Buccaneers clinch NFC South with Week 18 win vs. Saints | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC

[@wallyG67]

Bucs defense has allowed no more than 3 points in their last five games in the second half. Raiders were held to 3, Chargers shut out, Cowboys 3 points, Panthers shut out, and the Saints were held to 3 points. The defense though not imposing does make adjustments and stops. They keep the Bucs in the game when the offense isn't clicking.

[@willcordelo3967]

awallyg67 You are correct! That is what no one seems to get! I'd like to add that, Todd is really good about putting plays and schemes that he custom designs exclusively for the team we are playing, in his back pocket that he saves only for the second half! These plays usually always give offenses all kinds of trouble!

[@wallyG67]

@@willcordelo3967 exactly, I do think he does a great job using his guys and trying to scheme with the limited talent they have right now. There was a throw where Nelson and Diaby looked to rush and then dropped back, and Rattler made a great throw on third down in a very tight window. Sometimes the players got to make the play. I do think the Bucs will need to make some changes this off season on that side of the ball, but I do not think we are as bad as people in the media make it seem.

[@willcordelo3967]

​@wallyG67 We gotta do something about the injuries. Sometimes you just can't do anything about them as it's part of the game. Other times you CAN! For instance, most don't agree with me, but I believe that helmets cause more injuries (especially concussions) than they prevent. After high school my neighborhood was in a no pads/full contact league where 12 different neighborhoods had their own team! Most of these teams stayed together for 12 or more years! No Refs! We called our own penaltys... If we couldn't agree, we replayed the down. When players don't have helmets, they can't use them as a weapon. We used nothing but arms and shoulders to tackle. We played rough, but rarely got hurt! The Bucs have WAY too many concussions and hamstring injuries especially the first half of the season! We need better trainers or more resilient players, but either way I'm tired of seeing our really good players on the sideline. I believe the talent is there, we just have to find a way to keep them on the field!!

[@MikeChatman-n1w]

Chris is absolutely right,if our defense comes out in that stupid cover 2 scheme without the right guys on the field we are in trouble 💯

[@DayUno413]

exactly!!

[@biglips1405]

Precisely, it hurts to watch

[@nerofl89]

"Our defense...cover 2..." No self respecting Buc fan would call it "cover 2" we call it by its actual name: "Tampa 2."

[@makeitallgaming8396]

It’s because of the injuries though.

[@MikeChatman-n1w]

@@nerofl89 this is not good enough to be called what Coach Kiffen intended!!

[@gregoryabat3948]

As a Bucs fan I have despised the Saints for as long as I can remember. The fact that they played Evans straight instead of stacking him up to block the record essentially reversed that opinion. Everytime we play the Saints its a battle…as it should be. They didn’t lay down on it but they played it fair. Good for them.

[@evi1ways]

THIS ISn't true. Baker came in for an injured Tyrod Taylor, down 14 to the Jets, and won the game for the Browns. Your fact-checkers are slipping.

[@soonerrick6348]

And against the raiders his first game with the Rams (after 2 days with the team!)

[@okaycool001]

And against the bengals in 2020

[@felixlara2945]

He didn't start that game so I don't think it was included in the statisticn

[@FM_Chatti]

Bucs vs Commanders, both offense balls out each game. However, whoever's defense plays the hardest wins that game.

[@RichardTavilla]

Yup

[@zaneplatt3533]

I am backing the Buccs. Better weapons, better defensive mind etc.

[@chrishendricks7362]

You can tell Florio never played football with his reaction to Evans getting his record and payday. If any player would be fine with just ending the game it would be Evans but his team decided to do it for him. Evans is in a league of his own, best receiver in the game because he has done it all. I don’t see Amon Ra pancaking Safeties.

[@OlandoWilson]

And yet the defense holds another team to 3 or less points in the second half

[@MikeChatman-n1w]

I think that our advantage is the offense, not forcing the run when you see the box is overloaded and capitalizing on turnover opportunities will get us a W despite our defensive issues.

[@jy_hawk]

Lol it is indeed great when teams care about their players

[@KidadaSmith]

We never do good on Sunday nights or Monday nights….and the just had to give us Sunday night! Omg praying we do good on Sunday!!please!! Let’s go Bucs!!!!

[@mmontes15]

The playoff game last year against the Eagles was a Monday night game.

