Dominant Defense Late

September 15th, 2024

Huge game off the bench.

Let’s see that bingo card you had with the names of “Christian Izien” and “SirVocea Dennis” as fourth quarter heroes of the biggest Bucs regular season win in a while (maybe since the Bucs beat the Seahawks in Munich or Green Bay last year?), certainly the biggest in the Todd Bowles reign.

Detroit had the ball four times — four! — in the fourth quarter and the depleted Bucs defense, riddled with injuries to star players, manned up and denied Detroit. In the Lions den, of all places.

Biggest road win since the Bucs beat the Packers in the NFC title game in January 2021? Joe won’t argue with you, if you believe that.

Izien came up with a monster fourth-quarter pick of Jared Goff. He also had two passes defensed playing in place of injured Antoine Winfield.

Linebacker K.J. Britt has been off to a shaky start to the season. SirVocea Dennis came off the bench and played lights out in the fourth quarter both with key hits and bone-jarring hits.

If this Dennis isn’t careful, he’s going to win a starting job. He may have already.

Dennis had 10 tackles off the bench. That’s 10 tackles! That’s Lavonte David-like.

After the game on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Baker Mayfield fully admitted the Bucs defense bailed the offense out. Mayfield took full blame on FOX after the game for poor clock management and he said the Bucs defense saved his arse.

Props to Todd Bowles for working the chessboard on Sunday’s masterpiece.

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23 Responses to “Dominant Defense Late”

  1. firethecannons Says:

    Both of them are excellent draft pickups by Licht–one is udfa and the other is a 6th rd pick–doesn’t get better than that Bowles has a defense these kids love to play in

  2. OHBucFan Says:

    Priceless response from coach.

  3. Bucamania Says:

    Dennis should start

  4. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Dennis will from this point on will be SVD by TBBF

  5. Defense Rules Says:

    Todd Bowles deserves the game ball himself for shuffling players like he did to get the job done. Detroit held the ball for 34 minutes to our 26, and ran 83 total plays to our 47. Lions sacked Baker 5 times, to us sacking Goff 0 times. They had 463 total yards to our 216 yards; Lions had 324 passing yards to our paltry 146, and they had 139 rushing yards to our 70. Lions were 10-for-22 on 3rd/4th down conversions vs 2-for-10 for us. We punted 5 times vs their 2 punts. Lions whooped us on 1st downs 26-14. Ridiculous stats … YET WE WON.

    The 1 stat that made a huge difference IMO was turnovers … 2 takeaways (both INTs) for us vs 1 takeaway (an INT) for the Lions. Bucs’ offense only scored 1 FG off of those 2 INTs, but that ended up being the difference in the ball game (without a 4-point lead, Lions could’ve kicked a FG on that last drive to win the game).

    It was a nail-biter from start to finish, but it showed the character of this TEAM. Also showed me that you can’t afford to have even 1 weak link on the OLine. We missed Goedeke, big time.

  6. Destinjohnny Says:

    Need a legit pass rusher
    We sure played one today damn

  7. firethecannons Says:

    Defense rules well said this comment should be a post

  8. JBBUCS_06 Says:

    He!! yeah the D bailed us out today. I mean, why in the %$#*^& are we passing on 3rd down inside our 20 with a loaded left side and a big back. Let him run, force the use of the timeout and it wouldn’t have even been that close in the end.

  9. Les Says:

    Dennis needs more game time ,he was great .

  10. Destinjohnny Says:

    Dennis is the man
    Where did he come from

  11. Jw94buc Says:

    Dennis may become the next great buc linebacker. Brooks to David to Dennis

  12. adam from ny Says:

    big sir looks like an er doctor who should be rockin’ scrubs…

    but this dude can freakin’ ball !

  13. adam from ny Says:

    yeah i noted he sorta seems to be moving at a different speed out there…so this play seems totally sustainable for him

  14. Dave Pear Says:

    Todd’s best coaching performance as a head coach, ever.

    1045 words can be condensed to 9.

  15. orlbucfan Says:

    Games won with this type of score coined the phrase, a cardiac Bucs win. Mayfield was sacked 5 times? Unreal. What can you say about the Defense? Great team win. Now, crush Sean Payton next week.

  16. Rod Munch Says:

    Britt was God-awful last week. I really didn’t notice him today but he was out there early I think, no idea why.

    But glad to see Britt off the field when it matter. Dennis so far has reminded everyone of all those promising things we heard last offseason before he got hurt. Remember, because YaYa was the one having a good camp, it was Dennis that everyone was talking about.

    Hopefully he don’t see Britt out in anything other than perhaps 3rd and very short and goalline.

  17. Dave Pear Says:

    This may be a Heinous thought, but without Vita, maybe more 4-3 configs with LVD SVD and Dennis all on the field. Gaines and Brewer were solid. Nellie and Diaby at end. I know that only leaves 4 in the secondary but Dennis looks to be as good covering as a 5th DB.

    I’m sure there are good reasons to not do it. I’m too happy right now. Maybe a little in the sauce too!

  18. unbelievable Says:

    @tbbf – hate to break it to you but we’ve been calling him SVD since he was drafted.

    SVD + LVD

  19. Dave Pear Says:

    unbelievable is right on the SVD spot!

    He is Balling. Out.

  20. Austin Says:

    SVD going to take over for LVD

  21. Rod Munch Says:

    Austin Says:
    September 15th, 2024 at 9:58 pm
    SVD going to take over for LVD

    ———-

    Slow down. David is a future HOF. Dennis has played 2 good games in his entire career.

  22. Bucschamp Says:

    1st half should have 2 picks. One by whitehead and another tackle from izien but the guy who picked it up dropped it.

  23. Dwalk Says:

    2 good games in his pretty much his only games. He’s basically a rookie. Injured most last year. True lot to prove but can not ignore the tools his speed, closing, and coverage skills appear to be elite. If he w wasn’t at Pitt would have been selected much higher.

 

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