Bucs Fans, Mike Evans Feels Your Pain
February 12th, 2022
Mike Evans
It’s nearly three weeks since the Bucs’ repeat hopes were blown up on a Tampa night. A massive comeback to tie the game in the final minute wasn’t enough.
Joe knows how many Bucs fans can’t watch the rest of the playoffs, and perhaps tomorrow’s Super Bowl. They are still bummed. The Bucs easily could be playing.
Don’t worry, Bucs fans, Mike Evans understands. Totally.
This week Evans did an online chat for Bleacher Report and admitted he’s still pained from the Bucs coming up short.
How does it feel to know you caught TB’s last ever TD? Is that kind of surreal to say out loud or just another TD for you?
Right now it hasn’t hit me. I wish he was throwing more TDs. Maybe in time, I’ll look back and think about catching his last TD, but for right now I’m still getting over the loss.
Evans also told NBC that he “cried like a baby.” Joe sort of feels the same way.
On Championship Sunday, Joe watched the games but really couldn’t get into them. Exciting and fun games, but Joe kept watching the NFC Championship thinking the Bucs should have been playing the 49ers — at home!
And Joe is always depressed about the Super Bowl because it means no more football for a long, long, long time. At least this year the USFL will be there in the spring.
But man, what could have been. Like Evans, Joe doesn’t really care who wins tomorrow so long as the Big Storm Brewing beers are flowing and the grub is good.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:18 am
Do we have to keep reliving that last game?……I’m sure the Pakers, Bills, Chiefs, 49rs, Titans and the dreaded Eagles fans are also hurting.
Only one team gets to celebrate for a year….and that year comes to an end tomorrow with Buc fans.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:20 am
IMHO, Bowles let us down, on that play.
I will be rooting for the Bengals to win tomorrow.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:25 am
Chris. Bowles let us down most of the game. Only thing that stopped the Rams were the turnovers. Oh well players weren’t ready either.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:32 am
I’m pulling for the Bengals too, why not? Good story. And of course I’ll be watching the game. If fans only watch the game when their team was in the super bowl fans would hardly watch. The exception being Pat’s fans in the 2000s.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:39 am
I am pulling for Bowles to get a new job as lead bagger at Walmart, he’s clearly not qualified to be a DC on a championship team.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:41 am
Joe Burrow is fun to watch.
Hope Bengals pull it off – they’re almost an AFC version of the Bucs story after Brady arrived.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:45 am
Go Bandits!!!!! Can’t wait. Hopefully the USFL we resemble what the NFL used to be on the playing field. In addition, affordable tickets, parking, concessions and forgo all the political correctness and other drama associated with the Not For “much longer” Longer.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:47 am
Joe … ‘But man, what could have been.’
Chris … ‘IMHO, Bowles let us down, on that play.’
Totally agree with TBBF: ‘Do we have to keep reliving that last game?’ Instead of castigating the coach who wasn’t on the field, how about asking Mike Evans why he only caught 8 of the 16 passes he was targeted with? How about asking Gronk why he only caught 4 of the 11 passes that were thrown to him? Or maybe ask Brate why he only caught 1 of the 3 thrown to him in that game? Or maybe ask Tyler Johnson why he only hauled in 3 of 6 targets for a mere 15 yds?
Those 4 receivers (2 WRs & 2 TEs) were targeted 36 times in that game by the greatest QB ever … and hauled in a grand total of 16 of them. Yup, 2nd grade math says that’s a 44.4% catch rate in our biggest game of the season. Might be wrong, but by any standards that I know of in a playoff game, THAT SUCKS.
But ya, let’s blame the defensive coach for that piss-poor performance.
February 12th, 2022 at 11:20 am
Bowles not capable of DC for a Championship team?……well, he certainly was last year when he helped us win the Championship……his defense held one of the most powerful offenses to zero TDs.
How quickly fans turn……
Did he make a mistake…..yep…..so did the coaches for KC, Dallas, Buffalo, Tenn Green Bay & SF……FIRE THEM ALL!!!
February 12th, 2022 at 11:30 am
Bandits Time!
February 12th, 2022 at 11:30 am
Joe Bandits fan?
