It Doesn’t Matter!
September 21st, 2021
Bucs QB Tom Brady.
No, the Bucs defense through two games hasn’t played (yet) to the level it played in the playoffs last year. But one national writer put that in perspective.
John Breech is so impressed with the Bucs offense he typed for CBS Sports that even with the defense having hiccups trying to stop the pass, it doesn’t matter.
Because the offense of the Bucs is balling out. Therefore, Breech grades the Bucs through two weeks with an “A-.”
A- Buccaneers
Five years after Super Bowl LI, Tom Brady is still terrorizing the Falcons…. … Despite Brady’s performance, this game actually got interesting in the fourth quarter after the Falcons cut the lead to three (28-25). At that point, Tampa Bay’s defense came alive with two pick-sixes by Mike Edwards over the final eight minutes of the game. The defense has definitely had a few issues through the first two weeks, but if Brady keeps playing the way he’s playing, issues aren’t going to matter.
The Bucs offense should be humming if they can keep upright and healthy salad-bar-hating, park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, helmet-tossing, football-punting, Bucs-Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
Now it’s time to work on that defense. Win or lose, the next two games should demonstrate what the Bucs need to work on for the brunt of the season.
The Rams and the Belicheats should be able to expose the cracks in the Bucs’ armor, however minor they may be.
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) September 20, 2021
September 21st, 2021 at 3:35 pm
@”The Rams and the Belicheats should be able to expose the cracks in the Bucs’ armor, however minor they may be.”
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IMO the ONLY way we can win these games, is Atlanta style. Very high scoring…
I expect no high level performers from D, because they just can’t. That’s it.
Go TB12 & O unit.
September 21st, 2021 at 3:36 pm
It hasn’t mattered yet — but it will. Fix it!
September 21st, 2021 at 3:39 pm
I feel like this is one of those games that surprises everybody and ends up being low scoring for both teams. I think this happened with a matchup in 2019 or 2020.
September 21st, 2021 at 3:44 pm
I want it fixed too,but I think the Bucs can easily beat the Rams. I don’t see them as all they are cracked up to be. We shall see.
September 21st, 2021 at 3:49 pm
Our daunted offense balling out against the Dallas & Atlanta defenses is one thing. Doing it against 2 high-powered defenses like the Rams & Patriots might be something else. Bucs’ defense has had 2 games now to get their act together. Time to put on their big-boy pants and git ‘er done. No excuses. These next 2 games will let us know what this 2021 team is REALLY made of.
September 21st, 2021 at 3:52 pm
The team will win on offense, the defense isn’t actually all that great. Said it all offseason. People think because the defense got hot in the playoffs, that was the new norm — and it’s not. This IS the defense from last year in the regular season. They were really frustrating to watch as Bowles would rarely mix things up, they didn’t get a ton of pressure without ‘exotic’ blitzes, and they’d let teams move the ball up and down the field. Take the KC regular season game for example, on that last series, needing to get off the field, on 3rd and 4 or whatever it was, they just played a soft zone and let Mahomes get an easy first down and run the clock out. The defense isn’t bad, they’re just sort of average, somewhere between 10-15.
Now, none of that stuff about the defense matters if they can turn it on the playoffs again. If they can go from a ‘meh’ defense to a great defense like they did last year, then fantastic, I’ll take it.
But the team will win by scoring more points than the other team — and that will be done on offense. If Leftwich doesn’t screw it up (and he called one of his best games ever against ATL), then this offense SHOULD break the all-time scoring record, at least in terms of passing TDs. Brady wants that last Manning record of TD passes in a season after Manning taunted him at his HOF speech. Maybe Brady goes for 60 TDs, who knows, it could be like the HR record and stay for a long time until a bunch of drug addicts break the record.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Thought this D figured it out last year but doesn’t look that way now. Devin, Dean, and Antoine are playing nowhere near their expected level.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:07 pm
TB to Natty…. “what’s you’re name again?”
