It’s time for Scott Reynolds’ post-game 2-Point Conversion column, which makes two big statements, asks two probing questions and offers up two bold predictions.

2 BIG STATEMENTS

STATEMENT 1: Bucs Need To Go Streaking

It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but the Bucs snapped a two-game losing streak with a 21-15 win over the Falcons on Sunday. That also coincided with a rare, two-game losing skid at home. The Bucs, now 3-2, went 7-1 at Raymond James Stadium a year ago during the regular season. More importantly, they are 2-0 in the NFC South and sit alone atop the division. The Saints are 1-1 in the division, the Falcons are 1-2 and the Panthers are 0-1.

After a daunting first four games to start the 2022 season, the Bucs have a chance to go on a winning streak thanks to the win over the Falcons. The way the schedule was set up, this three-game stretch with a home game against Atlanta and two road games at Pittsburgh and at Carolina affords the Bucs a chance to go 3-0 in the next three weeks before Baltimore comes to town for a Thursday Night Football home game at the end of the month.

The 1-4 Steelers, who are without All-Pro T.J. Watt and are starting a rookie quarterback in Kenny Pickett, got walloped in Buffalo on Sunday, 38-3. The 1-4 Panthers just fired head coach Matt Rhule on Monday and lost starting quarterback Baker Mayfield to a high ankle sprain. The Bucs have no business losing at Pittsburgh or Carolina in the coming weeks. And a win over the Panthers in two weeks gives them a chance to run their winning streak in the NFC South to 3-0 to start this season.

Should they improve to 5-2, the Bucs would have an awful lot of momentum heading into a marquee game against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, who improved to 3-2 with a 19-17 win over the 2-3 Bengals on Sunday Night Football.

STATEMENT 2: Welcome To The New Normal In Tampa Bay

Bucs fans have been spoiled. The days of scoring 30 points – even 40 points – per game on a regular basis are over.

Bucs C Ryan Jensen and LG Ali Marpet – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay did manage to put up 31 points two weeks ago against Kansas City in a 41-31 loss. But against an over-matched team like Atlanta, the Bucs could only muster up 21 points because this offense is not as talented as the one Tampa Bay fielded over the last two years. The Bucs could have hit 30 again if not for three consecutive three-and-outs in the second half that kept the defense on the field too long and allowed the Falcons to score 15 second-half points in Tampa Bay’s 21-15 win.

This is the new normal for the Bucs offense. It’s just not as explosive as it has been in years past.

Pro Bowl left guard Ali Marpet has retired and rookie left guard Luke Goedeke really struggled against Atlanta and is nowhere close to Marpet’s level.

Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen is on the shelf for at least another month or two. Robert Hainsey has done a good job, but the Bucs miss Jensen’s attitude and toughness upfront.

Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski’s run blocking and ability to stretch the seam vertically in the passing game is sorely missed. Rookie tight end Cade Otton has promise, but has only played in four NFL games.

As nuts as he was, Antonio Brown was once an elite receiver and was still pretty darn good in his brief time in Tampa Bay. Russell Gage has had his explosiveness robbed due to a lingering hamstring injury and is not in same class as Brown. Injury-prone Julio Jones, who is 33, has been a disappointment so far.

Bucs RB Leonard Fournette – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I’m not going to say it’s aggravating, but discomfort here and there,” Bucs running back Leonard Fournette said about the offense being less explosive this year. “We knew what we could do – we have seen it on multiple occasions, coming out scoring 30 points, 40 points or whatever the case may be. [We have] a lot of young guys, a lot of new pieces. We’re going to get there. It’s growing pains. Still communicating, still understanding what TB12 (Tom Brady) wants, and what [offensive coordinator] Byron Leftwich wants. Just working together, it’s going to come.”

In the meantime, the Bucs are going to have to win games by scoring enough points – not style points – to win the game. That means that Todd Bowles’ defense has to come to play every week and maybe even carry the day, as it did in Week 2 in a 20-10 win at New Orleans. The Bucs defense wasn’t perfect, but holding the Falcons to 15 points was the key stat.

Tampa Bay ranks sixth in the league in scoring defense, allowing just 16.6 points per game. That’s a slight improvement from a year ago when the Bucs were allowing 20.9 points per game, which ranked seventh in the NFL.

But Tampa Bay’s struggling offense is averaging 20.6 points per game, which is tied for tied for 19th in the league. That’s a long way away from 2021 when the Bucs ranked second in the league, averaging 29.9 points per game.