February 12th, 2022 at 11:39 am
Unless the Bucs are playing or it’s the draft, I don’t care about the other teams or the NFL in general. I mean, I barely watched any football outside of Buc’s games. Between the silly rules, politicization, stoppages, and constant barrage of commercials, I’ve soured on pretty much everything that doesn’t relate to our team.
February 12th, 2022 at 11:45 am
Go Bandits!!!!!
February 12th, 2022 at 11:45 am
@DR,
Good stats, as usual. I didn’t realize the drop-rate was quite that bad. Of course, I still haven’t re-watched the game, even though I normally do. This one stings too bad right now. When them tears they stop-a-flowing, perhaps I can re-watch objectively looking at all those drops. Drops, coupled with so many other mistakes makes me think from top to bottom, as a TEAM, we did not play well – and yes, coaches included. The Rams played well, we didn’t play well overall, and still, we tied the game at the end. Such an exciting yet tumultuous finish! We came up a field-goal too short. Oh well, such is the life of a fan. Onto next year.
GO BUCS!!
February 12th, 2022 at 12:10 pm
I totally agree with some of the above comments, yes that last defensive series was pathetic. But our offensive game plan was a joke. We were successful early in the game running the ball with our o lineman taking it to them putting them on their heels then we stopped. Why we didn’t leave a tight end in to block or go max protect or leave a back in is mind boggling. I feel this coaching staff is stubborn and is going to run their scheme come he’ll or high water. Special teams play was lousy also. The coaches need to take a hard look at themselves! If you can’t pass protect then run it down their throats until they stack the box then play action the crap out of them.
February 12th, 2022 at 12:31 pm
cannot imagine the Bucs let Todd Bowles off the hook for that loss that led to the premature retirement of the great Tom Brady
February 12th, 2022 at 12:32 pm
DR . All u say is true but winning a game of this magnitude often comes down to a play or two at the end. Horrible horrible horrible call by Bowles any way u want to look at it.
February 12th, 2022 at 12:53 pm
The Painful part will be the 2022 season when the fans will witness Succo Bruce’s penalty fest. Now that Brady has left, fans will have to watch how sloppy and unprepared the head coach is.
February 12th, 2022 at 12:57 pm
Tom Brady, before the Rams game:
This isn’t the week to go to the movies. This is the week to be totally locked in on the Rams, (paraphrasing)
Todd Bowles, before the Rams game:
What’s my interview schedule, when? Oh the game? Our guys know what to do, and we’re healthier than we’ve been all season. We got this.
Rams game – it’s 27-3. Bowles blitzes on almost 70% of the snaps. Cooper Kupp is running wild, uncovered.
Then Brady does his magic. Not so much blitzing. Suh turns in the defensive play of the year. Bucs score to tie the game with 42 seconds left.
Todd’s Bowels reverts to early game form, because that worked so well. Lets Cooper Kupp run wild and wide open, and the Rams cover the field in three plays and a kneel down and kick a Gay FG to win as time expires.
Bowels of Todd should be strapped to a chair with his eyelids taped open and watch Lenny score the Td to tie, and then watch his defensive calls produce the most heartbreaking loss since…..1999 Rams game. Over and over again, for the next five months. Until he gets his head coaching gig.
Oh, wait.
February 12th, 2022 at 1:17 pm
@DR- to be fair, several of those “drops” simply weren’t catchable balls. Especially a few of the ones to Evans.
But overall you are correct- the offense stunk out loud for almost 3 full quarters.
Can’t win very man games like that, especially in the playoffs. And sadly, that’s how the team played almost all season. Which is why I was so vocally adamant that they needed to get their sh!t together and put together some full 60 minute wins. Because if not, they wouldn’t make it to the big dance, and Brady would retire. And lo and behold- that’s what happened.
That said, Bowles calling 2 blitzes in a row there is simply unforgivable in that situation. That’s football basics 101. Complete hubris and arrogance on his part. And likewise, the players failed to execute with at least 4 or 5 guys not even lined up on their assignment.
Plenty of blame to go around. But let’s not pretend Bowles called a good game. We did do a little better once he started blitzing less in the 2nd half… makes no sense to go back to what was not working in the 1st half, but it is what it is. Time to move on.
