Falcons 36, Buccaneers 30
October 3rd, 2024
Your 3-2 Buccaneers choked away a game they should have won tonight.
The defense was heinous and couldn’t preserve what the electric Bucs offense produced in the first half.
Lavonte David? Bat down that needless fourth-down interception in the fourth quarter and this game would have been over.
Yeah, maybe that feels unfair of Joe, but the truth hurts.
Stay aware.
After the David pick, a Graham Barton holding call, combined with a missed Falcons face mask against Bucky Irving and conservative playcalling, pushed the Bucs out of field goal range and the Bucs offense finished up going turtle and playing not to lose.
Joe will bet a few bucks that was Todd Bowles putting on the offense’s brakes, not Liam Coen.
The Bucs scored a touchdown again on their opening drive and proceeded to rack up 24 first-half points. That’s so hard to do on the road, and Baker Mayfield and friends made it look easy.
Everything was humming in the first half — running game, passing game, rhythm. Don’t ask Joe right now what happened to the second-half offense, aside from the Bucs getting way too conservative. But Baker Mayfield had critical scrambles and kicker Chase McLaughlin was money, as usual.
Too bad they had the plug pulled on them.
The Bucs’ defense? Soft, soft, soft. Kirk Cousins is good enough to not miss wide open receivers — and he didn’t all night. Cousins, through four quarters, was 39-of-55 for 440 yards and 3 touchdowns with an interception.
And he made the Bucs look stupid in overtime.
Brutal loss. Just brutal.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:37 pm
This loss is on Todd Bowles and his horrible zone defense and his horrible late-game decision to punt instead of kicking the field goal. He was making fear-based decisions all night.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:37 pm
Bowles better make the post season or he should be fired
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:37 pm
Devastating
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:37 pm
Missed Facemask. Missed wide open ME13. Bad fumble. Too many defensive injuries.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:37 pm
Not watching another game all year, Todd Bowles is a DC, not a HC
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:37 pm
Dean is such trash!!! He got abused all night
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:37 pm
Agreed Erik.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:38 pm
They deserved to lose……no defense
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:38 pm
Terrible defense and lack of a closing RB.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:38 pm
You can thank Bowles and Litch on this one. At some point you need a pass rush to get home. Another defensive let down when your O scores 30.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:38 pm
LVD gave us the balk under 2 minutes on Falcons side of field, and we lost… thats coaching… soft, ass, coaching
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:38 pm
This onme hurts. Falcons got some calls but..we had our chances. Overall? NO DEFENSE for us. We could not stop them…..Period.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:38 pm
We’re not making the playoffs with this crap team. This defense is not stopping the chiefs, 49ers or Ravens. This season is done.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:38 pm
46 – 60
That’s our HC.
A career loser.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Bowles sucks
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Out-played and out-coached. Damn
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Drake London is an absolute Buc killer, doesn’t matter who’s throwing the ball Desmond Ridder or Kirk Cousins.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Does anyone coach more conservatively in tight games than Bowles?
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:39 pm
I hate that the game was decided by a missed blatant facemask. That would have been game over. Too good for a game to end that way
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:39 pm
lets just all be happy with another 9-8 season
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Guys….. cmon,
No defense..509 yards that Atlanta got????
Really bro???
The Bucs were hanging on all night
They had 3 chances to close the game out….bad coaching indeed
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Why don’t you guys do what you usually do and blame it on Mayfield?
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:40 pm
Suck it up cupcakes, the sun will rise tomorrow.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:40 pm
Hated the late game execution clock management was awful when we had the ball then this no name punter kicks a touch back dude at least corner kick it. Defense was really bad tonight Britt can’t cover at all and it’s really bad.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:40 pm
Bowles should be relegated to DC. Get a real head coach in there with some balls!
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:40 pm
I’m ok with the fumble. Those things happen. It wasn’t like he was carrying it like a loaf of bread. The zone defense on the other hand was terrible.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:40 pm
Starting safety and that final pass is incomplete.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:40 pm
500 yards passing against the Defense
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:40 pm
Soft outside zone coverage. They left the middle of the field open and refused to re route receivers. You can tell with injuries bowles has no faith in the secondary.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:40 pm
I never want to hear Bowels called a defensive mastermind again.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:40 pm
Absolutely disgusting
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:41 pm
Bowles is horrible. Defensive mastermind who couldn’t even slow down a mediocre falcons team…so what value does he add? It’s not game management.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:41 pm
Dean was horrible in coverage tonight
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:41 pm
I swear we have some of the dumbest fans on the planet….Bowles is missing 4 players on defense!! Kancey, Dennis, Winfield, Whitehead!!! Britt is a huge liability you can’t play man with him! There is no speed! Every coach after it was said that Dennis was out said hey attack the middle of the field…Chucky said it, BB said it…come on man.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:41 pm
If I were a Falcons fan or just a football fan in general, that would have been a wildly enjoyable Thursday night football game. Since I am a BUCS fan, it sucked and so does this defense. Gonna be a sad 10 days now. Thanks so much defense!!!