[@gregorydavid4776]

We don’t have the edge rushers to just rush 4. That’s why we blitz so much unfortunately. Hopefully Winfield and Dean can play next week.

[@DayUno413]

lol but dude it’s even more so on the other end. we ABSOLUTELY don’t have the defensive backfield to cover. i’ll take our chances in the trenches.

[@gregorydavid4776]

@@DayUno413 we tried that vs the falcons and cousins threw for 500 yards lol. Either way it’s tough on us because of the lack of pass rush. But at least we’re back in the playoff

[@JackSchitt-p9t]

@@gregorydavid4776 Cousins threw for 500 yards because the Bucs don't cover the middle of the field well. KJ Britt got eaten up by Kyle Pitts and Drake London feasted. Cousins had two good performances this year, and they both happened against the Bucs. There is something wrong with the scheme.

[@robertwright-lg5eu]

They locked the Saints down the second half! Guess you were watching another game

[@smashin]

Yep and the reason they struggled the first half was due to the offense being 3 and out. Defense had no rest only so much they could do. The botched punt didn't help either.

[@centariogrier3255]

The problem is the Saints never should've scored 16 points in the 1st half. Back qb, rb and wrs...we should've blanked them. In the playoffs, this simply won't work. We need to play smarter defense to beat the elite offenses in the playoffs.

[@JD-jz5gu]

@@smashinThe offense scored on 2 out of 3 possessions in the first half, they didn’t go 3 and out 3 times…..

[@chefchrissell]

@@smashinwhat are you talking about? The offense only had three possessions in the first half and scored on two of them. Meanwhile the defense gave up four straight scoring drives of over ten plays a piece to a scrub QB with no talent available. The defense was awful in the first half

[@trenelson9212]

Wow they locked the garbage Saints team out. As a Saints fan this game shouldn't have been close. 😂

[@lapthanngo5609]

In Baker's first game, he came off the bench down 14-0 and led a comeback, opening beer fridges all over Ohio!

[@bangjoeofficial]

Just watch for the second half Todd Bowles adjustment. He knows how to and is willing to change things. He's a good coach and has this team competitive week in and week out. Add to that Baker absolutely putting the team on his back and everyone knows the Bucs are always in it. There are few teams in the league that put together perfect games week in and week out. Regardleds of the playoff outcomes, I trust where this thing is going.. now, a wildcard win and a hard fought divisional game will be nice too but I'm excited.

[@urekmazino6800]

Bowles needs to fix this defense by next weekend or the bucs are cooked

[@smashin]

Uhh they have 4th stringers and guys off the street in the secondary. I don't think Simms really pays attention to them. Vea does not play every snap, Kancey plays more but they don't get pass rush. They are more likely to draft a bunch of secondary guys, can't fix the injuries in a week. Winfield is going to be hurt, Whitehead out due to car accident, Dean has knee problem, Izien is out, didn't see Tykee Smith out there much, Haynes was off the street which is why he kept getting attacked.

[@JSmooth813]

I agree his defense gameplan and scheme aren’t working and second half adjust do it all and smahin listen to us man he is the weak link

[@jpmartin2312]

Bucs cooked either way

[@dustyblanco1546]

Secondary is obliterated by injuries. Idc how good your scheme/coaching is, you’re gonna give up yards through the air with practice squad guys starting

[@UnstableOne]

His defense isn't an issue. The players missing is.

[@shawnp64]

9 points in 5 games in the second half

[@cit96AdizeroVapor]

If the Saints had really tried to screw up Evans getting to 1,000 , everyone would’ve been so mad. I know that it’s a player that has been at the centre of the rivalry between the two teams, but still. I’m no Bucs fan but I was rooting for it to happen

[@Dayandcounting]

Chris Simms should play Superman father in movie one day.

[@FAMILYREX-um3tb]

BAKER MAYFIELD AKA ROCKY BALBOA ALL ❤❤❤

[@BrothaAustin]

As a Bucs fan I can promise you Jon Gruden has not forgotten how to do football

[@RichardTavilla]

Love to have him back

[@zaneplatt3533]

God no. Guy is a creep and there are plenty of football coaches out there

[@RichardTavilla]

@@BrothaAustin don’t always believe the lies. He is a great football coach and leader of men

[@codyparsons2065]

I love how Chris Simms talks all this about the bucs when he played like hotdog water for us back in the day.

