Tuesday, 4 a.m.
5 Thoughts
- All those fans who want Todd Bowles fired never met Richard Williamson. They’ve all forgotten Lovie Smith. They have no recollection of Ray Perkins. Leeman Bennett was before their time. And Greg Schiano was just a rumor.
2. That said, what’s the over-under on Jayden Daniels for Sunday? 400 yards passing? 100 rushing? Both?
3. Baker Mayfield can have bad halves, like Sunday. And he can have halves where he wants it more than anyone else on the field.
4. I’ve always been a huge Derrick Brooks guy, but Mike Evans is giving him a run for best-Buc ever.
5. Bowles suggested the Bucs would have been better off it Bucky Irving fell down instead of scoring the final touchdown. I disagree. I’d rather have an eight-point lead heading into a final drive than a one-pointer where a long field goal can beat you. Am I wrong?
5 Comments
(From Todd Bowles’ Tuesday press conference)
(On the decision to go for it on fourth-and-eight): "Well, we figured if we punt in, we weren't gaining anything but about 20 yards. It was fourth-and-eight and we're trying to win the division, trying to win the game. You don't want to look back and have regrets. We called time out and got a good play in. They did a heck of a job and Jalen (McMillan) made a heck of a catch. Baker made a heck of a throw."
(On what is left to be said about the Bucs' rookie class):
"They just have to keep growing mentally. They've learned a lot the first half of the season. That was really their training camp and for them to be playing situational football in the second half of the season ...says a lot about their study habits."
(On how much improvement Daniels and the Commanders have made since the Bucs played them earlier): "That was his first time starting -- the first game. They're a lot different. They're a lot better all around. We're a different team and they're a different team so it'll be a tough ballgame. He can beat you a lot of ways. From the pocket, with his legs, with his arm. They have a lot of characters around him who can really play ball."
(On the Bucs' propensity to give up more points in the second half than the first): "There's not a whole lot of adjustment's. I mean, there are things we talk about. We just play more aggressively in the second half once they see things. I don't know why that is. We keep trying to start out that way."
(On Baker Mayfield's ability to scramble and make big plays): "He's one of those quarterbacks who has that mentality that he'll do whatever it takes to win. He has a good knack for seeing where the rush is and where the pocket is open for him to run and get through. He made some big scrambles for us, especially in the second half. He was like that in college. He was like that in high school, he's like that now. He wants to win, whether he's playing street ball or he's in a playoff game."
Game Balls
Offense: Mike Evans tied a record Sunday. But he was good on all the receptions up till then.
Defense: Yaya Diaby hasn't had the year the Bucs hoped, but on Sunday he had five tackles, four of them for losses, including a sack.
Special teams: Chase McLaughlin had another perfect day.
Grades
Offense: Mayfield barely had the ball in the first half, but he was terrific in the second. Grade: A.
Running back: Bucky Irving had 89 yards and scored the winning touchdown. Grade: B+.
Offensive line: It was tough sledding for the big guys. Grade: B.
Wide receiver: Evans got the headlines, but Jalen McMillan was good, too. Grade: B+.
Defensive line: They were good in the second half. Grade: B.
Linebackers: Ditto. Grade: B.
Secondary: Punt coverage softness is not attacking football: Grade: D.
Special teams: The punting game is a catastrophe. Grade: C.
Power Rankings
- Detroit.
2. Kansas City.
3. Baltimore.
4. Buffalo.
5. Minnesota
—-
11. Tampa Bay.
Bottom 5
32. Tennessee.
31.Cleveland.
30. N.J. Giants.
29. Jacksonville.
28. Las Vegas.
Bucs’ 5 Biggest Playoff Wins
- 2002 Won Super Bowl over Raiders.
2. 2020 Won Super Bowl over Chiefs.
3. 2002 Won NFC title over Philadelphia.
4. 2020 Won NFC title over Green Bay.
5. 2020 Won Division title over New Orleans.
Bucs Quarterback Wins
- Trent Dilfer 38
2. Doug Williams 33
3. Tom Brady 32
4. Jameis Winston 28
5. Brad Johnson 26
——
9. Baker Mayfield 19
Bucs’ Coaches Wins
Coach Wins Postseason wins
- Jon Gruden 57 3
2. Tony Dungy 54 3
3. John McKay 44 2
4. Bruce Arians 31 5
5. Todd Bowles 27 1
5 for Mayfield
Passing Yards 4,500 3rd
Touchdowns 49 t-2nd
Interceptions 1 t-1st
QB Rushing Yds 378 10th
Rating* 106.8 3rd
- — Min. 100 passes
NFL Stats
Rushing Yards Bucky Irving 1,122 10th
Receiving Yards Mike Evans 1,004 23rd
Tackles Lavonte David 122 25th
Sacks Calijan Kansey 7.5 35th
Field goals Chase McLaughlin 30 9th
Bucs' Rookie Running Backs
- Doug Martin. 1,454 4.6
2. Cadillac Williams 1,178 4.1
3. Bucky Irving 1,122 5.4
4. Errict Rhett 1,011 3.6
5. LeGarrette Blount 1,007 5.0
5 Toughest Non-Division Games in ’25
- At Buffalo
2. Philadelphia
3. San Francisco
4. At Houston
5. At L.A. Rams
NFL Mock Draft
Bleacher Report LB Jalon Walker, Georgia
USA Today DL Shemar Stewart. Texas A&M
33rdteam.com LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Pro Football Focus S Malaki Starks, Georgia
Fox Sports CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
5 Greatest Bucs
- Derrick Brooks
- Mike Evans
3. Lee Roy Selmon
4. Warren Sapp
5. Ronde Barber
5 Greatest Washington Players
- Sammy Baugh
2. Darrell Green
3. John Riggins
4. Sonny Jurgenson
5. Dexter Manley
5 More Thoughts
- Yeah, 16 interceptions is too many for Mayfield. But think of it this way. Jaimes Winston started seven games, and he threw 12.
2. Nothing against Kyle Trask, but there is a word for those who are still singing his name. It's called: idiots.
3. Can Washington please bring back Dan Snyder?
4. If Bowles made his players "toe the line" like Greg Schiano, would he be more popular?
5. Jalen McMillan shouldn't have to point a weapon; he IS a weapon.