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:41 pm
I never seen so poor tackling by a team as the Bucs today, that was the main problem, and the second one, hard to understand the pathetic conservative play calling at the final driven, and the refs missed an brutal face mask on Irving.
Hard to swallow
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:42 pm
If you’re going to choke, choke “Bucs style” and do it on national
TV
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:42 pm
How about that Todd Bowels pass defense eh? Soft zone bust, everyone knew what they were gonna do and you let them do it anyway. Dean is awful. Zyon played his arse off at the end. You keep giving up 500 yards passing, you’re gonna lose. Bucs had that game and blew it. Choked. The coach choked. This one is totally on Todd.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:43 pm
This loss can be laid at the feet of Irving and Bowles. Punting instead of field goal???WTH was that all about. We were lucky it was as close as it was because Cousins was carving up out crap pass defense like a roast. I will cut the rookie some slack for the fumble but it could not have happened at a worse time. A real momentum killer.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:43 pm
we did not look stupid in overtime–we never got the ball
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:44 pm
Sends this season south. We will now lose the next 4 or 5 games. Just like last season. Bowles sucks
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:44 pm
It was a very good game. Both offenses were great, and that wore down both defenses.
With all the injuries, it could have been much worse.
In the end, the refs gave the Falcons the shot at overtime. As usual, refs help decide an outcome.
Baker is really impressing me this year.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:44 pm
You can not make a holding when you are in fg range in that situation . This is on Barton
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:44 pm
That’s y’all head coach. Atlanta Falcons career passing game record to a statue. One thing to have no pass rushers but to have no pass rush even when your team is blitz heavy damn Bowles you should be embarrassed
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:45 pm
I don’t know what to think… On our last possession I was thinking we were going to steal one despite the defense. Afterwards I feel like we definitely should have won that game. I mean you can’t give up 500 friggin yards and expect to win but on the same token I felt we made enough plays to earn the win. This one stings, but I think we get them back in a few weeks.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:45 pm
If Bowles was a good DC we wouldn’t give up 4 TDs, and 500 passing yards. If you think about it, the Lions moved the ball at will also, they just didn’t score, Atlanta did. I think the Buc offense is good enough to win a lot of games, but not with this defense. Injuries aside, dropping OLBs in coverage, soft zone is dooming this D. Braswell, YaYa, JTS, are always lost in coverage. Logan Hall looked like a 4-3 defensive end to me. His first sack was a one, on one with the RT, and he won easy. YaYa couldn’t do that all night. Hall is a 4-3 D end, not a 3-4 DT.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:46 pm
Bucs being Bucs! Defense was horrible all game long. Britt is a Hugh liability. Defense and Bowles lost this game.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:46 pm
Dean sucks and should be cut at seasons end. Does nothing to earn that massive contract.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:46 pm
I don’t blame anyone on the team. Yes, there were too many missed tackles, but it happens. No game is perfect.
By the time we play them again, Cousins will be injured.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:47 pm
Garbage loss and man, you have to wonder, if someone like Kancey was actually playing, would he have helped? Well we will never know because the dude IMHO is a worthless bust, if he cannot get on the field then he is useless as was Todd Bowel’s soft zone all night. Maybe he could have kept Vea fresh, we will never know. Dean is useless too and Britt is a turnstyle….. Bowels talks about accountability; well it will be interesting if he makes any changes. BTW, who holds Bowels accountable? Maybe the Glazers should have a chat with the head coach who can never put a game away.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:47 pm
“TombsEN Says:
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:41 pm
I swear we have some of the dumbest fans on the planet….Bowles is missing 4 players on defense!! Kancey, Dennis, Winfield, Whitehead!!! Britt is a huge liability you can’t play man with him! There is no speed! Every coach after it was said that Dennis was out said hey attack the middle of the field…Chucky said it, BB said it…come on man.”
Bowles is a career loser, a garbage coach and whenever it’s a tight game, he loses his nerve completely. That last offensive series was crap. He was trying only to run clock and pin them with a practice squad punter (that experiment should be over, btw).
This was a coaching loss. And that’s on Todd Bowles.