[@buddysteele7624]

Florio interrupted Simms so much!!! Which is crazy because Simms is the one that should be talking the most, obviously, he’s the only knowledgeable one 🤦🏼‍♂️ and yet almost every time Simms spoke, Florio cut him off or chimed in before Simms could finish

[@miggygetright6344]

I could see the Saints selecting best available with their first rounder, then trading back into the first round to pick Milroe.

[@mmontes15]

Does anybody know the status of Winfield?

[@StacheTB]

One more point, the Bucs v Saints in the biggest division rivalry in the NFL that nobody talks about. Those teams HATE each other and there is NO SUCH THING as meaningless games when those two teams take the field together. See ya boys in the playoffs...

[@Godric_71]

Since last season, I've been saying that the Bucs defense is weak and cost us a lot of games. People in the comments would say things like "The defense is great. Baker list this game, or that game." My defense was "There are 35+ points on the board and we still lost. How is that Bakers fault?" No response.

[@Buxfan-fg8bh]

He is right the buc's capable of beating anyone but also capable of losing to anyone. They love to play down to their opponent. They overly celebrated because everyone thought it was over after bucky ran it in. Then pulling it off on the last play was amazing. Stat padding yeah maybe but whatever it was only 1 catch 5 yards. plus he missed like 3 and half games. I agree the defense plays to many on the line but shoot who is he going to throw out there? all the safeties and cb's are injured.

[@kingjalen347]

Didn't the bucs beat the absolute death out of the Commanders in week 1 and it wasn't even close

[@demeresmith7307]

It’s a completely different team then week 1

[@bstewy_434]

@@demeresmith7307And neither are the Bucs. We didn't have Bucky Irving in week 1. McMillan has also gone insane the second half of the season. Our Oline is also waaaaay better.

[@CharBar07]

Furthermore, the Commanders aren’t well during night games. I don't have their night games stats but consider that seeing its Sunday night at Tampa.

[@Beragon]

How many times has baker been behind by more than 10 points?

[@cit96AdizeroVapor]

Oh the irony if Belichick had gone to Tampa Bay 😂

[@F.S.111]

Been die hard Bucs fan for decades. To me Bowlzo is average at best as head coach and his scheme is idiotic now. D has stunk all year and it’s not mostly injuries imo. His ceiling is about .500 where he is in his head coaching career after 6 years.

[@XxsoonerbornxX]

The concern is HOW in the world was this team so low energy and lethargic in the first half of this game?

[@peterpagliaro1835]

I hate to agree with these guys ;but as a Bucs fan ,they're right! Todd Bowles coaching ,is the agony and ectacy of this Swiss cheese secondary defense.I still am scratching my head around the Dallas game; which I thought was nearly as much a "must win" as the Saints game

[@o0usf0o]

Come on Simms, it’s because the Bucs don’t have any decent edge rushers… you said it yourself, our whole secondary are backups. Todd knows we can’t give them all day to pass or they’ll pick us apart.

[@DayUno413]

IDK why Bowles is putting 6 men upfront on the line when we are LETTING TEAMS SHRED US passing. mark my words, that will come back to haunt us. 3 or MAYBE 4 man front in the playoffs or we’re done. 🏴‍☠️💥🏴‍☠️

[@marcusrudolph5961]

Man if I see vita vea drop into coverage 1 more time !!!

[@JackSchitt-p9t]

It is the dumbest thing that Todd Bowles does. Vita is a great athlete and is surprisingly good in coverage, but he is an unblockable monster when he does what he was put on earth to do.

[@marcusrudolph5961]

@ right then he puts 5 and 6 at the LOS as if we don’t have vita.. Todd is the defensive author smith

[@daveb8449]

Bowles is one of the worst coaches in the league, sadly. Choosing to go into overtime with KC when they could have won it on a 2 point conversion was the epitome of gutless.

[@MrZak-rf3vq]

Baker was hit late after he slid. That’s why he walked over the defender after the play.

[@StacheTB]

So divisional games are tougher matchups for every other team in the NFL except the Bucs? This isn't a great example of a team rising up and getting the win? It's the Bucs being inconsistent, right? The Chiefs almost lost how many times? They gave up 19 points total and shut out the second half? What more do you want????

