Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

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

After losing at Detroit on Monday Night Football, Tampa Bay had a bounce-back win in New Orleans, 23-3, to improve to 6-2 on the year and match the best start in franchise history. The Bucs head into the bye with the whole week off, according to head coach Todd Bowles, who saw his defense record five sacks and four takeaways. Outside linebacker Anthony Nelson led the way with two sacks and a pick-six, while safety Antoine Winfield Jr. had an interception and a fumble recovery, and should have had a pair of TDs. Tampa Bay’s offense struggled, but Chase McLaughlin was perfect on all three field goals from beyond 50 yards.

2 BIG STATEMENTS


STATEMENT 1. Bucs, Antoine Winfield Jr. Robbed Of 2 TDs By Refs

This sucks.

I would rather be talking about how Todd Bowles’ defense put on a clinic in New Orleans, recording five sacks, registering four takeaways, getting a defensive touchdown and holding the Saints to just a field goal in a 23-3 win.

I’d love to point out the fact that Tampa Bay is 6-2 heading into a much-needed bye week tied for the best start in franchise history.

I would prefer to praise outside linebacker Anthony Nelson, who should win NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording a game-high and career-high two sacks, a forced fumble and a pick-six – all on quarterback Spencer Rattler – to give the Bucs a 7-3 lead at halftime.

Instead, I have to lead off with how terrible NFL officiating absolutely screwed the Bucs and free safety Antoine Winfield Jr. out of not one, but two defensive touchdowns in New Orleans.

In the words of action hero and Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger in his hit film “Predator” from 1987: “It’s all bullshit! All of it!”

The officials made two mistakes in this game that were absolute bullshit.

The first was when Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean punched the ball out of Rashid Shaheed’s hands. As he was last year on a scoop-and-score in New Orleans in a Week 6 win over the Saints, Winfield was once again in the right place at the right time and scooped up the ball and raced 51 yards for a touchdown with less than five minutes left before halftime.

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

But the play was not ruled a touchdown as one of the refs signaled that there was an inadvertent whistle that stopped the play. First of all, the ref closest to the play didn’t blow the whistle and was seen racing down the sidelines with Winfield to initially call it a touchdown. So whichever idiot ref blew that whistle – if it even happened at all – needs to be held accountable, either by getting fined or fired.

To make matters worse for the officiating crew, the Fox broadcast replayed the play and no whistle was even audible on the replay, which is very suspicious.

When asked after the game if Bowles heard a whistle, the head coach said he didn’t.

“No, they said it was an erroneous whistle,” Bowles said. “As soon as he hit him, he stripped him, so … (shakes head) … I’ve got no answers for that.”

Then near the end of the third quarter, Winfield got robbed again. He dove for a Tyler Shough pass intended for Chris Olave and both players had their hands on the ball initially with Winfield prying the ball out of Olave’s hands for a clean interception. As Winfield was ripping the ball out he rolled to the ground – untouched – and then got up and raced 50 yards for another apparent touchdown.

But the officials ruled that Winfield was down by contact after the interception instead and the play was blown dead at the 50-yard line.

The NFL has an officiating problem largely because the officials are part-timers – which is idiotic to begin with – with day jobs in other professions. And there is no public accountability.

The NFL is quick to dole out fines for players for not having their socks pulled up high enough (seriously) or for players who engage in unnecessary roughness, but officials don’t get fined. Why aren’t they held to the same standard for egregiously bad calls? Why are too many games decided by officials rather than the players and the coaches?

NFL officials don’t get fired in-season for poor performances, but they should be. After all, poor performances get players benched or released, right? Poor records get coaches fired, don’t they? Yet officials can continue to blow calls – big calls, obvious calls – and they get to keep their part-time gig until the season is over.

And the worst part about it is that NFL players and coaches can’t criticize the officials without risking hefty fines from the league. Is that draconian or what? Why are officials untouchable and beyond criticism? Is it because it would be a bad look for the NFL?

Is it any worse when millions of NFL fans take to social media channels like X to criticize poor officiating and point out terrible calls?

I think NFL players and coaches should have the freedom of speech to state their opinions and speak their mind about officiating. Maybe the NFL should fix its apparent officiating crisis and actually work to make the game better so it wouldn’t have to worry about the criticism.

I’ve covered the NFL for three decades and officiating right now is probably the worst I’ve ever seen it. The ridiculous roughing the passer calls. The unnecessarily quick and sometimes inadvertent whistles. And I still don’t know what a catch is. I’m pretty sure you don’t, either.

The reason why I have to vent about this is because Todd Bowles really can’t. Neither can Antoine Winfield Jr., or he’ll risk a fine. So I will champion their cause.

“I’m still pissed off over some of it,” Bowles said after the game. “That’s, that’s, that’s tough – that’s tough sledding now. I mean he did a helluva job today getting the ball out. We’ve got to do something … we’ll discuss that with the league and go from there.”