If he doesn’t make the post season, he should be launched.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:48 pm
Todd Bowles should openly admit he is 100% responsible for this loss and not just because our injury depleted defense got roasted in historic proportions
He is a coward compared to BA and this type of loss is something that would never happen under him
For all his experience as a player and coach he literally just goes brain dead multiple games per year
Infuriating and a needless, ugly loss
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:49 pm
Let’s blame the guy who shows up to every game pitiful
Gotta be aware. Situational football. Should have been mentioned in the huddle. –Joe
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:50 pm
Relying heavily on rookies up and down the roster is a double edged sword. Bucky and Barton at the focal point of two crucial plays under 3:00 minutes to go that painfully drew blood
Aside: sad to see our 2023 1st round pick never mentioned when talking of the missing D. Paraphrase the Tuma: Potential and glimpses of ability don’t mean much without availability.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:52 pm
“BTW, who holds Bowels accountable? Maybe the Glazers should have a chat with the head coach who can never put a game away.”
He held the punter accountable.
Meanwhile KJ Britt shat himself repeatedly all night long and he’ll probably be starting next week. JTS was his usual invisible self, I’m sure he’ll start, too.
As for Licht – this guy better be hunting down a pass rush, because right now they have none. I don’t think a LB not named Lavonte David made a meaningful play all night.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:52 pm
Bonzai, and then the ATL will carve up the secondary with a rookie QB in Penix? I am sorry but the Bucs will probably get boat-raced in the creamsicale game unless Bowels makes some marked changes to his D-scheme. They have won one blasted time wearing those junk uniforms and that was over a decade ago.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:52 pm
Back to reality. Good teams but no serious contender.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:53 pm
The great thing about being a fan at this point in my life is that I don’t stress over things like I used to.
They either address the current issues, or they don’t. If the defense doesn’t get better, Bowels will be gone. If that happens, Liam is our next head coach at the rate he is going.
And this team seems to do better with an offensive head coach.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:55 pm
Well crap, FortMyersDave…I didn’t realize we play them in orange next time.
No stress. No stress. No stress. Ugh.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:55 pm
“If that happens, Liam is our next head coach at the rate he is going.”
Hopefully they make it so. I’ll take offensive minded HC any day over a defensive HC.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:58 pm
Atlanta sucks! Last I checked were both 3-2
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:59 pm
I thought Bowles is a “Defensive Genius” .. smh !!
October 4th, 2024 at 12:00 am
Offense could have been better but they played good enough to get the W.
Defense sucked, period.
No pass rush all night…. If we had one Kirk would have thrown another pic or 2 and receiver’s wouldn’t have had all night to get open.
Britt couldn’t cover my grandmother.
We have an issue at ILB with Dennis.
Dean was charmin soft all night in coverage.
Heart breaker 🙁
October 4th, 2024 at 12:00 am
To the people who vote very confident or confident in Todd B, please identify yourself so we can make fun of you.
At least this time with Cousins, he’s too hobbled to jump around and scream “you like that?” But he did just beat the Bucs hobbling around 🤔🫣
October 4th, 2024 at 12:00 am
Bowles too predictably went conservative and put the end of the game on Defense to win despite them being gassed. If the Offense try anything beyond protecting the ball on their last drive, Bucs win.
Very disappointing loss.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:01 am
We didn’t defend the center of the field all night, and Cousins/London feasted.
You can’t get away with that in a college game.
Hopefully we get some of our injured guys back.
A few things I noticed.
1) we need a middle linebacker.
2) JTS is ineffective. This off-season- Its time to cut bait with him
3) Cody Mauch is always standing around after every play. WTF. Get involved
Dude!
4) White and Irving are both talented. Need better blocking.
5) Baker Mayfield is absolutely incredible. MVP for sure
Let’s beat the wretched Saints, plus get payback on Tyran Mathieu. Then we will be back on track. Hopefully our coaches learned from being too conservative.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:02 am
No one is really blaming Britt. He had one good play. He negated that by 2 awful penalties. He had a plethora of missed tackles. Someone has to get healthy so he can be benched.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:08 am
* With Dennis out I meant to say.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:09 am
This is a tough one to shallow and is worse than the Denver loss because that game everyone sucked. This game the stars of the Bucs shined except the defense against the pass was pure garbage. The Falcons are not a better team but their offensive coordinator is smart and attacked the middle of the field all night. The Bucs gave up so many easy completions and Cousins was throwing to wide open receivers who could even start for the Bucs. What a waste of a solid offensive performance. It looked like Bucky was on his way to the end zone but the Falcons tackler made a smart play by punching the ball out. Really hard to get over this one. The Bucs zone defense was horrible and their pass rush was horrible. Bowles had better fix this pass defense because the way it is these upcoming games vs good quarterbacks are going to tough.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:10 am
Joe that’s terrible to take a shot at David. I’m distraught as well but you’re better than that.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:15 am
One advantage the Bucs have, they will be rested and hopefully some of their injured will be back while the Saints have an MNF game. Hopefully Winfield and perhaps Goedeke but I have just about given up hope on Kancey. If Bowels said he was close, man he should have played tonight even if he was only 60%. That D looked like it was coached by Mike Smith. BTW: all the love for Jason Licht may be well deserved but his selection of high end draft picks as DL and edge rushers with the exception of Vea is about as bad as the 216 draft. Heck, at least Logan Hall got a sack tonight.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:16 am
Bucky, if L David knocked that ball down instead of making a pick, we could be celebrating a win right now with the change of field position.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:24 am
Dave, blame the offense. David did his job and gave them the ball where a first down ends it.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:25 am
509, not 440.