Better get used to it.

2 PROBING QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: Are We Witnessing Bucs’ Young Pass Rushers Come To Life?

It certainly looks like it. The Bucs got sacks not only from second-year outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and rookie defensive lineman Logan Hall, but also from defensive tackles Vita Vea and Deadrin Senat. Throw in another sack from Pro Bowl safety/nickel cornerback Antoine Winfield Jr. and it was quite a day for Tampa Bay’s pass rush.

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tryon-Shoyinka got his first full sack after sharing a sack with Vea in New Orleans in Week 2. That sack came on third down, which is the money down. And he also had a key pressure and QB hit on Marcus Mariota to force an incompletion on another third down. Two impactful plays from a young, developing edge rusher full of promise.

Hall got the second sack of his rookie season while playing defensive end rather inside at tackle.

“I was recruited here to play three tech, but I have the versatility to play other positions,” Hall said. “The time came [to be in] our big base package, and I was the guy to play that position. Coach [Bowles] put me in a great position to execute all week.”

That sack came on a third-and-1 situation in the third quarter that forced an Atlanta punt. Vea’s sack also came on third down and forced a punt in the fourth quarter.

Winfield’s sack came at the end of the second quarter and set up a third-and-19 situation and ultimately a 52-yard field goal that was missed by Younghoe Koo.

“I was having fun, I love playing football,” said Winfield, who had a game-high eight tackles and a forced fumble. “Whenever I can get a chance to make plays, that’s my goal and that’s why I’m here.”

Inside linebacker Devin White still leads the Bucs with three sacks. Vea is next with 2.5, followed by Winfield, Hall, Shaq Barrett and Anthony Nelson with two sacks. Tryon-Shoyinka has 1.5 sacks. Tampa Bay’s 19 sacks rank third in the NFL behind San Francisco’s 21 and Dallas’ 20.

QUESTION 2: Is Succop The Bucs’ Best Player?

Yes, there is no Buccaneer playing better right now than kicker Ryan Succop. The 36-year old veteran is off to a remarkable start, connecting on 11-of-12 field goals this year (91.7%) and is a perfect 8-of-8 (100%) on extra points. Field goal kicking is literally a pass-fail proposition. Kickers have one job, which is to make field goals and extra points. Especially Succop, who doesn’t handle kickoffs. The Bucs have rookie punter Jake Camarda to kick the ball off.

Succop made two big kicks against the Falcons, a 21-yarder and a 44-yard field goal in what came down to a six-point victory for the Bucs. Since his 36-yard field goal drifted wide left at Dallas, Succop has made eight straight kicks.

He’s also connected from long distance, too. Not known for a booming leg, Succop is 8-of-8 between 40-49 yards, connecting on 47-yarders at Dallas and at New Orleans. He made 45-yarders at home against Green Bay and Kansas City. Succop has yet to try a field goal from 50 yards or beyond. But given how well he’s kicking the ball to start the season, the Bucs might allow him to try a deeper kick if the situation warrants it.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS

PREDICTION 1: Bucs Win Two In A Row With Victory At Pittsburgh

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Todd Bowles’ defense will have the opportunity to feast on rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh. The Steelers’ first-round pick has been sacked three times and thrown four interceptions in his first two NFL games. Expect Bowles to dial up some serious pressure against Pickett and the Pittsburgh offense.

The Bucs secondary might be a bit depleted without safety Logan Ryan (foot) and possibly reserve cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (quad). Cornerback Carlton Davis III (hip) and safety Mike Edwards (elbow) are also banged up, too. But there are still enough Bucs playmakers on defense that can either get Pickett on the ground multiple times or pick him off.

Perhaps both.

PREDICTION 2: Jones Might Not Play For Awhile

Bucs wide receiver Julio Jones practiced all last week in a limited fashion, but did not dress on Sunday. He’s still dealing with a PCL strain and the organization is considering placing him on injured reserve to let that injury fully heal. The Bucs want Jones fully healthy for later in the season. With Chris Godwin’s return and Breshad Perriman and Russell Gage on the mend, the Bucs’ depth at receiver is okay for now – even with Cole Beasley’s sudden retirement.

Right now, Jones is taking up a roster spot while not playing, so putting him on the short-term IR might be wise, as it frees up a roster spot. The Bucs have a pair of practice squad receivers in Kaylon Geiger Sr. and Deven Thompkins, in addition to depth with Scotty Miller and Jaelon Darden behind Mike Evans, Godwin, Gage and Perriman.