The aftermath: Week 9 – Tampa Bay/Los Angeles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16, Los Angeles Rams 13 (Nov. 6)

The Bucs win!

Funny, it really doesn’t feel like it. Luckily the division is as soft as it gets with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints and rounding it out – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So you’re saying there’s a chance? Yes, the Bucs have a chance.

If you watched the game, you saw some poor football. Then at the end you saw greatness. Brady threw the ball 58 times. 58 times, people!! This wasn’t a shoot-out, this was a 13-16 score game. I understand a win is a win. I am here for it, but can they sustain this type of football play? I am going to go with a negative! So let’s chat for a minute.

The offensive line is the worst right now. The run game is beneath the bottom of the NFL and the defense has a lot of work to do! I mean a lot of work. I will give the defense some slack. They held the Rams to 13 points. This game could have gotten out of hand quickly. Vita Vea came to play! We are going to need him to show up every week. We need the whole team to show up every week. The defense hasn’t been consistent at tackling well. The 3rd down conversions were 4-15, and the Tampa Bay Bucs defense held the Rams to nine first downs, when the Bucs offense had 18 first downs. 

The Bucs offense played fair with 18 first downs, but when it’s all said and done, the plan is to score. They only scored 16 and were quiet most of the game.

When playing in a must-win game like this – well let’s just say at this point damn near every game is a must-win – these NFC conference games are intense. Honestly, at this point every game they play is extremely important, but even more critical as we get into the November and December part of the season. This is the time to put your team in position for a playoff spot moving forward. We’re halfway through the season and the playoff window gets smaller and smaller.

In 2007 we went to the playoffs and we won the division. So that means at least one home field game. My people, you should know in almost any situation being home is a good idea. It just gives you a better chance to win. We did everything we could, from the defense clicking at the right time and getting turnovers, to the offense playing smart football and rarely turning the ball over.

Back then it was 16 games and the year was long. I can only imagine 17 games. However, it was done and we “clicked” at the right time. Even then as the season progressed, the room for error became less and less. Unfortunately while we made it to the playoff game, we got our asses kicked by the future Super Bowl champs, the New York Giants. We still made it to the playoffs – and if the Bucs don’t get it together soon then they might not be in the race to compete for a spot.

I wonder as I watch the Bucs games this year, seeing Tom Brady setting records, some good and some not so good, is it worth it? Does it take away from the team? Does it take away from the game plan that lacks the creativity to allow Leonard Fournette, the starting running back, to flourish – or Raccad White to take over as the starting running back? I see flashes of Raccad making plays and delivering where Fournette isn’t. Does it allow Bryon Leftwich to stand up and come up with more aggressive run or pass plays that allow this offense, with these vast weapons, to be successful?

All I know is that right now Tom Brady looked like a legend at the end of the Rams game. Yes, they won. Barely. I cannot argue that; not many (if any) can argue Brady’s greatness. I just want to put it out there that sometimes I would like to hear how the team won, not how well Brady did.

I would like to see Brady leave a hero, because I don’t want him to be around long enough to become the villain. Let that simmer in your spirit.

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.