Weird mental gymnastics. It's like some are worried about their standing in the Bowles Hater Club or the Coen Ball Washing Club.
Admitting the defense over performed in one key game (a statistical fact) doesn't mean you love Bowles
Admitting the offense underperformed in one key game (a statistical fact) doesn't mean Coen sucked.
No need to make up dumb shit like "derp how many punts"
Guys...it's not that we are defending Bowles (well except maybe some are) by blaming the offense for choking (performing below their average, and below NFL norms average)
The offense was the clear reason for the Bucs success in 2024. Without it, they are likely not a playoff team or certainly not a double digit win team. That said, the offense choked the game away in the playoffs
Similarly, the Jaguars were riding an 8 game win streak heading into the 2025 playoffs. They were averaging 34 points a game. They lost their game 27-24 with 2 INTs. Would also suggest the offense choked away that game.
Listen, this isn't a neg at Liam Coen as i wish we had him; it's just....starting to see a trend here folks!
Both can be true - The Bucs defense has gotten worse each year from 2023, the Bucs had a monumental collapse and there is NO WAY that Todd Bowles should still be employed by the Bucs
AND
the Bucs offense let us down BIGLY in the 4th quarter of that playoff game. This isn't saying the defense was great.....but to put the loss on the defense when the offense hellen kellered the 4th quarter is certainly not being objective.
Definitely fair to say that Bowles strategy (a good one with what the Bucs defense was) played a role in the loss because the offense didn't do its normal early scoring long drives. If Coens offense performs like it did often and scores early then with that lead the "bend don't break" really works because the Commanders can't keep up.
team sport. All units matter. Coaching matters. Game plan matters
The fumble dropped the Bucs win probability from 76% to 45%
It was 71.6% to 51.1%, per ESPN Analytics.
But yes, when the defense gets turnovers, it helps their team win. How many turnovers did Tampa's defense get that game? Is it the same number of punts they forced?
Offense fumbled at their own 13 up 17-13 in the 4th qtr. Blaming the defense is maximum Bowles Derangement Syndrome
Allow me to answer, since you forgot to:
Zero forced turnovers.
Zero forced punts.
55% conversion allowed on 3rd/4th down.
Marvelous defensive performance.
And yet the Commanders only had 13 points before the 4th qtr fumble
And yet the Commanders only had 13 points before the 4th qtr fumble
And then they scored 10 points on their next two drives.
If only the game ended with 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, it does not.
And yet the Commanders only had 13 points before the 4th qtr fumble
And then they scored 10 points on their next two drives.
If only the game ended with 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, it does not.
Calling a possession that started on the 13 yard line a “drive”?
Just take this L and learn from it. Not everything is Bowles fault.
Calling a possession that started on the 13 yard line a “drive”?
What do football professionals like yourself call it?
Was the following 10-play, game-winning FG drive a "drive" or was that something else too?
Calling a possession that started on the 13 yard line a “drive”?
What do football professionals like yourself call it?
Clusterfuck by the offense
I've got some late breaking news: it turns out the football professionals do call that a drive, as Washington is credited with 8 drives, while Tampa only had 7 drives - since the defense couldn't force a punt and all.
I'm starting to think that you may not be the football professional you claim to be.
Just take this L and learn from it. Not everything is Bowles fault.
This is accurate.
Coen came up meek in his game planning against a very dated Dan Quinnnnn scheme.
Coen became too cute with his play calling in that playoff game which was Grizzard downfall at the end of last season. But the defense has to force a punt to win a game.
55.0% conversion allowed on 3rd/4th down.
For context at how awful this is, here the worst 3rd down conversion rates in the entire NFL the last five years:
2021 - 49.8%
2022 - 50.0%
2023 - 47.6%
2024 - 50.9%
2025 - 47.6%
55.0% is absolutely horrendous.
How many turnovers did Tampa's defense get that game?
Two, one a goal line stand, right?
Those are nice stops but turnovers deep in your territory aren't setting you up for conversion to points.
And I agree with your earlier point that "that's the best the defense could give us" but that style of defense that forces no punts and no turnovers while allowing long drives RUNS THE RISK of taking the offense out of rhythm. I don't know what our average starting field position was but I can tell you, IT WASN'T GOOD.
That strategy makes the offense looks worse than it is and the defense look better than it is... I hope you can at least admit that + the offense in fact tied the game then the defense gave up the game winning drives.
Had the defense simply forced a 50+ yard field goal he probably would have missed...they couldn't even do that.
Weird mental gymnastics. It's like some are worried about their standing in the Bowles Hater Club or the Coen Ball Washing Club.
Admitting the defense over performed in one key game (a statistical fact) doesn't mean you love Bowles
Admitting the offense underperformed in one key game (a statistical fact) doesn't mean Coen sucked.
No need to make up dumb shit like "derp how many punts"
That's not what's being said... That's a straw man argument.
What's being said is "the offense is to blame for the loss"... Not who played above or below their average.