“I’m Shocked They’re Favored By 6 1/2”
December 6th, 2024
So how is the Bucs’ defense playing?
The answer depends on who you ask.
The purely pragmatic type might quickly point out that Tampa Bay allows 24.7 points per game, which ranks 25th in the NFL. That’s a scary reality considering the Bucs have high-priced/ legitimately-priced talent at every level of the defense.
That same pragmatist might also note that the Bucs ranked 7th in points allowed last season at 19.1 points per game.
Is Devin White missed that much?
The Bucs defense has been soft since the second half of the slimy Saints game on post-Hurricane weekend. The defense has been gouged outside of the cozy confines of MetLife Stadium, where the league-worst Giants rolled out their third-string quarterback.
Consider that the 49ers piled up 413 yards on the Bucs in early November and haven’t put up 300 yards in a game since.
On Sunday, the Bucs made Panthers QB Bryce Young look like a solid starter. Anyone think he’s going to look like a JV player in Philadelphia this week?
Former Bucs QB Chris Simms likes the Bucs to beat the messy Raiders at The Licht House on Sunday, but Simms told Pro Football Talk that he’s seen enough of the Bucs defense to be skeptical they can lock down anyone.
“I’m shocked they’re favored by 6 1/2,” Simms said of Tampa Bay.
“Kind of everybody moves the ball on them except the Giants with Tommy DeVito. So that’s where I was shocked.”
Simms added that he’s had respect for the Raiders defense through this season.
Joe theoretically agrees with Simms, but the Raiders (2-10) are a horrible team with lots of injuries, a team likely to fire its head coach, and a team that’s lost eight in a row.
Of course the Bucs are a touchdown favorite.
December 6th, 2024 at 9:57 am
Raiders are 2-10. If the Bucs play clean football they will win by a td at least.
December 6th, 2024 at 10:07 am
Take the over. Bowles D will give up its fair share of yardage and points this Sunday. Bucs win if the offense shows up and brings its A or B game but if Baker has one of multi-pick games or the rbs cough up the ball, well the Bucs could be 6-7 and the Glazers start putting their head coaching search into overdrive.
December 6th, 2024 at 10:29 am
Bucs should win this game, hopefully, we see a lot of Mike and Bucky
December 6th, 2024 at 10:44 am
D white is missed that much from what it looks like
December 6th, 2024 at 10:48 am
Coach’s strange loyalty to KJ Britt won’t matter now, the man can’t play. Think they will do better
December 6th, 2024 at 10:49 am
How are they going to stop Bowers? He’ll be roaming around the middle of the field all day and a complete mismatch for anyone not named Winfield. If the Raiders WR’s keep the secondary busy, then it will be tough slowing down Bowers. Maybe they are just planning to let him get his yards and stopping everything else. We will see!
December 6th, 2024 at 10:56 am
Also I’m not seeing a ton of injuries on the Raiders especially to anyone who matters. The two RB’s were never worth anything as far as production and the DT hasn’t done much of anything as well. The rest of the team is healthy and giving other teams fits. The best chance the Bucs have is Mayfield & jetlag.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:02 am
Bowers will eat us up unless Zyon is on him. Sure, the Raiders have only won two games, but the Bucs defense plays down to the competition.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:07 am
The Raiders have lost 10 games, and 7 of them they lost by double digits. The line is more about them than us.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:15 am
For me, its just outright sad to see one of the best QB’s in league prime wasted.
Baker and our offense are flat out ballin. For you youngsters, once upon a time we had one of the most feared Defenses in the league with Brooks, Lynch and Sapp. Teams were actually afraid of us. Now, we can’t stop a parked car. Its Disgusting.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:30 am
I don’t normally agree with “Bat it Down” Simms, but he’s right on point. Someone with access to the data needs to complete the thorough analysis and publish the expose’ about our “defensive masturmind” and his Cover Who defense.
Aaron Glenn had bartenders and lap dancers out there last night and played well enough to rattle Jordan Love. Because he went simple so his players could just cover a guy and then fly to the football. Man to man defense. What a concept. Todd hates it because it doesn’t require a “genius” to call it.
Just for once……naa, won’t happen.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:33 am
Yes Mike Johnson and we have our HC/DC to thank for that don’t we?
December 6th, 2024 at 11:39 am
Andy Says:
December 6th, 2024 at 10:44 am
D white is missed that much from what it looks like
^^^^^^^^
New worst comment of the year. Obviously you didn’t watch many Bucs games the last several years…Devin White was a faster KJ Britt that still couldn’t cover and consistently missed tackles.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:42 am
Devin White isn’t available, so no point in even discussing him.
December 6th, 2024 at 11:44 am
Take the Buc & give the points on this one…..still don’t trust the defense….Bucs cover. 70-63
December 6th, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Until Todd Bowles changes his defensive strategy every game will be a toss up. He makes the opponent’s QB look like TB12! The Bucs offense needs to score 30 to guarantee a W! I believe they can do that against most of their remaining opponents. The question you must answer is “Can the Buc’s defense hold their opponents under 30?”
December 6th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
@Mike Johnson. Yes, and they were on thefield the whole game. Mike Shula couldn’t get our car out of the garage.
December 6th, 2024 at 12:59 pm
It was so refreshing watching a team last night like the Lions that actually had their secondary playing man-to-man and actually challenging WRs at the LOS.
In Todd’s scheme there are literally 2 players wide open for a a guaranteed 7 yards on every play. And that’s by Todd’s design. Absolutely baffling.
December 6th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
I predict a win by at least 7.
December 6th, 2024 at 3:20 pm
Here is another nail-biter field goal win this time by the Raiders….. Geeeeezzzzzz !!!
December 6th, 2024 at 5:04 pm
Raiders are as bad as the Giants. They are playing Bucs in Tampa. Lots of tickets actually for sale at decent prices. Bucs will win this one. Defense will play a big part, injuries and all. Weather should be perfect–not recovering from a hurricane. Go Bucs!!