Defense Can Still Win Games
December 29th, 2022
Joe hears the focus on the Bucs’ plodding offense and wants to remind fans that the Tampa Bay defense is fully capable of winning a game for the team — especially against a hot-garbage quarterback like the Panthers’ Sam Darnold.
If Todd Bowles is the defensive mastermind most Bucs fans believe him to be, then Joe doesn’t see why the Panthers should put up more than 14 or 17 points on Sunday at The Licht House.
Can the Bucs make the Panthers’ one-dimensional? Well, Carolina already has arguably the worst passing offense in the league, one that ranks last in yards per attempt. (Even lower than the Bucs!)
Darnold certainly won’t represent a surprise for Bowles. He’s faced Darnold twice (both wins) and Bowles drafted and coached him with the Jets in 2018.
What about stopping the run?
Please don’t tell Joe that the Bucs don’t have enough available talent on defense to at least have a decent Sunday in run defense against Carolina. There is no reason the Bucs shouldn’t be able to hold Carolina to, say, 35 carries for 125 yards. And hopefully it’s better than that.
Heck, the Steelers held Carolina to 21 yards rushing two weeks ago! The Panthers’ run game is good but it’s hardly a Hall of Fame unit.
Joe thinks it’s time for Bowles and the defense to flex its muscles. They’ve done it before and it’s an absolute must on Sunday. Joe will wonder even more about Bowles as a head coach if there’s anything but a ferocious defensive effort on Sunday.
Yeah, the Bucs could still lose 17-16. Joe gets that the offense has been that bad and has shown little to think it will snap out of its funk.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:26 pm
But the Bucs have always made backups / no name 3rd stringers QBs look like Joe Montana
December 29th, 2022 at 1:34 pm
Who knows with this team. They couldn’t stop PJ Walker, Mitch Trubisky, Brock Purdy, or Trace McSorley (I know they won but cmon).
December 29th, 2022 at 1:36 pm
Carolinas defense can win the game too, and not have to play as well. Against the greatest QB ever! How’s that for confusing!! Yeah welcome to the bowles regime
December 29th, 2022 at 1:38 pm
I said the same thing the other day
December 29th, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Have seen nothing to make me think this Bowles Leftwich Circle Jerk Shet show won’t continue Sunday.
Go Bucs in spite of these asinine coaches.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:43 pm
I fully expect the defense to show up. Carolina knows they can’t run the ball 40 times and hope to win. They’ll need to take some shots. If the bucs offense can get to 20, I think that should be good enough. Who the hell knows. This offense is broken in more ways than one. We’ve been waiting for an offensive explosion all year. They just aren’t capable of that. If they win, it’ll be close.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:54 pm
First Game, Panthers averaged over 6 yds per carry
December 29th, 2022 at 1:58 pm
They can if it was a 30 min game.
December 29th, 2022 at 2:03 pm
First game, panthers won 21-3
Yup , 3
Foreman and Hubbard rushed for 181 yds. Averaged over 7 yds per carry.
Guess we better hope Logan Hall can shut’em down.
Riiiiiiiiight.
December 29th, 2022 at 2:15 pm
This defense proved against the Bungalos even when they’re well rested in the 1st half they come out tired in the 2nd. Borons offense will do nothing and he’s unable to make adjustments so the defense will give it up in the 2nd half probably 21 unanswered points after our initial 1st quarter field goal.
December 29th, 2022 at 2:20 pm
Defense can win games but can the offense score points they have to put up something. We will see hope they win doubt they will.
December 29th, 2022 at 2:21 pm
We winning this game and next week so I’m looking towards the playoffs!!!
December 29th, 2022 at 2:28 pm
We are just luring in the prey! Fixing to turn this offense loose!😂
December 29th, 2022 at 2:31 pm
Brilliant coaching! Would have never thought of it!
December 29th, 2022 at 2:32 pm
I wish I shared your optimism, Oneil. But hey, on any given Sunday, right? But 3,4, or even 5 Sundays in a row? Nawwww, don’t see that happening, not with this wildly inconsistent team. Is it possible? Of course. Is it probable? Not likely.
Still,
GO BUCS!!!
December 29th, 2022 at 2:52 pm
Yep Brian, I keep hoping the same thing. Are we trying to hide our real offense from everybody until the playoffs so teams can’t get film of it? The first half against the Bengals, play action, mea in motion, Brady calling audibles at the line of scrimmage, guys finally getting open. How can Leftwich and Bowles not watch that half and not cream their pants. And Bowles can’t say he doesn’t like it because it tires out his defense because the defense only played about 6 minutes of that half. Why not keep doing that offense? The only sane reason is to hide it for the playoffs. That makes Bowles and Leftwich brilliant.!!
December 29th, 2022 at 3:03 pm
Those ‘hot-garbage’ QBs seem to come alive when they play us, and have a pro bowl day, before going back to garbage status,
December 29th, 2022 at 3:10 pm
Brady has to publicly renounce witchcraft in all its forms, then things will sort themselves out. He has admitting that Giselle invoked witchcraft to help him. Now, it is pretty obvious she it doing the same to curse him.
There must be someone on the Bucs team/staff with the Christian firepower to lift the curse.
December 29th, 2022 at 3:13 pm
D-rok I think the Panthers will choke with Sam Donald and the falcons are going to lose on purpose for a good draft pick .
December 29th, 2022 at 3:26 pm
We could lose 16-5.
December 29th, 2022 at 3:27 pm
Oneil,
I certainly agree the Falcons will try to lose. If we can slow down the Panthers rushing attack, we will probably win, because you are right that Darnold will most likely choke. But, I thought the same thing about the Ravens and they destroyed us in 2nd half. So, see? There is hope! 🙂
December 29th, 2022 at 3:31 pm
I agree, Brady needs to admit to using adrenochrome administered to him during ritual performed by his ex-wife.
Then he needs to be held accountable for the FTX scandal. Or at least given the Brett Farve treatment.
December 29th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
I want them to win there’s no doubt but it seems like the panthers are more physical and want it more than the Bucs do.
December 29th, 2022 at 3:40 pm
Please joe, stop throwing shade on Darnold. He’s probably going to have his best day as a pro now. He’s the greatest QB of all time. That’s called a reverse jinx.
December 29th, 2022 at 4:52 pm
Bowels will confuse the defense enough to get them out of their run fits and telegraph his blitz packages, but at least he’ll run the same horrific offense that is worse to watch than sloths mating.
December 29th, 2022 at 9:33 pm
If Bowels sticks to his typical game plan the Bucs lose 17-6 and then need help to get the division. Chances are the ATL will play tough against them. Perhaps the best thing that can happen is like what happened to Winston in his final 2 games as a Buc: major choke job which opened the door for Brady. If the Bucs go 0-2, a distinct possibility, it might be enough to get Bowels fired along with Leftwich and the special teams coach. The Glazers might do this as they know season ticket sales will drop to the level of the Jaguars if Bowels is left as HC. They might be forced to sack the guy. But if the Bucs win the division either 8-9 or 9-8, Bowels will come back even if the Cowboys boat race them 38-6 in the wildcard round. Perhaps take the hit now, as bad as it may suck for us fans, so the rebuild can start one year earlier.