**** Official Tampa Bay Buccaneers Thread ****

[danbuc]

Ughh I'm torn on my thoughts of the game..on one hand Im glad they finally won a playoff game for the first time since SB37. I do not care what anyone says; Brady is the one who has single handily turned the tide of this franchise no question about it. I am worried about this Defense though. We literally had zero pass rush for most of the game and the secondary is just awful not sure if the players not in right positions or Bowles play calling..its embarrassing that Heinekin basically got a million dollar contract for that performance..I mean props to him but he made us look like garbage. Hopefully Devin White coming back will make the difference. We need a Packers game like performance to win Sunday! Just to me seems like this defense just does not seem pumped up to play sometimes makes no sense, You haven't been in the postseason ever or the most part and they just seem like meh to be out there! Anyways I was happy with the O line play basically played perfect game except Kappa's replacement Larson looked lost but hopefully gets lot of work this week because Kappa is done for the year. Hopefully a good sign that the Offense moved the ball pretty well against the "football teams" very good defense although need to score TD's on the Saints in the Red zone. Can't keep kicking FG against the Saints and win..LFG!!!

[rippedandforty]

bucs +3...........Seems like free money for Saints bettors.......in that case I like our chances.

[Tyler2106]

bucs +3...........Seems like free money for Saints bettors.......in that case I like our chances.

3 point spread is basically saying it's a toss up game, but favor goes to the home team.

I think it'll be a good game. If the Bucs can protect Brady and the defense doesn't get shredded by Brees we'll have a great chance to win.

[Tyler2106]

WE won!
WE did it!
WE beat the Saints!
WE are moving on!

[GarthVader]

WE won!
WE did it!
WE beat the Saints!
WE are moving on!

I see what WE did there.

Proud to be a BUCS fan!

[Tyler2106]

I see what WE did there.

Proud to be a BUCS fan!

Yeah, bro. After years of struggling, it finally feels good that we could play well enough to get us to the NFC Championship. It's been a rough 18 years for us.

[rippedandforty]

Feelsgoodman

Feels Fooking Real Good

Thanks for the memories Tommy

[Tyler2106]

Great win last night. Going into the game I thought one area needed to play above expectations to have a chance to win. Luckily, that happened and the defense stepped up big time.

Bowles did a great job of adjusting the defense to put them in a position to make plays. It was a little concerning how we were giving up so much on the ground. Over the last few weeks, we haven't done a great job stopping the run like we did all season. Against the Packers, if they're able to run the ball well, Rodgers is going to kill them on play action passes. I think the reason that the defense was able to play well is the lack of ability for Brees to push the ball down the field. Bowles adjusted early on and we put 2 safeties over the top and forced them into dink and dunk type throws. Most times we had 9 guys around the line of scrimmage. The one time they threw it deep, we decided to not cover the WR for a 56 yard TD pass.

Special teams (punt team) was terrible. Back to back punts with terrible coverage and we were lucky to have the TD called back. I don't know how you can have such failure on a punt return, but that needs to get cleaned up.

Offensively, we played about as well as I thought we would. Lattimore did a great job shutting down Evans. The offense just isn't the same when Evans doesn't get involved. I don't know what happened to AB. 1 catch...was he injured? Godwin with another drop that would have made a big difference. It was a tough catch, but catchable. One of the underrated offensive talent is Brate. When we need a 1st down or big play, it seems like he's been one to make them. Huge catch by Tyler Johnson on the back shoulder catch. Incredible catch and momentum booster. The run game was great last night and took a lot of pressure off Brady IMO. 125 yards between Rojo and Fournette with one big 40 yard run called back from Rojo. We'll need that kind of production next week as well.

Overall, it might not have looked like the most convincing win, but we adjusted and did what we needed to win. The team stepped up more than I thought we could / would which was great.

Green Bay isn't going to be as easy. The Packer homers will say all that Rodgers has is Adams and Jones, but they have playmakers that can beat you. The defense is going to get tested big time. Jones is a great runner and Rodgers can push the ball down field so easily. I'd like to see Bowles take away Adams like Belichick does against elite WRs. Make GB beat us with someone other than Adams.

What a story it would be if the Bucs make it to the Super Bowl.

[Tyler2106]

AB getting MRI on knee. That's why he was used so sparingly last night.

[Tyler2106]

Vita Vea is designated to return and has a good chance of playing this week. Apparently one of the best run stoppers and will help big time. I think the Packers have a missing lineman this week, so reports are this would be a big addition for the Bucs line.

[Cudabrah]

Getting Vea back would be huge. He definitely helps the overall performance of the D-Line.