What is the most passing yards the Bucs ever gave up?
October 4th, 2024 at 12:26 am
If you want to point the finger you have a buffet of options. David ain’t one of them. Cmon now.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:32 am
What was the point of 3 running backfield and/ or screenplays on last possession knowing the running game is sub par and they had to get 1 1 st down to win the right to run out the clock. Not 1 possession was called where all downs were running plays, but at the end, the worst time to use their least successful option or lack of success option and history. At crucial times when it is must have situations is not a time to try a running game for every single down. Why didn’t they toss to Godwin, Evans or others- then there wouldn’t have been an overtime. What makes them think when the game is on the line that they will all of a sudden make 10 yards when they essentially haven’t been able to do it for several years on average let alone ever for 3 plays in a row? When Bucs have Godwin, Evans, and passed well earlier in the game, why did they play call belly up surrender dumb running plays, when Atlanta punched their pass plays up the Bucs mouth all game? They could have pulled it off but each coordinator is slave to stupid buc philosophy at attempting a predictable running game, even when it known not to give them go to yards such as the short downfield passing plays, or others from the fist half. It doesn’t matter who the offensive coordinator is if judgement at appropriate times is not used. It’s the lack of common sense, lack of offensive creativity that make it easy to predict where Rashad White is running. No wonder Brady left. The running game is shoved down the team, owners, fans throat because wussy conservative mindset Bowls at the worst times. The last drive was called like last years offensive coordinator, predictable, unsuccessful, shoved down your throat running plays. Why bother having Evans, Godwin, Baker if two thirds of most plays are running? That’s playing like cowards because the coaches calling the plays are cowardly and lack judgement. It’s true the buc defense isn’t like the old days and there are several injured, but the running game even when not working is causing them to lose games. It’s not a crime to pass the ball downfield. It’s not mandatory to wait till 3rd down to pass, but that last possession play calling was atrocious. The first half was enjoyable. The loss is really on the coaches. Yes there was a fumble but we had no problem getting first down for most of the game, and the first half was less conservative. But Bowles will be Bowles shoving a nonsenses running game to spite his own and everyone else’s face.
On the positive side, it is nice to see Baker play with confidence, and his running plays into end zone former weeks has been enjoyable.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:44 am
True Bucky23, David did not lose the game, I think Bowles did by going turtle.
October 4th, 2024 at 12:51 am
I wish the d-line would learn how to put their hands up if they’re not going to reach the QB. I don’t recall even 1 pass batted down. Cousins could have set up a lawn chair in the pocket and sipped on sweet tea while his receivers got open. Next game, maybe.
October 4th, 2024 at 2:59 am
Hahahhahaha and someone had the hall earlier to post about confidence polls. Hilarious.
October 4th, 2024 at 3:00 am
We will be fine. Need to get healthy. Falcons just won their SB.
October 4th, 2024 at 4:32 am
Disappointed. However, we had injuries going in on their turf. And the Falcons barely won. I thought all in all the Bucs did well. The face mask call not being made by the refs was a game changer, and then the fumble – all at the end. Not Bucky’s fault. It’s okay. We will rebound for the Saints. Go Bucs!
October 4th, 2024 at 6:38 am
it was the offensive play calling on the final drive-reminds me of Houston game last year but a loss in our division. Anyone notice how fragile our players are?
October 4th, 2024 at 8:07 am
True bucs fans huh. Always blame bowles. Sky is falling. It is one game, get over yourselves.
October 4th, 2024 at 8:26 am
Short week alot of I injuries it’s alright go bucs we got em next time
October 4th, 2024 at 10:34 am
Regardless of the fumble and ref screw ups this was actually a great game. However I disagree with the OT rules! BOTH teams should get a chance at the winning the game! Bucs should have had a shot to match the Falcon TD. This actually ruined the whole game for me as I think it was unfair end of the game.