“We Gotta Fight For It”
December 23rd, 2024
So Baker Mayfield fumbled with two hands on the ball last night, which led to a 3rd-and-40 play.
Rachaad White also fumbled with two hands on the ball with the game on the line.
Rookie receiver Jalen McMillan (photo above) got out-battled for a gorgeous, 55-yard touchdown throw within his grasp.
Tight end Payne Durham also had the ball ripped from of his hands by the Cowboys.
Todd Bowles was still disgusted by the events this morning.
“We gotta fight for it,” Bowles said of last night’s fumbling.
“We knew they were going to rake at the ball going into the ballgame. We gotta take better care of the football. That’s priority No. 1.”
Toughness and playing smart football. Those are tied to fumbling, and the Bucs are one of the highest-fumbling teams in the league, which was not the case last season.
So many crushing fumbles. Rachaad White had a back-breaker in Week 9. Bucky Irving’s lost the Bucs a game in Atlanta.
In many seasons, it’s hard to remember very costly fumbles. This isn’t one of those seasons.
December 23rd, 2024 at 10:53 am
Does Bowles even know how to use the no huddle until it’s too late.
December 23rd, 2024 at 10:54 am
Weird season imo this team is good but turns the ball
Over so much. When there is a mistake free game I am
Shocked
December 23rd, 2024 at 10:56 am
🥱🥱🥱🥱
December 23rd, 2024 at 10:57 am
McMillan did NOT get out-battled for the ball. He POSSESSED the ball with 2 hands in his gut along with ONE arm of the defender when going to the ground…
He SURVIVED the ground WITH POSSESSION STILL MAINTAINED.
The momentum continued with both players rolling over and the ball was pulled from McMillan’s possession at the end of the roll.
There is no way in hell that is an interception.
Like I’ve been remarking on most of Joe’s posts last nite, in a worst case scenario, that was a SIMULTANEOUS catch. Even then, that goes to the wide receiver….
It was not a lack of fighting for the ball.
This was an egregious call by the Cowboy refs as a continuation of the con job they utilized against the Bucs last nite…. A TOTAL NFL fix to this game….
Nobody has a leg to stand on calling that an interception. I’ve posted the slo-mo of this catch on my Facebook and have watched it tons of times.
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:00 am
Btw Baker’s fumble on that sack happened right after the HELMET TO HELMET hit on him took place from a Dallas defender.
Surprisingly that was also NOT CALLED.
An absolute utter crap-show of officiating took place last nite….
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:02 am
BucFan i don’t disagree with you at all but that play doesn’t define the entire failure of this team as a whole for this loss. Everybody had a hand in this one.
It’s just another disappointment in a long line of disappointments against teams we should beat in the Bowles era.
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:10 am
Bucs, it’s hard to win in the NFL each week but when you have to play against the officiating as well as the other team, it’s pathetic….
It’s been like this all year for Bucs in terms of officiating….
Let me ask you, do you remember us getting a call our way for a face mask this year? I sure as hell don’t.
How many defensive face mask penalties have not been called When the Bucs offense has been out there this year?
I remember SEVERAL!!!
A couple of them were game changers as well.
It’s a freaken joke…
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:10 am
The refs have robbed the Bucs of multiple victories this year, even with the injuries, turnovers, and bad defense. If the league doesn’t see that the fix was in last night, they’re part of the problem. That was a catch by Mcmillan. There were so many holding calls not made on Dallas, an erroneous PI call when it was clearly offensive PI (just like the mystery hold in Atlanta that was a facemask). The 40yrd fumble by Baker had an obvious helmet-to-helmet hit. There were at least five blatant obvious calls last night not made against the Cowboys. The league has a problem with its refs, and it needs to be addressed. If not just add it to the laundry list of reasons why the NFL is going to start having a falling out from current fans and needs to bring in fans accross the pond for $$$$
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:15 am
Some points.
1. The Cowboys displayed some vicious tackling. Guess it might have been due to their playoff elimination a few hours earlier. I’m sure it was all necessary. But could somebody define the difference between necessary and unecessary roughness. The difference escapes me.
2. The backup (4th game?) QB had over 220 yards in the first half. Mostly a bombardment of short passes. Our team frequently shows that it doesn’t know how to defense a constant short passing game. No adjustment.
3. Mayfield played his heart out. He deserved better.
4. This team may make the playoffs. Weak last two opponents. And a weak division. But they will lose in the first round. Poor pass D.
5. Even if they make the playoffs, Bowles should be let go. Have to keep Coen, imo.
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:16 am
Totally agree Joshua!!!!!
I can recite a list of BS calls & no-calls that took place last nite….
I have several from this year that I remember that were momentum & game changers.
It’s a RIGGED league.
