Playmakers Make Plays
November 16th, 2020
It came down to two plays.
Joe’s focus wasn’t narrowed this much but it is a very valid point made by NFL.com reporter Kevin Patra. Basically, the Bucs’ win came down to two plays in a handful of minutes that were the difference.
And those two plays came from Ronald Jones and Jason Pierre-Paul.
RoJo’s 98-yard run, the second-longest in NFL history, and JPP’s athletic pick broke the game open.
Up three points and backed up to his own 2-yard-line, Tampa running back Ronald Jones blasted up the gut, broke two tackles and outraced Panthers DBs for a 98-yard touchdown. Jones became just the fourth player in NFL history with a run of 98 yards or longer. On the next scrimmage play, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul dropped into coverage and made a fantastic interception of Teddy Bridgewater. The pick led to a field goal, and a comfortable lead Tampa wouldn’t relinquish.
Joe honestly doesn’t know where this defense would be without JPP. He is that valuable, both his play and his attitude.
Playmakers make plays. And that broke open the game for the Bucs yesterday.
November 16th, 2020 at 10:39 am
those 2 plays were huge…
brady missed AB, mike and Gronk for TDs but we were still able to get grindin….
great win!!!
on to the rams….
GO BUCS!!!!!
November 16th, 2020 at 10:47 am
I’m still digesting the fact that the Bucs never punted. Not once. Has that ever happened before? Happy to see Pinion wearing out his leg on kickoffs.
JPP is so great. Love that dude.
November 16th, 2020 at 10:47 am
What’s with the Brady overthrows?……Trying to show he can throw as long as JW?
November 16th, 2020 at 10:49 am
TBBF, But… I thought he had a noodle arm?!
November 16th, 2020 at 10:51 am
That was for Anthem, Of course (who disappeared completely on the game thread once the game was well in control like the keyboard coward he is), and the other trolls.
November 16th, 2020 at 10:54 am
Been wondering why lavonte has been so quiet in last couple of games. It’s possible teams are just that aware of him and are scheming to try and make sure to take care of him?
November 16th, 2020 at 10:55 am
TBBF – On the occasional errant throw: I think the wind gusts had something to do with that.
November 16th, 2020 at 10:57 am
I agree about JPP with the pick. But earlier in the game when I saw Bowles have Gholston drop into coverage I almost lost my sh!t. He gave up a big play.
Works sometimes, not others I guess.
November 16th, 2020 at 10:59 am
JPP is the man. 8 finger INT! lol
November 16th, 2020 at 11:01 am
Man I tell you what. The Bucs Still get no respect!
I just watched Sportscenter and would you believe that Rojo’s 98 yard run wasn’t even in the top 10!?!?!?
They had womens soccer plays though
November 16th, 2020 at 11:02 am
Most NFL analysts will tell you, because of the parity in the NFL, most games come down to one or two key plays. ROJO doesn’t make that run and the Panthers hold the Bucs to a 3 and out (hypothetically) and they would have had excellent field position. JPP gets the turnover at the Panthers end of the field and all of a sudden we’re in kill mode. It does seem that once the Bucs get a 2 score lead they are able to really lay the pedal down. Same thing happened in the Packers games.
November 16th, 2020 at 11:08 am
Why?
November 16th, 2020 at 11:10 am
Love the title Joe … ‘Playmakers Make Plays’. RoJo certainly stepped up to the plate yesterday & ignited this team. That undoubtedly got the Panthers’ defense reeling, and JPP added the exclamation point with his INT. After those 2 critical plays, the Bucs were clearly in charge & never let the Panthers get back into it.
Seems eerily similar to what the Saints did to us in the 2nd qtr of their 38-3 win against us. And that IMO is what championship teams do: they take command & then slam the door shut. Bucs did that nicely yesterday. After RoJo’s romp, Panthers did score 1 more TD in the 4th qtr to bring the score to 32-23, but our defense stood tall & prevented their 2-point conversion (that would’ve brought them within 1 TD BTW). Then after that the Bucs offense took charge & scored 2 more TDs. All the Panthers could do was watch as the score went from 32-23 to 46-23 in the last 7 mins of the game.
Another article mentioned this, but I think another key story of the game was our 3rd & 4th down conversions. Bucs were 11 for 17 on those conversions, compared to the Panthers going 2 for 12. Obviously made a huge difference in the TOP: 36 mins Bucs to 24 mins Panthers. That’s taking command of the game IMO.
November 16th, 2020 at 11:30 am
“After those 2 critical plays, the Bucs were clearly in charge & never let the Panthers get back into it.”
And while we’re not quite there yet I believe this team has made a quantum leap forward in terms of finishing. They are pretty good at putting the foot on the throat like yesterday.
Overall it’s just a freaking great time to be a Buc’s fan!!!!
And we can still keep our old habits…wait until next year. Shoot for an SB and believe that we can still improve this off season.
It’s 80’s hit time…”The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades.”
November 16th, 2020 at 11:44 am
JPP’s impact reminds me a lot of Hardy Nickerson’s back in the day… great player who taught everyone how to win, and brought strong leadership that helped kill the losing culture.
November 16th, 2020 at 12:02 pm
Creamsickle
Because of joining us later in his career…in his prime…and because I first thought of all the sacks and the chance to lift this team to a SB I thought of Simeon Rice.
But Sim joined a veteran team and he was from a different planet to be a true leader…just a very effective and “entertaining” pass rusher.
I think you’re closer Creamsickle. JPP means more than just his athletic plays.
He’s brought an “attitude” change to this defense and he is like Hardy in that sense for sure.
November 16th, 2020 at 12:23 pm
Bucs still need to improve their redzone game. Got there eight times and came away with four TDs and three field goals.
RoJo is getting there, but he still needs someone to open an initial hole for him. That is part of the redzone problem.
I feel better about how our team is coached, Haeg improved immensely in just a week, so I have hope they can get up to 60 or better percent of TDs in that redzone.
November 16th, 2020 at 12:27 pm
Its funny hearing all the announcers call Jones a power back, and we always thought of him as a speed back.
November 16th, 2020 at 3:13 pm
View from 132 Says:
April 3rd, 2020 at 10:12 am
Don’t sleep on RoJo.
Joe Says:
April 3rd, 2020 at 10:20 am
Don’t sleep on RoJo.
Why? Has he suddenly given fans a reason to stay awake that Joe is missing?
Geno711 answers affirmatively Rojo certainly has given us reasons. 3rd in NFL in rushing and tied for 2nd longest run in the history of the NFL.
Kudos to View from 132!
November 16th, 2020 at 3:48 pm
JPP has been huge for this team since his arrival. Prob the most important player on defense, along with Lavonte David.
But I wouldn’t call that pick incredible, personally. It was an awful throw from Bridgewater, there wasn’t a Panther anywhere in sight. Good on JPP for being in the right spot at the right time, but it was the poor throw that resulted in the INT. And yes we can give credit to the Bucs defense for forcing the poor throw…