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The aftermath: Week 18 – Tampa Bay/Atlanta

Stylez White

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ATLANTA, GA - January 08, 2023 - Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a touchdown during the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Photo By Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17, Atlanta Falcons 30 (Jan. 8)

So here the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sit at 8-9, a losing record. What if I told you they have a losing record but they’re in the playoffs, and they clinched their division in week 17 against the North Carolina Panthers? Well I am telling you – because it happened. That’s right, ladies and gents, our boys won the bad division lottery.  

They capped off the regular season by losing (an albeit inconsequential game) this week to the division rival Atlanta Falcons. It doesn’t bother me that they lost the game, but that they lost it 30-17. And it could have been a lot worse. Yes, the Bucs pulled most of their starters during the second quarter. I understand the Bucs not playing their starters and risking them getting hurt. I understand that’s the bigger picture.

As a fan, though, I feel I deserve better. I believe they should put their best foot forward, especially after the dismal season we fans endured. Watching as a fan has been rough. To see your Hall of Fame QB play mediocre football this season. To have high expectations for the return of Chris Godwin. To know Godwin complements the steady and consistent play of future Hall of Famer Mike Evans. But instead of a feast of great football, this season has felt like picking through the last few leftover wings at someone else’s tailgate party. 

The Bucs have the best one-two punch wide receivers pair in the NFL. The running backs I hoped would be good as a committee. I hoped to see the top 5 defense from last year. I assumed they’d at least be in the top 10. Lavonte David, Devin White and Shaq Barrett –  I was looking for a real treat this season. 

As a former player, though, I know the season doesn’t march in a straight line. There are coach changes, scheme changes, players that move on, people that retire, new players that come in and for whatever reason light it up (Brock Purdy). And also sometimes the chemistry is not there, people get divorced, players take off days during training camp, players come in out of shape, so on and so forth. And the most important thing that can change the equation of a team is injuries, and not just to your stars. We’ve seen how important it is to have an offensive or the lack thereof. Injuries are a part of the game and unfortunately the Bucs had their fair share. We can’t use it as an excuse, but it is a very good reason why things don’t go as expected.

As I shared with you earlier, the Bucs are in the “dance” – the playoffs. You can’t start slow, you just can’t. In this one and done atmosphere the stakes are much higher and the focus must be razor-sharp! Whatever you have in the tank left over from the 17-game season you played, you have to bring. You have play through the pain and play at a painfully high level. The pressure is huge.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have Tom Brady. The Cowboys have Dak Prescott. Advantage Bucs. That makes me feel good, as a player and as a fan. Maybe the season we hoped for starts now. 

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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