The Stop Of The Game
September 15th, 2024
Clutch second quarter defense.
The game of football, maybe more so than hoops, is a lot about momentum and emotion. And all of that was evident in the second quarter in what Joe feels was the Bucs defensive stand of the game.
Even though the Bucs got off the field four times in the fourth quarter to win the game, one could argue that the game was won in the second quarter when the winds of change filled the sails of Ford Field.
The Bucs had just gone up 13-6 when Baker Mayfield hit Chris Godwin with a beautifully designed 41-yard catch and run for six.
And it appeared the Bucs defense was about to give the ball back to the offense. That is when Uncle Mo changed in favor of the Lions. Zyon McCollum defended a Jared Goff pass out of shotgun and it appeared the Lions would punt from their own 20 needing 12 yards to convert.
The keyword here is “appeared.”
Lions coach Dan Campbell is fearless and he called for a fake punt from his own 20. The pass worked. First down Detroit. The crowd was going bananas.
Later in the same drive, Detroit was looking at fourth-and-two from their own 45. David Montgomery runs for three and a first down.
Joe would have bet a case of beer the Bucs were going to get gouged for a touchdown right then and there. Those are the types of drives the Bucs have a habit of folding.
Not so fast!
There aren’t too many times you see a dangerous offense like the Lions, in their own den, convert two fourth downs on the same drive and not score.
Not today!
Perhaps the hero of the day, backup safety Christian Izien, guarding Amon-Ra St. Brown of all people, one of the best receivers in the game, prevented a third-down conversion by Detroit and this time the Lions were forced to punt from the Bucs-48.
The defense came up large and it was just a taste of what was to come in the fourth quarter.
While the defense played absolutely lights out, with the crowd roaring after the Lions converted two fourth downs, for it to battle through all that and still get off the field unscathed, that may just be the biggest defensive stand the Bucs have had through two weeks.
September 15th, 2024 at 5:22 pm
Bucs defense turned in the 3rd best red zone defense performance in almost 25 years. Lions were 1 for 7 in the red zone.
September 15th, 2024 at 5:29 pm
The Bucs D today showed the true meaning of bend, don’t break. Gave up big yards, Goff had all day to throw and the D almost had no pressure today but they still didn’t BREAK. The D should be proud they held up today. BUT…. Licht and Bowles saw first hand what a real D end can do for a team. He wrecked so many drives and it’s time for Tampa to go trade and sign for some help
September 15th, 2024 at 5:31 pm
One of many moments that cause me to say, considering all factors, best defensive performance since the SB.
September 15th, 2024 at 5:46 pm
wow i’m seeing a lot of guys on defense developing right in front of my very eyes…!
the defense is looking pretty darn good…
weird game offensively…all godwin…then some more godwin…
no mike, no otton…no screens to rb1 really…
really an odd offensive thingamajig – but a wins a win…
baker is a gutsy mofo…………..gotta love it
September 15th, 2024 at 5:48 pm
Defense turned the red zone into the dead zone. Gave up a lot of yards but not a lot of points. They played with a lot of heart. Baker did too. His rushing td was nice. That was the game winner.
September 15th, 2024 at 5:51 pm
Such a great game all around…the clock management at the end made me nervous…really nervous…but it all worked out. The Bucs seem to lose these type of games. But not today…not today.
September 15th, 2024 at 5:51 pm
It looked to me like the fake punt pissed the Bucs defense off.
September 15th, 2024 at 5:54 pm
^^^^^^^^ definitely an itchy ending…very itchy
September 15th, 2024 at 5:56 pm
The Bucs played hard. Everyone was counting them out and they persevered and won. What a game!
September 15th, 2024 at 5:58 pm
Dan Campbell is a little clueless sometimes. Why would you not go for it on 4th down on the Bucs side of the field after going for it twice on your side of the field? It was a head scratcher. Plus he goofed by not letting his QB clock the ball before the half for a FG. Our defense played really well, but without some mistakes on the Lions part, this should have been a loss. I’m happy we were able to get two takeaways which potentially kept points off the board. This game was a nail biter till the end. Sometimes you gotta win games like these and get momentum.
September 15th, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Tykee Smith is a stud!!
September 15th, 2024 at 6:08 pm
This DB room is deep!
September 15th, 2024 at 6:11 pm
If we can just get a pass rush, this defense can dominate.
September 15th, 2024 at 6:26 pm
8 looks good so far.
September 15th, 2024 at 6:43 pm
lambchop, I think “Gamblin’ Dan’s” approach will create a lot of opportunities for opponents and may eventually prevent Detroit from taking advantage of an extremely talented team and winning it all.
Sometimes, boring is best.
September 15th, 2024 at 6:49 pm
Many are forgetting that Lions terrible clock management at the end of the first half cost them 3 points and likely the game. They kick a FG late and likely get the W. Thankfully for us their fg unit ran out to the field and we had a 10 second run off. That was a Yuuuuuuuuge moment in the game!
September 15th, 2024 at 7:00 pm
Well put Dave Pear!
LFBake!!!!
September 15th, 2024 at 7:16 pm
Every player in the Bucs secondary is playing at a high level.
I don’t think I have ever seen a defense like this in my life. They got tree stumps up front. The outside LBs that can rush and cover. Their two MLBs are sideline to sideline pursuers with speed. Every player in the secondary can play both man and zone and really fly to the ball.
They don’t really need elite pure rushers because they got 4 or 5 guys that can come from anywhere on a 5 man blitz. They don’t care about getting beat on hot reads or blown coverages because they switch from zone to man at will and play it well.
They frustrated Goff with an opportunistic defense all game long and kept Detroit from breaking out until Mayfield could make a play with his legs on a crucial drive that your elite QBs get done on the road against a stout defense.
It was Buc Ball Plus. The new school addition.
This is a good football team.
September 15th, 2024 at 8:04 pm
Mac—nobody has forgotten that; expect it to be the narrative nationally on Monday morning.
The Bucs are 2-0 now when I’m in L.A. (first was Brady’s win in Foxboro); might take one for the franchise and live out here during the fall/winter if Licht will help subsidize….
I cannot wait to get home to actually hear the broadcast, instead of the one covering a predominantly Raiders/Ravens crowd at the local Chilis!
September 15th, 2024 at 8:26 pm
Baker Mayfield’s ability to avoid the rush is the best since Garcia.
September 15th, 2024 at 11:32 pm
I’ve said it multiple times but it’s worth repeating – hats off to the defense today. They gutted it out despite tons of injuries and were the reason we won today.
September 16th, 2024 at 12:31 am
Izien is s special player
September 16th, 2024 at 1:36 am
Oh baby! I couldn’t watch live but wow! Down those key players, in Detroit, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. This team looks super legit. Swarming defense. I have been super critical of Bowles but what a performance today, having his D fired up and ready to go.
Whitehead! What a player and what a huge impact he makes out there compared to Neal. Right now after 2 games, that is the move of the offseason. Joe harped all offseason how the media was overlooking that signing and potential upgrade for the D… couldn’t be more right. He was in on so many tackles and tfls, #3 was everywhere. Dennis, Izien, Smith… damn you guys. The future is blinding me. Keep the pedal down and get/stay healthy!