It’s time for Scott Reynolds’ 2-Point Conversion postgame column, which features two statements, two questions and two predictions based on the latest Bucs game.

Tampa Bay fell to 10-4 on the season after a stunningly bad, 9-0 loss to New Orleans on Sunday Night Football. There was a “Red Out” at Ray-Jay, but most Bucs fans were red-faced with anger after not witnessing their team win the NFC South title. Even worse, the Bucs lost three starters on offense and linebacker Lavonte David to injuries in the game. The ailing Bucs can win the division next Sunday at Carolina. But they’ll need help from wide receiver Antonio Brown, who returns from his suspension.

2 BIG STATEMENTS

STATEMENT 1: AB To The Rescue For Ailing Bucs?

For all of those who wanted the Bucs to cut wide receiver Antonio Brown due to falsifying his vaccination status – sorry. It ain’t happening.

Nor was it ever going to happen.

There was no way the Bucs were going to part ways with Brown. And if you were a Tampa Bay fan who thought that was going to happen, you’re mistaken.

Brown served his time. The NFL imposed a three-game suspension for Brown and safety Mike Edwards and the Bucs clearly thought that was enough punishment.

“Yeah, it’s in the best interest of our football team,” Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said. “Both of those guys have served their time and we’ll welcome them back.”

Bucs WR Antonio Brown – Photo by: USA Today

Brown is nothing more than a mercenary in red and pewter. He’s a hired gun. He was brought to Tampa Bay to catch passes and win games. Nothing more, nothing less.

Brown wasn’t signed for his impeccable character or his team-first attitude. He wasn’t expected to start a foundation or be a pillar in the community. The Bucs have plenty of those guys – starting with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

But now Evans might not be starting for awhile due to a hamstring injury and Godwin is out for the year with a torn ACL. Both receivers were lost in the first half of Tampa Bay’s 9-0 embarrassing loss to New Orleans. In steps Brown, fresh off his suspension.

Now it’s AB to the rescue. The Bucs need Brown now more than ever.

The truth is, the Bucs could have used Brown on Sunday night. He is the only Bucs receiver with the speed, quickness and elite ability to separate and create on his own. Tampa Bay’s receivers struggled to get open against New Orleans.

Without Godwin and Evans, Brown is reinserted into the lineup. He’ll be Tom Brady’s favorite target – starting this Sunday at Carolina. Breshad Perriman, who missed the Saints game due to a positive COVID test, will be back and start opposite Brown outside. Tyler Johnson will fill in for Godwin in the slot.

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians must think it’s 2019 all over again as Evans, Godwin and Scotty Miller were all hamstrung and ended the regular season on injured reserve that year. The biggest difference is that the Bucs have 10 wins now rather than the seven they had in 2019.

And Tampa Bay also has Brown, which is huge considering he’s hauled in 29 catches for 418 yards (14.4 avg.) and four touchdowns. Brown did all that in five games, before a sprained ankle and a suspension cost him the last nine games. Brown will need to quickly shake off any rust during practice this week.

If you wanted Brown gone last week, I have a funny feeling you’re going to be rooting for him the day after Christmas. Brown was signed as an insurance policy at midseason last year, and re-signed for that same reason in the offseason. Now the Bucs will need to cash in on that policy. They’ll have Brown ready for a 100-yard game and a trip to the end zone on Sunday in Carolina.

STATEMENT 2: Bucs’ Young Weapons Are Quite Dull

The Bucs were embarrassed by the Saints, losing 9-0, on Sunday Night Football. Tampa Bay was swept by New Orleans for a third straight time in the regular season. Not only were the Bucs beaten by the Saints, they were beaten up.

Tampa Bay lost Godwin for the rest of the season with a torn ACL, followed by Evans pulling a hamstring in the first half. In the second half, running back Leonard Fournette was also lost due to a hamstring injury. Don’t count on Evans and Fournette playing next week in Carolina.

And don’t count on any of the Bucs’ young weapons to play well next week in Carolina, either. Tampa Bay’s young weapons were quite dull against New Orleans.

Bucs WR Tyler Johnson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I was hoping [the young guys] would step it up a little bit more with the receivers,” Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said. “Overall, we just dropped too many balls too when we did have some guys open. [The Saints] did a good job. They played that hard man-to-man and we didn’t do a good job of getting open.”

What have we seen from reserve receiver Tyler Johnson is that he’s not fast enough to create separation often enough. Nor is he fast enough to produce meaningful yards after the catch. Johnson has a pedestrian 27 catches for 288 yards (10.7 avg.) this year, and is at best a No. 4 receiver moving forward. Nothing more.

Scotty Miller has fallen out of favor with the Bucs coaching staff due to his limitations. He’s viewed almost exclusively as a vertical threat. This was a golden opportunity for Miller to state his case for more playing time. But Miller, like Johnson, struggled to get open in man coverage and finished with an underwhelming two catches for 18 yards. He doesn’t seem to have a future in Tampa Bay past his rookie deal.

I don’t know what to make of rookie Jaelon Darden. He was targeted three times and finished with zero catches. He’s not big enough nor fast enough to separate deep, and he struggles with his route running. This season has been a huge leap from North Texas to the NFL for Darden, especially as a receiver.

