few superb coaching moves these coaches have pulled off. Let’s add starting Winfr
Ield in a game that at the start of the game meant nothing. Geez Louise, what’s next.
December 19th, 2022 at 7:55 am
I am not a bowles fan but blaming a coach for an injury
Is ridiculous. Looks to me like media is trying to find
Any storey they can. There does come a time when
You need to blame the players for a
Collapse like the one last night. ALL of them.
Coaches don’t get on the field players do.
December 19th, 2022 at 8:51 am
I know he was missed but they didn’t lose because of him being out 4 TURNOVERS you deserve to lose even with the points Cincy scored our defense was on the field once again trying to bail us out due to the lack of good play calling. If I’m LVD I’m cursing out whoever needs to be addressed because it’s getting ridiculous. Tom Brady was 9-0 when leading by 17 or something like that and loss so yeah let’s blame the injuries smh even last year we were down bad with injuries and had a great defense.
December 19th, 2022 at 8:56 am
BBF90, I believe the stat they said on the broadcast was that in his career, Brady was 89-0 when he had a 17-point lead.
December 19th, 2022 at 8:57 am
Jags, Lions, Jets, losers for the past 5 years made coaching changes and see how they roll. For years those teams were considered the worst organizations yet they brought in coaches that are tough but flexble in their offensive game.
Imagine what those teams would do if they had the luxury of players like Evans and Godwin. They are winning with far less talent and far better coaching.
The Bucs make mistakes every game that kill their chances of winning. No accountability for the mistakes. Just the “we have to play better” excuse.
December 19th, 2022 at 9:11 am
Hard to put this one on the defense.
Held Bengals to three points in an half and the offense turned it over 4 out of 10 offensive plays… on the Bucs side of the field.
They did the best they could, until they couldn’t
This is on the offense and Brady.
December 19th, 2022 at 9:16 am
JMark@ correct but 79 points in 2 games? C’mon man. Hold them to FG’s Bucs still had a chance. A turnover isn’t a automatic TD.
December 19th, 2022 at 9:19 am
JMark@ just turn 2 of those turnovers into FG’s, Bucs still lose but at least the go down fighting knowing they turned it over 5 times.
December 19th, 2022 at 9:29 am
They did the best until they couldn’t. We’ll that’s the problem. The entire team failed. Offensive line after the half. Defense after Winfield went down could stop nobody. I don’t care where it was they were doing it before. Now they can’t even hold them to field goals even after yes – Brady turns it over. And don’t give me the the tired excuse. No adjustments were made to counter what the Bangles did at half time. And the penalties once again cost them.
December 19th, 2022 at 11:20 am
This game was lost by the HC, OC TB & the offense. I believe the whole 3rd quarter was played on the Bucs side of the 50yd line. Add Burrow to the Bucs woes. How in the hell can the Bucs play so well for a half & not the whole game? unbelievable. Whats more unbelievable is that Loser Lefty & Bowles still have there jobs. C’mon Glazers wake up.
December 19th, 2022 at 11:55 am
Winfield is absolutely the best player on this defense, with all due respect to David who held that title for almost a decade.
No, overweight and out of shape part-timer Vita is not the best player, regardless of what the dopes that only watch highlights say.
Losing Winfield makes this defense completely different.
December 19th, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Missing AW is crazy. Maybe for a team that’s a contender. This season is done. Over. Caput.
Not missing left field Leftwich and snowballs Boles is more like it. What a joke. The whole coaching staff s**is. I feel sorry for the players they have no coaches to light a fire in their bellies.
Glaser family s**ks.
December 20th, 2022 at 5:51 pm
I’d rest everybody whose banged up and do best to slip into playoffs. We just gotta win our division and we’re golden. If we’re healthy(er) in the playoffs, get our studs back, we have a good chance to make a run. Just can’t afford to lose our best players (Antoine, Vea, Wirfs, etc). In Brady We Trust.