@seekpar Stop. No one gives a rip they were injured. Last I checked they were pretty healthy on defense, and we dropped 30+ on them. Never use injuries as an excuse in the means of comparison. To that end, Rice, and WR for the Chiefs, who was on pace to have a top 5 year, went down with an ACL and didn't finish the season. It's football, everyone is injured. Tampa is a better team than the Eagles. Debate your Mom.
Lol wut. We were better that day but the eagles dominated.
Mahomes was already declining in production and play.
I'm not gonna chicken little his success but the chiefs won close games with zero explosive plays and couldn't run the ball. Now Kelce on the verge of retiring and all their rag tag wrs are just another year older.
When Mahomes isn't getting the calls he doesn't play well... And their line was exposed.
Chiefs will continue to be a contender but against any legit pass rush they're gonna struggle... And their skill position is only going to get worse next year.
11 wins next year
KC just barely squeaked by in most of their games this past season. They benefitted from favorable officiating and dumb luck. I believe either the Bills or the Ravens will get over the hump and unseat the Chiefs for the AFC representative in SB 60. I'd like to see those teams in the AFC Championship game.
"theknees" just likes to stop in every now and again and stir things up. I'd debate my mom, but she didn't know squadoosh about football and she died 17 years ago. I'm sure he'll come up with another clever retort for his/her own entertainment.
Injuries are ALWAYS RELEVANT because they impact team performance and they do so UNEVENLY because all the teams are in different situations.
The Lions lose a key component of their pass rush so they TRADE for a former Pro Bowl defensive lineman. They were truly in "win now" mode.
We lose a 5th round LB starter and do nothing even s teams destroy us over the middle. The. Bucs are in "make due" mode because we are still paying for our Lombardi
We're not better than the Eagles in terms of overall team and record but we're better in the sense that we matchup well with them mainly because we can block their defensive front. Thats why we had 445 yards and 33 points on them (should have been 34) and put the brakes on in the 4th qtr.
We're not better than the Eagles in terms of overall team and record but we're better in the sense that we matchup well with them mainly because we can block their defensive front. Thats why we had 445 yards and 33 points on them (should have been 34) and put the brakes on in the 4th qtr.
The TB offense had a pretty easy day because Philly's offense couldn't move the ball at all without their top 2 WR's and All-Pro RT. Philly only had 227 total yards on 23:46 TOP. It was 24-0 with 7 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Philly's first three drives were 3-and-outs. They didn't get a first down until there was 6 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.
Both phases played well that day, but it's hard to ignore the lack of firepower on Philly's offense.
we matchup well with them mainly because we can block their defensive front. Thats why we had 445 yards and 33 points on them (should have been 34) and put the brakes on in the 4th qtr.
Their defensive front is/was not that special AND they could not block our defensive front (6 sacks?). We jumped out to a big lead, mostly by passing, and then increasingly ran the ball as they mostly tried to come back. We also mostly bottled up their number one weapon (Barkley), save one run.
We're not better than the Eagles in terms of overall team and record but we're better in the sense that we matchup well with them mainly because we can block their defensive front. Thats why we had 445 yards and 33 points on them (should have been 34) and put the brakes on in the 4th qtr.
The TB offense had a pretty easy day because Philly's offense couldn't move the ball at all without their top 2 WR's and All-Pro RT. Philly only had 227 total yards on 23:46 TOP. It was 24-0 with 7 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Philly's first three drives were 3-and-outs. They didn't get a first down until there was 6 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.
Both phases played well that day, but it's hard to ignore the lack of firepower on Philly's offense.
Bucs took the opening drive and went 10 plays 79 yards. When the Eagles scored a TD to cut it to 24-14 the Bucs offense went 12 plays, 70 yards for a TD.
We're not better than the Eagles in terms of overall team and record but we're better in the sense that we matchup well with them mainly because we can block their defensive front. Thats why we had 445 yards and 33 points on them (should have been 34) and put the brakes on in the 4th qtr.
The TB offense had a pretty easy day because Philly's offense couldn't move the ball at all without their top 2 WR's and All-Pro RT. Philly only had 227 total yards on 23:46 TOP. It was 24-0 with 7 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Philly's first three drives were 3-and-outs. They didn't get a first down until there was 6 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.
Both phases played well that day, but it's hard to ignore the lack of firepower on Philly's offense.
Bucs took the opening drive and went 10 plays 79 yards. When the Eagles scored a TD to cut it to 24-14 the Bucs offense went 12 plays, 70 yards for a TD.
Um, yeah - all of that is true. What's also true is the score was 24-0 before Philly every got a first down.
I feel pretty safe in saying that the game would turn out fairly different (i.e. nobody would be up 24-0 before the other team had a first down) if Philly had that firepower on offense. If you want to disagree with that, knock yourself out.
In the past the Eagles were a bad match up for the Bucs due to their superiority in the trenches. But this season the Bucs smacked them hard in the trenches which was why the Bucs beat them more so than not having their top WRs.
Eagles game is about dominating the trenches but the Bucs controlled the LOS far better that day.
If Barton and Kancey continue to progress and the Bucs will be a tough out for any team in the league.
If Barton and Kancey continue to progress and the Bucs will be a tough out for any team in the league.
The Bucs are already a "tough out" for any team in the league.
The difference between Barton and Kancey is that Kancey can be all world, he could be the next Aaron Donald, and teams will just quick pass it over his head UNTIL we stop it.
You have to at least have average competent defense behind the D-line for the D-line to create chaos. The D-line has to first stop the run and then, with the lead, be able to stop the quick passing game OR they never get the chance to pile up pressures and blitzes. That is 2024 in a nutshell.
I don't agree because if you have an elite DL it doesn't really matter what you have behind. Bucs do not have elite players on their front in all those positions so at that point if you want coverage sacks you have to play more press and m2m.
I don't agree because if you have an elite DL it doesn't really matter what you have behind.
Of course it does. That is sort of football mythology.
Just compare two d-lines, the ELITE 2020 Eagles d-line versus the AVERAGE 2024 Eagles D-line
2022 ELITE D-LINE
The 2022 Eagles d-line was the definition of elite. 70 sacks, 15 more than the next closest team. The Chiefs beat them in the Super Bowl. and this is HOW they beat them (see if it sounds familar):
"Kelce came out strong, catching three passes for 60 yards, a touchdown and three first downs—all three receptions going for explosive gains. The Eagles defense struggled to contain him over the middle of the field and in the red zone."
in the 2022 season Kelce is on of the top 5 YAC guys
By the way, that same season the Cowboys put up 40 (Lamb 120 yds and 2 TDs) on them and the Commanders 32.
2024 Average D-Line
The 2024 Eagles d-line was average (less sacks than 2024 Bucs). The Eagles beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl on the back of 6 sacks
There is a reason that most teams blitz behind some version of press man. The coverage matters. The 2024 Eagles d-line was average, their coverage unit was not.
Bucs do not have elite players on their front in all those positions so at that point if you want coverage sacks you have to play more press and m2m.
The 2024 Eagles had less sacks than the 2024 Bucs. The Eagles had DOUBLE the interceptions.
Its a team sport. All the parts work together. An "elite" d-line is tougher to create than a solid defense.
The 2024 Broncos was the 'elite" d-line of 2024, they lost in the WC.
Eagles ran a better zone scheme though and had a better rotation on the front line. So yes it is a team game but that goes to show scheme matters as much as personnel.
And when you do not have elite players on the front line you need a proper rotation.