[rippedandforty]

Looking like snow Saturday night and into Sunday. Bucs +4.....Looks like Vegas is begging bettors to take the Pack. If so, I like our chances yet again

[Tyler2106]

Looking like snow Saturday night and into Sunday. Bucs +4.....Looks like Vegas is begging bettors to take the Pack. If so, I like our chances yet again

I'm pumped for the game. The defense makes me nervous though. They played great against the Saints, but the Saints were extremely one dimensional which made it easy to game plan against. Rodgers isn't limited and can make any throw. Adams has proven he can't be guarded. Yes, we played them tough in the regular season, but at this point in the season, regular season doesn't matter.

Biggest thing is Leftwich needs to call a good game and Bowles needs a way to take away Adams. Make GB beat us with players not name Adams or Jones.

[Tyler2106]

Antonio Brown ruled out this week.

[danbuc]

Antonio Brown ruled out this week.

Its all good..rest him for SB!!

[rippedandforty]

Antonio Brown ruled out this week.

Tyler Johnson is going to have a breakout game. We stole him with a 5th round pick.

[Tyler2106]

Tyler Johnson is going to have a breakout game. We stole him with a 5th round pick.

His catch last week was incredible. He seemed to have always made big catches when he's seen the field this season.

Bucs needs to get Evans the ball. When he's involved, the offense is so much better.
Godwin needs to get his drops under the control.
Brady looked to Gronk multiple times last week, but didn't come up with too much. I think he'll have a big game.
Johnson and Miller are going to come up with some big catches today.

[rippedandforty]

Mike Evans

[JBhaverhill]

Love how quiet the stadium gets whenever bucs make a play. Lol every time.

[rippedandforty]

Nothing pretty about it but we are winning. Hopefully 2 weeks off will help some guys nurse their injuries. It will take everyone healthy and a flawless game to have a chance vs KC. Go Bucs

[Tyler2106]

Nothing pretty about it but we are winning. Hopefully 2 weeks off will help some guys nurse their injuries. It will take everyone healthy and a flawless game to have a chance vs KC. Go Bucs

Need to get our safeties healthy and ready to go. When we lost Whitehead it seemed we started to struggle making stops. Winfield is a playmaker. With Mahomes, Hill and Kelce we have to be full strength and Bowles has to call a great game.

Also, I hope they figure out how to get back on track offensively. Played great in the 1st half, but connections were lost in the 2nd.

[Thai_Clinch]

Tampa. City of champions. feelsgoodman

[Tyler2106]

Going to be a tough game. Hopefully the next two weeks everyone can get healthy. Losing both Whiteside and Winfield were tough last week. We've managed to overcome not having AB, but based on how Evans and Godwin disappeared in the 2nd half, AB's experience is going to be good. I haven't heard anything about his status, but have to imagine he'll be good to go.

Offensively, as long as the line protects Brady, I'm not too worried. Defensive side of the ball is where it gets tricky. Mahomes and Co are so good and score so fast. We played them tough earlier in the season, but still scary. Hopefully Bowles comes up with a good game plan.

[rippedandforty]

Bucs +3.5. Worth a money line wager.

[Tyler2106]

Bucs +3.5. Worth a money line wager.

I don't know how they're factoring in home field advantage, but generally home team gets 3 points. Not sure I could confidently make a bet for either team. It'll be too stressful as is, don't need money riding on the game lol

Also, it's being reported that AB will be ready to play for the Super Bowl.

[rippedandforty]

I don't know how they're factoring in home field advantage, but generally home team gets 3 points. Not sure I could confidently make a bet for either team. It'll be too stressful as is, don't need money riding on the game lol

Also, it's being reported that AB will be ready to play for the Super Bowl.

as is Bell for the Chiefs. Pitt and NE will be watching this game thinking of "what if" ....poor fellas

[thedarrenestes]

I don't know how they're factoring in home field advantage

What's Tampa gonna with the cannon ship? It gonna be muted? Fired on every score for KC and TB?

[danbuc]

What's Tampa gonna with the cannon ship? It gonna be muted? Fired on every score for KC and TB?

I believe the last SB here was Steelers Cards game and I don't believe they fired them at all but that was forever ago. I don't see why they wouldn't for the Bucs since they are the "home team"

[Tyler2106]

I believe the last SB here was Steelers Cards game and I don't believe they fired them at all but that was forever ago. I don't see why they wouldn't for the Bucs since they are the "home team"

This hasn't happened before, so who knows. My guess would be they're treating it like a "neutral" site that the Bucs just so happen to call their home stadium.

Bucs going with the white jerseys. I bet that was Brady's doing. Patriots always wanted to wear white in the Super Bowl because the team wearing the white jerseys win more.

[JBhaverhill]