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Here’s why I’m so angry and upset about those two Winfield touchdowns that were negated. It’s not that those negated TDs affected the outcome of the game. They didn’t.

It’s that Winfield has Hall of Fame talent, and he’s putting together a potential Hall of Fame résumé. Part of any Hall of Fame résumé that voters will look at is how many Pro Bowl berths did that candidate have during their career. The more Pro Bowls, the higher the chance for Hall of Fame induction.

Winfield made his only Pro Bowl in 2021 and then was snubbed in 2023 when he was clearly the best safety in the league, despite being a first-team All-Pro. Two defensive touchdowns on his stat sheet would not only make him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 8 – sorry, Nelly! – but also increase his chances for making the Pro Bowl this year. And Winfield might have a contract incentive for making the Pro Bowl in 2025.

So those terrible calls in New Orleans not only possibly cost Winfield some incentive money, but it might have harmed Winfield’s chances of making the Pro Bowl this year and thus could harm his legacy long-term.

What happened in New Orleans to Winfield was truly a robbery. It was criminal.

And with the FBI and Department of Justice recently arresting an NBA head coach and an NBA player among others in an alleged gambling probe and mafia-linked sports rigging enterprise, the NFL needs to be very, very careful when it comes to how its games are officiated – and make some serious changes for the better.


STATEMENT 2. Bucs Offensive Line Was An Embarrassment In New Orleans

It took the Bucs nine plays to pick up one lousy yard and score a touchdown from the Saints 1-yard line in goal-to-go situations on Sunday.

The excuses for the poor play of Tampa Bay’s offensive line are there – pick one if you want.

The Bucs were starting two backup offensive linemen in right guard Dan Feeney and right tackle Charlie Heck. Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard was too vanilla and predictable in his unimaginative play-calling, especially at the goal line. And maybe, Tampa Bay’s running backs didn’t show enough power and the tight ends didn’t have enough oomph to help out the O-line.

I’m not a fan of excuses. I remember when Tony Dungy took over as Bucs head coach in 1996 and put a sign in the locker room that said “No excuses. No explanations.” I liked that phrase.

Simply put, the Saints defensive front embarrassed the Bucs offensive line down at the goal. That’s what it was – embarrassing. In the ultimate test of fortitude, physicality, testosterone, adrenaline, brute strength, get off and sheer will, the Saints defense succeeded and the Bucs offense failed. And the O-line bears the brunt of the blame.

Bucs O-line and Saints D-line – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Tampa Bay failed to pick up a single yard and score a touchdown in five straight point blank runs in the second quarter – two by Sean Tucker and three by Rachaad White – and ultimately had a turnover on downs. Moving forward, that simply cannot happen if the Bucs want to successfully run the ball and go deep into the postseason.

In the third quarter, the Bucs were again faced with needing one yard and it took four downs before Tucker finally fought his way into the end zone for a long-awaited touchdown. Grizzard tried to mix up the play-calling, opting for ill-timed fade pass to 5-foot-10 Sterling Shephard, who was isolated one-on-one with Kool-Aid McKinstry, who nearly had an interception on the play.

After a second down run by Tucker was stuffed for no gain, Grizzard opted for a similar pass play on third down, although this would more of a front shoulder throw to Emeka Egbuka, who was also blanketed by McKinstry, who nearly had an interception again.

I would have liked to have seen a toss to Tucker like the Bucs scored on against the 49ers where he used his speed to race for the corner behind left tackle Tristan Wirfs. Or perhaps Grizzard could have spread the Saints defense out by using a four receiver set and then running Tucker or White into a much lighter box.

I’m not a fan of using 13 personnel (three tight ends) and bunching up the defense and effectively building a wall of defenders because of such a tight formation. But at the end of the day, Tampa Bay’s offensive line needs to be able to pick up a key yard and punch the ball in for a touchdown regardless of what running play is called and out of what formation.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and Saints DE Chase Young – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Wirfs, who is easily the best lineman in Tampa Bay, had a day to forget with two false start penalties and getting beaten on multiple plays by defensive end Chase Young, who had 1.5 sacks and forced a fumble on a Baker Mayfield sack. And too often this year we’ve seen center Graham Barton get driven back and even flattened, and that was the case on multiple reps in New Orleans.

The Bucs need to get some healthy bodies back after the bye week, and the two at the top of the list need to be running back Bucky Irving and right tackle Luke Goedeke.

2 PROBING QUESTIONS


QUESTION 1. Is The Defense The Strength Of This Tampa Bay Team?

Yes, it is right now. Todd Bowles’ defense is wearing the superhero cape while injuries and ineffectiveness have weakened Josh Grizzard’s offense. This is a welcomed sight as Liam Coen’s offense was the strength of the Buccaneers all last season, as the defense was riddled with injuries and just failed to make enough splash plays.