As a return specialist he’s also been unimpressive – unless you’re satisfied with a 5.9-yard punt return average and a 16.5-yard kick return average, which Darden had against New Orleans. I don’t see the fascination with Darden. I wouldn’t think he’s a lock to make the roster in 2022, especially as a Day 3 pick.

In fact, Darden, Johnson and Miller could all be replaced next year. Whether or not the Bucs decide to re-sign Antonio Brown or Breshad Perriman, Bucs general manager Jason Licht needs to draft another starting-caliber wide receiver to eventually become the No. 3 in Tampa Bay when Brown departs. I don’t see Johnson, Miller or Darden having the necessary skill to ever elevate to that role.

2 PROBING QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: Is Vaughn Even An NFL Running Back?

Yes, second-year running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn has shown some promise – as a gunner. But as someone who was drafted in the third round to run and catch the ball and develop into possibly a No. 2 running back to share carries? No, Vaughn has fallen well short of that.

Speaking of fallen – well, falling – Vaughn spontaneously combusted when trying to turn around and catch a pass from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter. He tripped and wound up on his butt during his second attempt at a reception on Sunday night. Vaughn dropped a perfectly catchable ball from Brady on a second-and-8 in the third quarter.

Bucs RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

He also got stuffed for no gain on a key third-and-1 in the fourth quarter that forced the Bucs to punt from their own 41. Vaughn did rip off a 17-yard gain when the Saints were playing a soft, prevent defense late in the fourth quarter to pad his average. But I just haven’t seen anything from Vaughn that would make me want him in red and pewter next year. He’s rushed for 50 yards on 11 carries this year (4.5 avg.). Take away his 17-yarder and he’s averaging 3.3 yards per carry on 10 totes.

It might behoove the Bucs to bring Vaughn back to camp next year because he knows the system. They’ll hope that there is some improvement in the offseason. But Tampa Bay needs to draft another running back or sign one in free agency to replace him on the depth chart next year. Then have Vaughn try to change their mind in camp and in the preseason.

Look for the Bucs to try to get recently re-signed veteran Kenjon Barner ready to go as the No. 2 back next week at Carolina behind Ronald Jones II, if Leonard Fournette is out. Tampa Bay should also see what it has in practice squad running back Darwin Thompson, too.

QUESTION 2: Is Jacksonville Even Interested In Leftwich Now?

Not sure. First of all, any speculation that the Jaguars are interested in possibly hiring offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich is just that – speculation. Pewter Report and other media outlets have connected some dots between Leftwich and Jacksonville, which fired Urban Meyer last week, due to the fact that Leftwich was a former Jaguars first-round pick. And also because Jacksonville has a young quarterback that needs developing in Trevor Lawrence.

But Bruce Arians is the quarterback whisperer, not Leftwich, who presided over the best and worst season from Jameis Winston – at the same time! – in 2019. Leftwich also has had the good fortune to work with the greatest quarterback of all time in Tom Brady the last two years. So he really doesn’t have a track record for developing a young QB at all.

Bucs QB Tom Brady and OC Byron Leftwich – Photo by: USA Today

I would guess there aren’t many Jaguars fans clamoring for Leftwich after watching his offense get shut out in a 9-0 loss against archrival New Orleans on national TV. And this is not new. The Bucs mustered up just three points in a 38-3 drubbing last year on Sunday Night Football against the Saints, too.

I’m not saying Leftwich would be a bad head coach, but there is so much more that goes into that role aside from being a great play-caller. And is Leftwich truly a great play-caller? Or is he just benefiting from having Brady and a trio of future Hall of Famers to work with on offense in Rob Gronkowski, Mike Evans and Antonio Brown – not to mention leading receiver Chris Godwin?

Leftwich didn’t seem to have any answers when he was without Brown on Sunday night, and without Evans, Godwin and running back Leonard Fournette in the second half. Not a good sign.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS

PREDICTION 1: Tampa Bay Will Struggle To Win In Carolina

Cam Newton is having an awful season in his return to the Panthers, completing just 54.9 percent of his passes with four TDs and four INTs. But he’s not worse than Saints QB Taysom Hill, who just beat the Bucs. Carolina, who might start Sam Darnold if he’s healthy enough to play, has lost its last four games. But losses                                                        to Washington and Atlanta were by one score. In Sunday’s 31-14 loss at Buffalo, the Panthers were in the game until the fourth quarter.

Carolina’s aggressive defense will test Tampa Bay’s offensive line, which surrendered four sacks against the Saints. The Panthers had four sacks at Buffalo and have 36 on the season, led by Hassan Reddick’s 11 and Brian Burns’ nine. The Bucs should beat the Panthers the day after Christmas, but will get Carolina’s best shot. This won’t be easy, but the Bucs should prevail late in the fourth quarter to win the NFC South title.

PREDICTION 2: Bucs Plead With NFL To Not Schedule SNF Home Games vs. Saints

I mean this is the second year in a row the Bucs have just been embarrassed by the Saints at home on Sunday Night Football. Enough already!

Last year it was a 38-3 beat down at Ray-Jay. This year, the Bucs couldn’t even muster a field goal, losing 9-0 in a pitiful showing by Tampa Bay’s offense. Having the Bucs play the Saints in Tampa Bay is not worth anyone’s time watching in prime time – unless it’s New Orleans fans. Spare the country – and NBC – and just put this game as a 1:00 p.m. ET start in 2022.