OT: Official 2020 Tompa Bay Gronkaneers Thread

[Whitt25]

The saints have become playoff chokers recently. I wouldn’t trust them.

That's a weird way of saying Saints were robbed twice, but ok.

 

[NYCPATS4LIFE]

That's a weird way of saying Saints were robbed twice, but ok.

I seemed to remember brees throwing an interception in overtime. What happened last year?

 

[Guts]

That's a weird way of saying Saints were robbed twice, but ok.

No vs the Rams they still had a shot with the ball at overtime and Brees threw a horrible pick. I do not know what other game they had an absolute horrible call against them like the Rams game.

 

[Whitt25]

I seemed to remember brees throwing an interception in overtime. What happened last year?

No vs the Rams they still had a shot with the ball at overtime and Brees threw a horrible pick. I do not know what other game they had an absolute horrible call against them like the Rams game.

Rams game only went into overtime because of a blatantly obvious defensive PI. Should've never happened. And Vikings got away with offensive PI for a touchdown that should've been called back. Take both those plays away and Saints win.

 

[NYCPATS4LIFE]

Rams game only went into overtime because of a blatantly obvious defensive PI. Should've never happened. And Vikings got away with offensive PI for a touchdown that should've been called back. Take both those plays away and Saints win.

What PI you talking about against the Vikings? Not on the winning td. You make no sense.

 

[Whitt25]

What PI you talking about against the Vikings? Not on the winning td. You make no sense.

Are you thinking of the one with Diggs? Not that game. The one last year when Kyle Rudolph caught that game winning TD.

 

[NYCPATS4LIFE]

Are you thinking of the one with Diggs? Not that game. The one last year when Kyle Rudolph caught that game winning TD.

They where not gonna overturned that. Saints played an awful game playing from behind. That’s why instant replay was a joke when it comes to PI. Saints could cry all they want.

 

[ashley]

The Bears are the only elite defense IMO. I would put the Rams second. Tampa has a great front 7 but a very young and often exposed secondary. The best all around team IMO - offense, defense, coaching - is the Saints. They just have to avoid Green Bay.

Yeah, it's interesting. I don' watch as many NFC games as I probably should. The only Bear game I saw was against Tampa and thought Tampa was the better team that night. I have watched the Saints play a few times and have been really impressed with them. Think they have a really good D and offense. Some other posters have mentioned them choking in the playoffs which is a fair point, I agree with you in that I would probably favor them against any team in the NFC at home, but if they have to go on the road, especially to a cold weather place like Green Bay, I'm not sure how they would handle that.

 

[Whitt25]

They where not gonna overturned that. Saints played an awful game playing from behind. That’s why instant replay was a joke when it comes to PI. Saints could cry all they want.

Not sure what the Saints performance has to do with a clear push off...?

 

[ashley]

Bucs run defense actually the best in the league and their pass D is so-so. They are a bit soft overall, I would say.

Tommy, the few times I have seen the Bucs play ( Saints twice, Bears, Rams) I thought their defense let them down, especially considering the talent on that side of the ball. I don' t follow them like a lot of posters here do, but just a general observation.

 

[NYCPATS4LIFE]

Not sure what the Saints performance has to do with a clear push off...?

Well the refs missed it. Maybe if the saints had played a good game from the start they would have never been in that position and the game wouldn’t have gone to OT. That’s my point.

 

[NYCPATS4LIFE]

Tommy, the few times I have seen the Bucs play ( Saints twice, Bears, Rams) I thought their defense let them down, especially considering the talent on that side of the ball. I don' t follow them like a lot of posters here do, but just a general observation.

Well it’s difficult when the offense did nothing in those games and the OL was awful in that second game against the saints. They where clearly outcoached in those games. Bowles kept playing zone against brees. That’s suicide. How about playing press or man and forced brees to make those tight throws.

 

[Whitt25]

Well the refs missed it. Maybe if the saints had played a good game from the start they would have never been in that position and the game wouldn’t have gone to OT. That’s my point.

