5 Thoughts
- It sure likes Tom Brady doesn't trust his protection enough to throw deep. It's a shame. When a drive takes 13 plays, there are a lot of chances for something to go wrong.
2. Do. you think if Todd Bowles saves all his timeouts, they grow into a TV special?
3. If Bowles is worried about an interception by the best quarterback in the history of the league, he's in the wrong business.
4. The Bucs lost in a lot of ways Sunday. The last drive in overtime. The last drive in regulation. The lame front four on fourth-and-10 at the 12. But don't forget that with 8:20 to play the Bucs took over at midfield. They ran three plays and punted.
5. Can we just call this season off?
5 Comments
(From Todd Bowles day-after press conference)
On why he didn't call a timeout after the first play of the Buccaneers' last drive in regulation): "It could have been an interception as well. We said if we didn't get yards on the first down, on the first play, we wouldn't call a timeout. We'd probably let the clock run and if he saw something he could throw it. But we didn't get any yards on the first play, we got one or two yards with Rachaad [White] and we were backed up. If we'd have thrown a pick and the ball would have went the other way and they had to kick the winning field goal…we felt better going into overtime so I didn't do it."
(On QB Tom Brady throwing the ball on the next play): "He threw it on second down. He saw something, he got it in there, then we called a timeout. It could have easily went the other way."
(On if the Buccaneers have a trend this season of playing conservatively on offense not to make mistakes): "I don't think we've played conservative on offense at all. You can say that in hindsight about this game, but you don't think about those things as coaches, you make the best decision possible based on everything that's been going on and you kind of go from there. We had not been moving the football, we had nine three-and-outs, so it wouldn't have been wise to try to call that one. I made it, I can live with that and I'm okay with it."
(On punting the ball after reaching Cleveland's 37-yard line in the fourth quarter): "Again, the defense was playing well. The offense wasn't playing and moving the ball as well so we tried to play to the strength of our defense and get the ball back if we can back them up."
(On the defense being unable to close out games): "It's disappointing. Obviously, we want to [play] well in two-minute on defense. We've been well in the past, we have not been good this year several times, especially in the fourth quarter. The kid (Browns TE David Njoku) made a heck of a catch, I'll give him that one right there, but we should have been in place to do things to divert that catch because we knew what was coming. And we didn't do that. We didn't do that in a couple games earlier this year. They've been playing well for three-and-a-half quarters; the other part of the quarter, we haven't been playing so well. We've got to close games out if we want to finish the season off right."
Game Balls
Offense: Chris Godwin came back too early, but he seems to be nearing his old self.
Defense: Devin White made a bonehead play on a hit out-of-bounds, but he played well. He had 13 tackles, a half-sack and a pass defense.
Special teams: The Bucs are wearing out Jake Camarda's leg. He punted nine times, but he averaged 47.2 yards per kick.
Grades
Quarterback: Tom Brady had yards, and he didn't throw an interception. But every now and then, could he throw long? Grade: C.
Offensive line: I think Myles Garrett has legal ownership of Donovan Smith. Grade: D.
Receiver: Godwin had a good night, but no one else did. Grade: D.
Defensive line: Nick Chubb got his 100 yards. Grade: D.
Linebacker: White and David combined for 21 tackles. Grade: B+.
Secondary : You've got to finish in the NFL. Grade: F.
Special teams: Camarda was good. Succop wasn't asked to do much. Grade: B.
Power Ranking
- Kansas City.
2. Philadelphia
3. Minnesota
4. Buffalo
5. Dallas
15. Tampa Bay
Bottom Five
32. Houston
31. Chicago
30. Denver
29. L.A. rams
28. Carolina
NFL Stats
Passing Yards Tom Brady 4
Rushing Yards Leonard Fournette 38
Receiving Yards Chris Godwin 11
Tackles Devin White 20
Punting Jake Camarda 11
5 More Thoughts
- If I ran the Saints, I'd tell Jameis Winston to get his arm loose. I'd turn him loose against the Bucs.
2. Jacoby Brissett, Mitch Trubisky and P.J. Walker all have beaten Tom Brady this year. It's not that special anymore.
3. I think the NFC should decline a post-season invitation for the NFC South.
4. So let me get this straight. Bruce Arians stepped aside so Todd Bowles wouldn't have to inherit a rotten team and ... wait. Never mind.
5. Here it is, almost December, and the Bucs aren't bowl-eligible yet.