There’s plenty of blame to be spread around in the Bucs heartbreaking 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. But one former Tampa Bay head coach chimed in on a questionable call to end the game. Former Bucs coach Tony Dungy opined on defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ head-scratching final blitz call on Twitter.
I didn’t understand that last defensive call by the Bucs. All out blitz??? Why not just sit back let them complete a 15 yd pass in bounds and the game would go to overtime. I don’t understand???!
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) January 23, 2022
Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles called an all-out blitz on quarterback Matt Stafford on the Rams final offensive play of the game. Miscommunication on the play allowed Stafford to find wide receiver Cooper Kupp 40 yards down the field to set up a game-winning field goal. Stafford has been one of the best in the league dealing with extra rushers. He shredded the blitz against the Bucs in both matchups this season.
Todd Bowles…this wasn’t smart sir!
— Damian Parson 🏈 (@DP_NFL) January 23, 2022
Bucs head coach Bruce Arians confirmed after the game that the last play of the game was indeed a blitz. But Arians also indicated that not everyone on the field got the call.
“Some guys didn’t blitz,” Arians said. “I don’t know if we didn’t get the call, but it was an all-out blitz. We should’ve got a ton of pressure.”
Pressure really wasn’t the issue on the play. Ndamukong Suh came free immediately to pressure Stafford, but it didn’t matter. The Pro Bowl quarterback made a great throw to a wide open Kupp down the field. After the game, Arians said he never second-guessed the decision by Bowles.
“Never second guess,” Arians said. ” Never second guess. Just make sure all eleven are on the same page.”
#Bucs HC Bruce Arians on blitzing on the last play when Stafford completed the pass to Kupp. pic.twitter.com/n5HdukFvB6
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 23, 2022
With just 27 seconds left, it seemed like playing the deep ball would’ve been the most prudent option. Instead, Antoine Winfield Jr. found himself one-on-one with Kupp, surrendering a 44-yard gain. Instead of playing for what seemed to be a game destined for overtime, Matt Gay hit a chip shot field goal to advance the Rams and end the Bucs season, 30-27.