I mean, you can say the same thing about almost any of our playoff or Super Bowl losses. Doesn't make it a good point.

 

[NYCPATS4LIFE]

I mean, you can say the same thing about almost any of our playoff or Super Bowl losses. Doesn't make it a good point.

How about stopping them defensively? All the saints do is moan and cry about the refs. I am sure they got their breaks in the game.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I am psyched to watch the GOAT tomorrow night. Playoff Tom is my favorite. I also hope Gronk is in 2018 playoff form. That would be special.

It's January 2005. The 2004 Pats are in the playoffs. We're South of Tampa in FL for the first time and searching for a big screen vs the postage stamp TV in our room. At a restaurant we spot a big screen TV and ask the bartender, "Will you be showing the playoff games Sunday?"
He replies, "Dunno. Bucs aren't in it!" From that day forward every winter we're in FL we walk around in January saying, "Bucs aren't in it!"
Not this January.
BUCS ARE IN IT!!!

 

[sb1]

Bucs are going all the way. Brady is getting #7 this year.

I really believe it. They're not losing again.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Gotta say there's nothing of quality or detailed post or pre game coverage like Patriots Fifth Quarter or the Patriots All Access down here for the Bucs. Bucs Bonus is pathetic.

 

[203Pat]

Insane considering he almost never played on Wildcard weekend.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Are you thinking of the one with Diggs? Not that game. The one last year when Kyle Rudolph caught that game winning TD.

The Saints DB was grabbing him as well prior to the pushoff. It was either a no call or offsetting replay the down.

 

[BobDigital]

From what I've seen, the Saints and Rams have the best defenses in the league. Curious why you don't think the Saints are winning, is it because they are a dome team and would have to travel to GB? I would tend to agree, in GB , I would favor GB.
Statistically, aren't the Bucs, one of the worst defenses in the league, especially in the group you included?

The reason I don't think the Saints are winning it all has to do with their offense. Brees has looked very mortal at times this year and I don't think he can pull a 4 game stretch together like he'd need to. Also I don't think Thomas will ever be fully healthy, which means their weapons are not as good as other teams. The fact they are a Dome team is also an issue as you pointed out.

More than anything though, this is a year where there really weren't any great defenses. Even the best defense of the year in the Rams isn't top tier. They allowed 18.5 PPG. While I would say they are in a traditional sense 'super bowl caliber' I don't say that to mean they are the the type of defense that carries teams to the super bowl. They are simply good enough to qualify to be what is traditionally in the realm of super bowl caliber.

And that is the Rams who are the best. the Saints are actually 21.1 PPG, which is well below what would have been traditionally considered good enough for a defense. Not only that, they have been very hot and cold. The first 7 games their D was fairly average. The next 5 they played lights out. the last 4 have been hit and miss at allowing 24, 32, 33 and 7 points this last week. Almost half of that last game was against a back up QB against a pretty before hand. And when it is the last game of the season, if that game bucks a trend from before I don't always trust it. Overall this unit just doesn't look so good right now. Not to mention even if they were as good as their stats make them out to be, they wouldn't be amazing. The point is, this year I think if you don't have on of those top offenses, you likely don't win.

While the Saints stack up offensively in certain stats, they have had issues being consistent on that end all year, particularly down the stretch with their passing attack, which is why I'm down on them. I'd rank the Chiefs, Bucs, GB, Bills and maybe even Seahawks above offensively in passing. Brees has not looked great in his 3 games back besides the Carolina game, and when he gets into these shoot outs he will need to be able to put the team on his back, probably multiple times in these playoffs. I don't think he's likely to do it.

As for my Bucs comment. It comes down to their health. They are very thin on D, and they had guys injured off and on all year, maybe they they will come back and healthy in time for the divisional round. If they do, I think they will be the best of those defenses I mentioned. But I could be wrong. In the end I honestly think it will be about which offenses can be the most consistent against a relatively bad field of defenses, and which defense which one of those offenses can manage to keep a good offense below the high 20s when it needs to.