The NFL not getting 1 cent from me……
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:17 am
Rarely do any teams play mistake free games. Don’t like that Bowles too often deflects blame for poor overall defensive schemes, poor pass blocking schemes on a few turnovers that are usually inevitable in the course of most games. Dropped passes and interceptions get magnified by casual observers ;but, notice that Mayfield just puts his head down and moves forward past these issues. Mayfield’s mentality is always if he could just get the ball back once more, he would find a way to win. Sometimes the clock just runs out.
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:18 am
You have 3 Losing teams left on your schedule. And you choke. Anybody see any finesse..a sense of urgency….a call to arms last night? Now, watch how the falcons play with 2 games left. They will win this division. And our Bucs? We get what we deserve…a trip to the couch watching others in the playoffs.
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:21 am
The ref robbed season. Yes we can complain about the players making mistakes thats part of the game. Refs mistakes/biased calls should not decide the outcome. Plan and simple. If you take the refs bad out we have a completely different record. Way too obvious these days. Zero integrity with the shield.
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:31 am
Props to the Cowboys. They outplayed the Bucs in a fair competition.
I’m not going to sit here and blame the refs. I’m not going to blame the coaches or players. Simply put…the better team won last night.
If we do not get to the playoffs, then Bowles has to go. Is 10-7 good enough to keep him on?
I still think we can go to the Superbowl this year if things fall in line for us. If we win out and the birds lose one, we’re in, right?
#IHateTheCowgirls
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:31 am
Props to the Cowboys. They outplayed the Bucs in a fair competition.
I’m not going to sit here and blame the refs. I’m not going to blame the coaches or players. Simply put…the better team won last night.
If we do not get to the playoffs, then Bowles has to go. Is 10-7 good enough to keep him on?
I still think we can go to the Superbowl this year if things fall in line for us. If we win out and the birds lose one, we’re in, right?
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:32 am
Why don’t the Bucs “rake the ball”?
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:34 am
Mike Johnson Says:
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:18 am
“You have 3 Losing teams left on your schedule. And you choke. Anybody see any finesse..a sense of urgency….a call to arms last night? Now, watch how the falcons play with 2 games left. They will win this division. And our Bucs? We get what we deserve…a trip to the couch watching others in the playoffs.”
I think both teams played their hearts out. It was like a playoff game. Yes, certain players made mistakes (I cannot stand Shephard), but in the end, it was a very good game.
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:34 am
Mike Johnson, Falcons will NOT win at Washington Commanders house next weekend. Nooooooo wayyyyyyyy!!!!
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:36 am
Unfortunately Bucfan1988 I think it might be at this point… Roger Goodell, Vegas, just refs being fans rather than unbias as there supposed to be… IDK but it’s been really really fishy this year…
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:36 am
Well then again, let’s see if the NFL wants the refs to screw over Washington to give the Falcons the win like they’ve done to Tampa this year…
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:59 am
Stop complaining a d crying Bucs fans. I watched Bucs games n seen Bucs players helmet to helmet hits with no calls. Take your lick. Even if Bucs make the playoffs they won’t go far .. Hahaha
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:02 pm
More practice of jump balls with receivers and corners going for the ball. more practice of running backs and defense trying to take it away. Todd Bowles is not tough and our defense iss soft.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:08 pm
Can still take the division and if we do I think getting that loss out of the way might be good ,, now win 4 in a row again and get to NFC championship,,,
For those that say we can’t,,, we can beat the Lions w their D right now ,, We can beat Eagles ,, we can beat Wash,, Need to get a couple of our 9 hurt hamstrings healed and ready lol,,
We all though we could go 6-1 down the stretch ,, we just thought it would be the Chargers that beat us ,,, stay the course
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:12 pm
The NFL likes us to think that they investigate and punish cheating.
There was ‘Spygate’ and ‘Inflategate’. Players all over the league that have been fined or suspended for PED’s (sometimes for innocent cold medications).
Rules have been made, rules have been changed.
In this day and age where gambling on the outcome of games has been sanctioned by the NFL, do you think they will investigate game fixing by the refs?
Unlikely, considering the refs get their marching orders from the NFL.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:24 pm
you got to want it as a coach as well bowles. its unacceptable you held cowboys to 3 points in the second half. what the hell happened in the first half? you were outcoached.
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:35 pm
We’ve been stuck with 8,9 wins going on three seasons now with Bowles. He’s a .500 coach, don’t see it changing. Have we improved this year? Some areas yeah, others like receivers running wide open in Todd’s zone, no improvement there. Pass rush? Sorry to disappoint, no improvement there. We’ve gotten better on offense, that’s not Todd. We’ll see where we land the next two weeks. After that, it’s up to the Glazers if Todd stays, or goes.