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Bowles’ defense is hot right now with at least two takeaways in five out of the last six games. Against the Saints, the Bucs had four takeaways with Anthony Nelson getting a pick-six and forcing a fumble that Lavonte David recovered and Antoine Winfield Jr. getting an interception and recovering a fumble that was forced by Jamel Dean. Now Tampa Bay has seven interceptions in eight games – matching its season high from a year ago with nine games left.

Bowles’ blitzes have the pass rush humming, too. Tampa Bay has 25 sacks in seven games, with 15 coming in the last three weeks against San Francisco (six), Detroit (four) and New Orleans (five). The Bucs are on pace to record 53 sacks this season, which would be the highest number of sacks since Bowles took over the defense in 2019. Tampa Bay has only recorded 50 sacks or more just once in franchise history – with 55 back in 2000.

A total of 15 different Bucs defenders have at least half a sack this season. Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby leads the way with four, followed by Nelson, who has three.

With the offense desperately needing to get some healthy bodies back after the bye week, including running back Bucky Irving, wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. and right tackle Luke Goedeke, it’s a good thing the defense is showing up – and showing out – this year.


QUESTION 2. Will Bucs G.M. Jason Licht Make A Trade Before The Deadline?

I’m not sure. But given the 6-2 start – and the amount of injuries this team has and is enduring – I think the chances are greater that general manager Jason Licht could pull the trigger on a trade rather than if this team were 5-3 had it lost in New Orleans. The only trade Licht has made at the deadline came during the 2020 Super Bowl season when defensive tackle Vita Vea was out until the NFC Championship Game with a broken leg. Licht swapped future late-round picks with the Jets to get reserve defensive tackle Steve McLendon.

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If he makes a deal this year, I would expect a similar type of move for depth – possibly along the offensive line or at edge rusher or inside linebacker. And it wouldn’t be a blockbuster deal. Cincinnati and Las Vegas have already said they are not trading Pro Bowl pass rushers Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby, respectively. Outside of those two, are there any impactful pass rushers worth trading for?

Will the Dolphins part ways with inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks? Or would Licht just sign linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. off the Colts practice squad instead if he wanted another veteran linebacker?

Keep in mind that Licht doesn’t do blockbuster trades and the highest draft pick he’s traded away was a third-rounder in 2018 for edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul. I know I called for the Bucs to trade for an edge rusher last week when Haason Reddick was hurt and expected to miss a few weeks of action. But given how well Anthony Nelson played on Sunday in New Orleans and how Bowles can generate a pass rush with blitzes, I don’t think Licht is going to add another edge rusher.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS


PREDICTION 1. Bucs’ Schedule After The Bye Week Will Be Challenging

Don’t look now, but Tampa Bay will a tougher-than-expected game against an upstart 6-2 New England team after the bye week. The Patriots are led by first-year head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye, who was New England’s first-round pick in 2024. Then it’s two tough road games at Buffalo versus the 5-2 Bills and at Los Angeles against the 5-2 Rams. The Patriots thrashed the Browns, 32-13, while the Bills did the Bucs a favor in dominating the Panthers, 40-9. The Rams had a bye in Week 8.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today

If Tampa Bay can go at least 2-1 in this stretch, the team would be in a great position in the NFC South – and the NFC as a conference – with an 8-3 record. And I think they will improve to 10-3. I’m just not sure which two wins they’re going to get in their next three games.

Of course, getting a victory over the Rams, who are a playoff contender in the NFC, would be the most favorable outcome for the Bucs, as both the Patriots and Bills are AFC teams. The rest of Tampa Bay’s schedule from Week 13 on features games against five teams with losing records – Arizona (2-5), New Orleans (1-7), Atlanta (3-4), Carolina (4-4) and Miami (2-6).


PREDICTION 2. Bucs Won’t Have A 1,000-Yard Rusher, But Will Have A 1,000-Yard Receiver This Year

The fact that Bucky Irving has missed the last four games with shoulder and foot injuries means he likely won’t hit 1,000 yards rushing again this year. Irving has 237 yards on 71 carries (3.3 avg.) this season through the first four games of the year. Assuming he returns in Week 10 and remains healthy for the final nine games of the season, Irving would have to average 81 yards per game to accumulate 729 yards and hit 1,000 yards for a second straight year.

Irving only had six games with 81 yards rushing or more last year en route to 1,155 yards during his rookie campaign. Rachaad White is now the leading rusher with 287 yards on 77 carries (3.7 avg.), and once Irving returns, his carries will only diminish. Besides Tampa Bay’s offensive line is not nearly as dominant was it was a year ago due to injuries.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka and RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Yet the Bucs very well could have a 1,000-yard receiver if rookie Emeka Egbuka continues to produce. Egbuka is off to a hot start with 34 catches for 562 yards (16.5 avg.) and five touchdowns through eight games. Egbuka needs only 438 yards receiving over the final nine games to hit 1,000 yards. That’s an average of 48.7 yards per game, which is very doable as long as Egbuka stays healthy.