Natty – Matt…
TB “IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOUR NAME IS” FRIGGIN JABRONI
September 21st, 2021 at 4:10 pm
Have u noticed the old guys are balling out. Brady , Gronk, Suh, LVD, Gholston
September 21st, 2021 at 4:22 pm
Offense – A
Defense – C-
Of course I didn’t think the defense would actually be anything special since my memory goes beyond the last 3 games in the playoffs, when the defense wasn’t anything special outside the GB game. Still, even with reduced expectations they’re still coming up short. Everyone is focusing on the corners, but what they need to focus on is the lack of pressure, and what’s happening there.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:22 pm
these two games:
pass rushing 👎
young defense players 👎
passing yard allow 👎👎
defense = mediocre (like last year)
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ST team 👍👍
O unit 👍👍👍
The 🐐 👌
I going to be enough on west coast? Let’s hope
September 21st, 2021 at 4:32 pm
I have heard several people say since Sunday, including me…as long as Brady and his offense are firing them off, it’s catch up time. You will lose in a shootout with Brady. Period. The D gave up yards but made enough plays. I think Ryan is a better QB than Stafford, though are different. I expect Kupp to get plenty of yards and for the Rams to have a big offensive day. Just not as big as the Bucs. It will be a test.
Also, this is the first time in Tom Brady’s career he is playing in L.A.
Odd.
September 21st, 2021 at 4:45 pm
I think it’s just a new stadium.
He almost had to have played in LA before
September 21st, 2021 at 5:41 pm
The offense is ahead of this time last year scoring 1 td more per game and actually the defense is where it was a well. Tho it’s giving up the booty, it is very opportunistic and making plays and making some stops. Most importantly the offense has to keep morphing to keep up with its weakness. I’m sure as the season goes on they’ll adjust.
September 21st, 2021 at 5:47 pm
This is a long season and I believe Todd Bowles is just pacing his defense. They’ll step up when they needed it the most. But for the most part, just do vanilla type defense and avoid injuries.
September 21st, 2021 at 5:53 pm
For some reason I’m leaning towards the Bucs just hammering the rams this week. I think the D will be fully ready for a statement game and the offense just can’t be stopped with all the weapons. I know their D hasn’t shown that yet, but I think that Super Bowl D wants to get even with that loss last year.
September 21st, 2021 at 6:00 pm
The Rams moved to St. Louis in 1994…..it’s entirely possible Brady hasn’t played in LA……
September 21st, 2021 at 6:09 pm
No LA NFL team from 1995-2016 or the first 3/4 of TB’s career.
September 21st, 2021 at 6:26 pm
Its a long season and I believe that Todd Bowles is just pacing his guys. Basically, a vanilla type defense most of the time unless they need to step it up a little bit to make plays to win the game.
September 21st, 2021 at 6:57 pm
So far so good 2 W s!! This team is capable of winning in many ways!! Sure it would be sweat to see them out score the Rams by 21, or see the defense produce a shutout, but I’ll take a 35 to 34 win and I will be yelling as the game clock expires!!!
Not unlike last year, some games will be won by the offense, some by the defense, some by special teams, or some sort of collaboratIon thereof. GO BUCS!!!
September 21st, 2021 at 7:22 pm
I have been a fan of Suh but I get a little bit of impression he just does not show up for 16 or 17 games in a season. I always have felt that he played better in the bigger games though. It will be interesting to see if Suh plays his good games these next two weeks.
September 21st, 2021 at 8:06 pm
Football OIf you are worried about Tampa’s defense, how would you feel with KC’s? They rank 30th and can’t stop anybody. The NFL salary cap insures that no team is without flaws.
September 21st, 2021 at 8:32 pm
Joe pointed that out in Ira’s pod. Brady didn’t even play in the Rose Bowl.
September 21st, 2021 at 11:21 pm
BA4President the bucs scored 55 pts to the rams like 45 pts in 2019 and last year i believe the score was 27-24 . Not sure i would call those defensive games
September 22nd, 2021 at 2:07 am
Not to concerned with the Patriots and their rookie QB,no way is Mac Jones gonna keep pace with Brady,, Pat’s can be run on if our RBS step it up,,can’t see Pat’s putting up more than 20 pnts
September 22nd, 2021 at 9:23 am
Not showing up for all the games. How about lazy ass D Smith.
September 22nd, 2021 at 10:20 am
People are freaking dumb if you think the only way we can win is in shootouts. We had 2:1 pass run ratio. We CAN run the ball and we did when we tried but we didn’t try enough. Running the ball wears out the opposing defense, keeps our own defense off the field and keeps them fresh, and controls the time of possession and limits the numbers of possessions for the other team. You think we need to win a shoot out? I think we need to find balance on offense.
September 23rd, 2021 at 7:53 am
For sure we need a balanced attack with running and passing.. we have been doing lretty good but also it depends on team your playing. Opposite teams cant run on us and its hard to run on some teams so passsing more is the option Our D needs to come out hard for this game hit them HARD!!!!! KEEP FORCING TURNOVERS. find a way to keep pressure on stafford THIS IS A BIG GAME MUST WIN !!!