December 23rd, 2024 at 1:08 pm
I’m disgusted with Todd’s inability to make the right decisions when needed. I’m disgusted he can’t get his team ready for games. I’m disgusted that he doesn’t take ownership of lousy coaching. And I’m disgusted with the players for being so inconsistent.
December 23rd, 2024 at 1:19 pm
This year vs Super Bowl year, we are down two pro bowl offensive lineman, two pro bowl outside linebackers, one pro bowl tight end, two pro bowl receivers.
December 23rd, 2024 at 1:59 pm
BucsFan1988, I totally agree. McMillan crossed the goal line and had possession of the ball. He was on the ground with possession. TD!!! I was screaming at the TV. I would love to hear the official’s explanation for that call. Seriously. There may be something in the NFL playbook I’m not aware of, but by everything I’ve seen and hear in in my many decades of watching football, that was a TD. And, to the Bucs fans that say that one play wouldn’t have made a difference. That one play was more than enough to give the Bucs the advantage.
Joe, I would love it if you could get someone in officiating to explain why the call went the way it did.
December 23rd, 2024 at 2:19 pm
Hodad Says:
December 23rd, 2024 at 12:35 pm
We’ve been stuck with 8,9 wins going on three seasons now with Bowles. He’s a .500 coach, don’t see it changing. Have we improved this year?
===========================
What’s your point? This team was in salary cap hell and is playing a lot of 1 and 2 year players. Basically, a very young team with a very young O line. Really remarkable what Licht has done post Brady to rebuild this team. This team isn’t talented enough on defense to compete in the playoffs. In another 1.5 years they will be a competitive playoff team. Mayfield can play another 8 -9 years and will get the team to several Super Bowls.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:10 pm
PSL Bob, I commented late last nite about this on another one of the JBF articles..
One of the Joe’s commented back and said he thought it was a catch as well.
It’s just BS egregious officiating and Bucs been dealing with crap like this ALL FREAKING YEAR!!!!
I don’t ever remember a year in which there were so many no calls on defenses that Tampa was playing as well as bad calls against Tampa…..
I can recite a ton of them to you this year.
These were game costing screw ups by the officiating crew that were assigned to these games….
Yeah, I’m not saying players on the Bucs team did not make mistakes, but to have these drastic mistakes added to them, it was more than Tampa could come back from.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:14 pm
Too many times this season the Bucs beat themselves! Priority #1 has to be protecting the ball. Despite all the turnovers the Bucs had a chance to win the game! Going forward they need to protect the ball better! Period!! They will get more wins doing that better!
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:15 pm
Last night, for some reason, Dallas wanted the win more than the Bucs!!
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:20 pm
I wud think that every questionable call shud b reviewed from face mask to fumble to any questionable ref call like many have complained about this year from way to many teams if it’s good enough in the final 2 minutes of the half it shud b thru out the game
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:30 pm
CORRECTION: Baker Mayfield was SLAM DUNKED into the turf head first and lost the ball. On any other QB in the league, that’s at least a Roughing the Passer call.
And how the hell did Zyon McCollum HOLD CeeDee Lamb with his back to him? Inquiring minds want to know.
PLUS, the rule book says dual possession favors the offense, and MacMillen had dual possession when they hit the ground IN THE END ZONE… He didn’t lose the ball til after Dallas’ player rolled away. That’s a TD, dudes.
Not to mention the ENDLESS holding and hooking around the neck by the Dallas offensive line, all night long.
No, the ref’s didn’t cost us the game. Todd’s ultra-soft zone coverage and no tackle strategy did that – allowing Dallas to score on 5 of 6 1st half possessions. But the ref’s certainly did not call a neutral game.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:57 pm
Refs weee bad but they didn’t drop balls or man the secondary.
We lost to a better team. Our offense couldn’t save us this week.
You can make a case that we could beat Detroit, they’re the Super Bowl caliber team that got hit with injuries that will expose them…kinda sounds familiar.
On to Carolina – and hoping the Falcons keep Falconing.
December 23rd, 2024 at 4:16 pm
Everyone ought to relax. That game was winnable. The fumble was just unfortunate. Just part of the game. Both Baker and Rashaad trying to extend the play with only seconds left. Have to give Cowboys credit for being the better team at home last night. Cowboys really hit hard including the tackle on Rashaad at the end.
If football is just about entertainment, there was plenty last night.
December 23rd, 2024 at 5:09 pm
Well I’m sure giving the team extra days off every single week will really help them get better at holding on to the ball…
I mean isn’t that how everyone gets better at things? By not doing them more?
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:44 pm
A team’s toughness is a reflection of the head coach. We’ve seen enough to know we’ve got Charmin ultra soft.
December 24th, 2024 at 12:03 am
And the conspiracy nonsense must stop. Macmillan is weak. That play proved it. Be a man. Do not play let the other man rip it from you. And there were enough eyes on that to know it wasn’t a catch.