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The aftermath: Week 15 – Tampa Bay/Cincinnati

Stylez White

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Photo: Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23, Cincinnati Bengals 34 (Dec. 18)

Finally, it felt like football weather! The air was crisp, but the sun came out just enough to keep us a little warm. As a football player, when you’re carrying about 10 to 12 pounds or so of equipment and pushing people large people off of you, this weather couldn’t come at a better time! It’s the perfect conditions for a 4:25 primetime game with the world watching and everything to prove against the mighty Cincinnati Bengals! What more can you ask for? A win, of course.

The Tampa Bay Bucs lead in damn near every statistical category offensively, including the one they should not have led in – turnovers. But they didn’t lead the one category that counted the most, mustering only 23 points.

Holding Joe Burrow to 183 yards should be enough to win the game. The way the corners played Sunday should have been enough to secure a victory. The way Carlton Davis Jr. and Sean Murphy Bunting were playing, you would think they were threatened to be cut/released right after the game. The defense played with heart, and the score didn’t reflect that. I saw guys flying around and trying to put the team in the best position.

It seemed after the failed fake punt debacle that things might go downhill. The sudden change of possession gave the Bengals a short field, but the defense only gave up a field goal. That’s was a win and we were still holding strong.

The offense for the first half had over 200 yards to the Bengals’ 80. The game seemed to be in the bag. All that changed in the second half came as the Bengals produced five touchdowns while the Bucs only managed one. Most of the game was played on the Bucs side of the field. There’s the 50 yard line – one side belongs to the visitor, the other side the Bucs. The majority of the second half has the Bengals in Bucs territory, which means less yards to earn for a score. Still the defense played its ass off. But they can only do so much when the offense turns the ball over four times.

Statistically the Bucs should have lost because of turnovers. It makes sense that the more you give the ball away to the opponent, the lower your chances are to win. 

Tom Brady had 30 completions on 44 throws. Here I have a hard time understanding the play calling. The Bucs were up going into the 3rd quarter, but they called pass play after pass play after pass play. Then when they were down they switched to running the ball only to have Fournette fumble the ball away during a botched exchange! Shouldn’t they be running when ahead and throwing when behind? 

The fake punt made no sense, especially when the guy who was supposed to get the ball had no idea he was supposed to get the ball!

This football team is sub-par, like their record. As athletes they have to be tired of losing with the greatest QB there is. Right now they are playing like trash. The good news is they are still number 1 in the NFC south. Next Sunday night, they have the Cardinals – and the Cardinals have a backup QB. So I am looking for the Bucs to get a win.

But I’m not holding my breath.

Former defensive end Stylez White played for the Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears and Orlando Predators. He was on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense from 2007 to 2010.

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