February 12th, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Enjoy today, the Bucs last full day as reigning Super Bowl Champions.
February 12th, 2022 at 1:31 pm
I wasn’t going to watch the Super Bowl, but the Bengals story is too good not to. Haven’t been since ‘89? Also I drafted Ja’Marr Chase in fantasy and got clowned on then he turned out to be a top 5 WR this season so I hope he gets a ring.
Just glad Karen Rodgers was denied a ring yet again. Would not have heard the end of it had he won.
February 12th, 2022 at 1:40 pm
DR & Tampa, riddle me this Batman, the Bengals were in the same situation down 27-3, what did their DC do? Mahomes 2nd goal, rush 3 drop 8, Mahomes runs out of bounds 3 yd gain. 3rd & goal, rush 3 drop 8, no where to throw it, sack. Force FG to tie game.
Bottom line tie game, drop balls mean nothing, Rams turned the ball over 4 times, they still won in the last 26 seconds of the game.
Answer me this, Davis & Edward’s got burned on a 70yd pass to Kupp, the identical play earlier in the season with Jackson, IDENTICAL. Why weren’t the DB’s prepared for that play? IDENTICAL, the only difference was the Rams jersey.
February 12th, 2022 at 1:46 pm
If there’s a huge earthquake tomorrow during the game and California falls off into the sea and the game isn’t completed… that means the Bucs would remain regining champions!
I’m not saying I hope that happens, but I’m just saying if it happened, you know, there is a silver lining.
February 12th, 2022 at 1:52 pm
The stadium is 1/2 underground.
February 12th, 2022 at 2:01 pm
Listnfrmafar Says:
February 12th, 2022 at 1:52 pm
The stadium is 1/2 underground.
————–
I’ve seen Superman 1978 so I’m sort of an expert on California earthquakes and creating new beach-front properties. The stadium might be half underground, but it has a roof, and even if that survives, a damn, somewhere, will surely bust, and that will make it being half-underground into a huge swimming pool.
February 12th, 2022 at 2:33 pm
We’d all be better off if the People’s’ Republic of California detached and floated away. I’ve got property in Nevada that would become beachfront.
February 12th, 2022 at 3:00 pm
I will forever be grateful to Bowles for getting our defense to move forward after the meas Mike Smith left them in, but damn it I don’t hold him 100% responsible for ending our chances at a repeat.
February 12th, 2022 at 3:54 pm
Is there anybody else out there ready to talk about the draft and FA….after all, it is February…..not October….for a change.
February 12th, 2022 at 4:00 pm
I will watch the game but will find something decent to do for halftime and pre game baloney. Souper Bowl halftime shows are repugnant and disturbing.
February 12th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Nothing to watch until football comes back. Go lighting
February 12th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
@joe we Should Definitely Be playing !!! Sadly our D and Winfield got peaced out by Kupp with under a minute left 🤦🏻 Now I feel sicker because that’s the last image seeing TB12 walking off in a Bucs uniform disgusted like every other fan there. Im hoping Joey and the Killa Bs take it down and make that loss a little better
February 12th, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Rams. Can’t have better SB villains. The bad guys, from the worst, most corrupt state in the country. The LeBrons of football, constantly trying to weasel and buy themselves trophies. Matt Stafford, sports mediot darling, the new Peyton/Eli Manning annointed one. (Matt Stafford, who still hasn’t proven he isn’t the same guy who couldn’t succeed in Detroit, even with Megatron).
Call me a conspiracy realist: the officials pretty much handed the Rams 3/4 of the game vs. the Bucs. Even with all that, and 3 bad quarters, Mr. GOAT, Mr. Evans and Co. HAD IT SOLVED, and if they had won the coin toss, I am willing to bet Mr. GOAT would have done it.
Instead, we get Mr. Todd Bowles, and the two worst defensive plays in history.
Screw the Rams. GO BENGALS. Please get them.
February 12th, 2022 at 6:42 pm
Yeah- I had to let my season tickets go…our schedule is tough and no way I’m paying 4k to watch Trask learn. Or Jimmy GQ manage a gane….I can do that at home by my po for free…Go Bucs!