[@thecriticallogicalthinker]

What Mike and Chris are NOT factoring is are dire circumstances to the Tampa Bay Bucs Team: 1. Losing Chris Godwin for the Season 2. Multiple Injuries to key players i.e. Antoine Winfield Jr, Cade Otton 3. Hurricanes forcing players and their families to flee Tampa Bay 4. Mike Evans going down with a Hamstring injury mid season 5. Liam Cohen thinking "Rashad White" was the answer to the run game instead of "Bucky Irving" and "Sean Tucker" that hurt the team exponentially. Bad Coaching by Cohen. 6. Players like Sterling Shepard, Payne Durham not stepping up to make big plays especially against Dallas Cowboys 7. Bucs pass and run defense is "Fair" overall, "Good" at times but not Great 8. Baker Mayfield having to rely heavily on Rookie Sensation Wide Receiver Jalen McMillan There are probably more reasons but those are enough to "Understand" why the Bucs offense and Defense were so sporadic after mid season.

[@JackSchitt-p9t]

The Bucs offense is third in the NFL in passing yards and fourth in rushing yards. It's not fair to call them sporadic. The Bucs problem all season has been defense, and maybe they win a few more close games if Godwin and Evans are healthy all season. McMillan wasn't ready to be a number 2 when Godwin went down, but now he is.

[@Brian_Boru]

Perhaps Chris can analyze his haircut next. Yeesh.

[@kalanetip]

baker should’ve be called for a personal foul?! on the qb ? get real chris

[@TheBeggies95]

GO BUCS

[@georgewashington1106]

Evans is to the Saints as Strahan is to Favre. Yes, the COULD have put 2 guys on him....

[@Washington-Dreaming]

I’m surprised Mike Florio isn’t more depressed. Maybe the Vikings whooping hadn’t hit him yet during this segment. But I “wrote” part of a Carpenter’s rip-off - “Rainy Days and Mondays” - late last week that I thought was funny. It was something about “Rainy Days and Mondays after a Vikings beat down always get me down,” something like that. So today - Monday - maybe Florio is crying in his coffee.

[@evanblythe2283]

defense has a ton of injuries, fool. Look at KC wothout starters.

[@WhiteyThePooh]

Simms hates the Bucs because they drafted him and he was a bust.. his take on their defense here is contradictory ..He is contradicting himself

[@DesertDudee]

Go Bucs

[@bc8Sooners]

It's true about Todd Bowles defense, any team with great TEs and slot WRs are going to beat the Bucs. e.g. Lion last year's playoff game. Chiefs, Ravens.

[@rebrabelyk]

The Bucs defense is suspect at best, but the team is inconsistent because they always seem to play (either up or down) to their competition...a Bowles MO. Luckily they are playing only good teams in the playoffs now so we should see them at their best.

[@bobjustice8014]

Bucs need to promote Liem tp jead coach. Demote Bowles.

[@rhevonlewis8666]

These takes are lazy and missing proper analysis. 🙄

[@theMANinc1]

Listen. Tampa has given up 9 total pts THE ENTIRE 2ND HALF FOR THE PAST 5 GAMES! What games are yall watching? The Bucs defense is just fine! Yall a bunch of losers with your loser takes. Do yall even watch football?

[@kalanetip]

who listens to these chumps

[@Washington-Dreaming]

I have been a “Baker Hater” because, well, I just want to stir up the pot. But Baker does have a strong arm. I think he launched one 70 yards in the air once on a Hail Mary. So I agreed with Tom Brady when Tom was talking about Baker throwing darts out there yesterday. But Tampa might be dangerous. (Here’s something I find incredibly ironic. The Tampa receiver got a 15-yarder for making that “rifle move” yesterday. But in Tampa they fire off a cannon during games. Um, isn’t a cannon worse than any gun? There’s some liberal logic for ya.)

[@JD-jz5gu]

“liberal logic” lol

[@vistabluegt500]

"liberal logic" is a great example of an oxymoron! Thanks for that.

[@MrMuaythai84]

TODD bowl is a DEI hire coach he sucks

[@truthblunt]

Todd Bowles worked his way up has a 3 Superbowl Championships and 4 NFC South Championships as a HC....he earned it. If you have a probably the Bucs needing a change or plays that's one thing, but to deny his work and what he earned is bullsh*t. Man has ring as a player, executive and a coach.