February 12th, 2022 at 6:42 pm
Lol – po ..pool
February 12th, 2022 at 6:46 pm
Unbelievable … ‘Plenty of blame to go around. But let’s not pretend Bowles called a good game.’
I don’t think I’ve ever pretended that Bowles didn’t share some of the blame for our defense giving up 30 pts in that Rams’ game. Is he solely responsible? In some JBFers’ eyes, obviously Yes. In mine? No, as you said ‘Plenty of blame to go around’.
I coached Little League baseball for about 15 seasons, and I always told my players (and their parents) that winning or losing never really comes down to 1 play; you win or lose based on how well you perform over the course of the full 9 innings. Losing 1-0 because your pitcher gave up a HR with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning sucks, but IMO that’s virtually never what lost the ballgame.
No, not scoring any runs during your 27 outs in that ballgame is what really sucked. All those wasted opportunities to score (and they’re always there) really sucked.
Well that’s what happened to the Bucs in that Rams’ game. We had numerous opportunities to score much earlier than we did … and we WASTED THEM. Bad throws, dropped passes, lousy play-calling, etc. Bucs had FIFTEEN drives in that game (most all season), and we wasted most of them. FOUR punts, TWO out-on-downs, ONE Interception, ONE Fumble. ONE Missed FG. To our credit we did score on FIVE of those FIFTEEN drives … 3 TDs & 2 FGs to get our 27 pts. Three pts too few; that sucks too.
For its part, the Bucs’ defense was anything but blameless, allowing the Rams to score on SIX of their FIFTEEN drives (3 TDs & 3 FGs). But to our defense’s credit, they did force FOUR Punts & FOUR Fumbles & the Rams also missed ONE FG. As they used to say in show business though … ‘Timing is everything’. Ours, oh ya, sucked.
February 12th, 2022 at 7:22 pm
DR, I coached football for 20 yrs and this did. One down to one play, the score was 0-0. Bowles gave up the walk off home run.
February 12th, 2022 at 7:29 pm
DR & Tampaxfan, my last scenario. Have either of you ever watched a professional basketball game? If so, why does one bother watching until the 4th qtr? Same with the Rams game, anything that happened prior to those 26 second meant nothing. Both teams made mistakes and the score was still 27-27, anyone’s game. That BS, I tell my kids this and that means nothing, the game came down to 26 seconds and one of the worst calls in NFL history was made. End of story.
February 12th, 2022 at 8:17 pm
Apparently Todd’s Bowels does very well in job interviews. He just doesn’t get the jobs….because while know to be a good DC, he gets distracted and believes in his hype as a blitz mastermind, which in turn loses football games. In this case an egregious blown defensive call at the most important time of the whole season.
The Bowels of Todd will never be a HC again. Glazerettes will give it to Leftwich before Bowels.
Don’t bother to cover Kupp.
Mike cries, Brady quits.
What will the fans do?
February 12th, 2022 at 8:33 pm
I’d love to ask Mike Evans what he and his offensive mates were thinking when Kupp went uncovered on those last game defining plays? Did Todd shed a tear?
February 12th, 2022 at 9:31 pm
Swampbuc, Todd and the rest of the staff will simply say that they were doing what they do, to impose their will. “You want me to back off of blitzing? I’ll SHOW you that I can make blitzing work!” Or the idea that overthinking—too much adjusting—is weakness. “Well, the 1985 Bears didn’t stop doing the 46, so why should we not do what we do?”
February 13th, 2022 at 12:46 am
Steele – spot the F on.
Aaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhh.
Defensive game plan- don’t cover Kupp. See what happens.
February 13th, 2022 at 1:39 am
Honestly, I’m tired of hearing about these New England transplants. They were hired mercenaries and they fulfilled they’re purpose. They ain’t coming back. Let it go.
February 13th, 2022 at 4:45 am
Tbbf I hate bowels for calling a blitz on that play,couldn’t wait to see him go,,but your comment is spot on,mistake was made,even if he left the best wr singled up on a suspect secondary,even though Stafford excels against the blitz,but your right,other teams coaches made mistakes also,,can’t argue with that
February 13th, 2022 at 4:48 am
oh and mdfree not all of us left,sorry to disappoint
February 13th, 2022 at 4:55 am
Mb I misunderstood mdfree,my bad