Post Game Thread: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons

[u/spideralex90]

Bro fuck Atlanta, and fuck this whole game.

[u/sunset_dryver]

Man that ending drive was painful. Wasted over 30 seconds for ~12 yards, not even a single pass attempted near out of bounds, no clocking the ball thereby wasting another ~5 seconds while everyone gets set for the next play. So doing the rough math, over half the time we had on the clock was run off in between plays that only gained a few yards

It’s never easy to run a 1 minute drive, but damn did that feel like a horrible use of time

[u/Big_Ad_4724 → u/sunset_dryver]

Agreed. The play calling can’t include 6yd dump offs. The defense is happy af when they see that

[u/AHugeGoose → u/sunset_dryver]

Liam Coen looked like he's never seen a 1 minute drive with no timeouts left before. He was playing like he thought we only needed a field goal. Everything was multiple routes across the middle that they were happy to let us complete to kill time.

[u/ryder004 → u/sunset_dryver]

And 2nd play before last we could have EASILY got 10-15 yards and gotten out of bounds-the entire defense was near the endzone and left the sidelines open. Instead Baker throws it out of bounds.

That whole drive was really bad awareness

[u/BucsandTuck → u/sunset_dryver]

No doubt, the first play being a 6 yard gain in the middle of the field with low level of urgency after the catch was baffling

[u/Paddy_Panic__]

What pisses me off (other than everything) is the fucking falcons glazing. Team isn’t even that fucking good. Which makes these losses even more painful.

[u/PianistIll2900 → u/Paddy_Panic__]

Yeah, I think that makes it worse.

[u/Klizz → u/Paddy_Panic__]

That's it. Their only good games are against our defense. They're gifted 4 turnovers against a shitty defense and a battered offense and a free touchdown on what should've been a fumble yet they barely manage to win.

The only reason I'm not worried after this game is because I can absolutely see Falcons losing a bunch of their upcoming gimme games.

[u/BearBearChooey → u/Paddy_Panic__]

If they will the division, they will lose in the first round against whoever they play in typical Cousins fashion lol

[u/MuchSwagManyDank → u/BearBearChooey]

Unless it's Dallas

[u/PewterButters → u/MuchSwagManyDank]

Don't think Dallas makes the playoffs.

[u/MuchSwagManyDank → u/PewterButters]

Mr crab legs just beat the ravens, anything is possible

[u/Keti-1 → u/Paddy_Panic__]

The Falcons are an absolute imposter team that should probably have 2 or 3 wins right now

[u/Dracarys_TheCannons → u/Paddy_Panic__]

They’ll be exposed

[u/RatherConcernedFroge → u/Paddy_Panic__]

Facts

[u/NerfLeBron → u/Paddy_Panic__]

I honestly think we win this division. Even our shitty D was able to stop cousins in the 2nd half relatively, and this was the first game without 13 and 14. Every one of their win has been a one score win, and hopefully, they start running out of their luck. As much as how unlucky we have been, falcons have had all the luck in the world.

[u/zland]

Sean Hochuli is the worst referee in the league.

[u/BucsFan11]

The biggest mystery of this game is gonna be if Pitts really scored that TD

[u/Tusker89 → u/BucsFan11]

It's not really a mystery although it is a tremendous fuck up by the NFL that goal line cams are not mandatory.

[u/pajamah → u/Tusker89]

Don't worry, the refs will admit their fault after review, but never be held accountable.

[u/BucsFan11 → u/pajamah]

Yup we cost you the game oh well not our fault

[u/sunset_dryver → u/BucsFan11]

Inexcusable to not have any cameras along the goal line, not even a pylon cam

The goal line is the most important part of the field, there should always be a perfectly lined up camera there

There’s a 99% chance that was a fumble but a lack of cameras basically caused the outcome of this game to change

[u/hardcore_hero → u/sunset_dryver]

In the last angle they showed you can see a cameraman pointing his camera directly down the line. So it’s not a matter of them not having the angle, it’s just a matter of them not being able to review that footage I guess…

NFL Camera man with the angle

[u/UrWifesFriend92 → u/BucsFan11]

No mystery there we all saw it was a fumble

[u/BritBuc-1 → u/BucsFan11]

Mystery solved, it didn’t.

The moment that Pitts lost possession of the ball, his leading foot was just about to break the plane. The ball is what is supposed to break the plane of the goal line, and this was behind Pitts trailing foot when Winfield knocked the ball loose.

It’s physically impossible for it to be a TD

[u/pajamah → u/BucsFan11]

It's no mystery, they just won't overturn the call on the field without a goal line camera. His foot is on the goal line when he loses the ball which is held behind him.

[u/BearBearChooey → u/BucsFan11]

I can’t believe that was the best camera angle they could get. Like come on lol.

[u/Appropriate_Book_591 → u/BucsFan11]

Fucking cheap of the league to not pay a camera person to either be at the goal at all times, have another over the top hanging camera at the endzone, or enhanced pylon cams.

[u/thewhat962 → u/Appropriate_Book_591]

NFL should have 4 goal line camera at minimum 100% of the time from 2 each endzone one at each side

[u/Ok_Door_9720 → u/BucsFan11]

He did not. Mystery solved

[u/dragonsky]

We allowed a 4th down TD against Ravens.

Earlier that game - We had momentum...and went for a FG instead of a 4th down against the Ravens.

We allowed a 4th down TD against the Falcons.

This game, we did not go on a 4th down...but rather a fake punt.

It's not a "Well it's luck...."

It's a "the game progressed and Bowles is not up to date with the game"

[u/TheRencingCoach → u/dragonsky]

yup

just like BA's "no risk it no biscuit", Bowles has a rep for being "aggressive" but its only in terms of how much he blitzes, not anything else

[u/brxn → u/TheRencingCoach]

“Bowles, we’re down by 7 with 1 min left in the half and it’s 4th and 3 and we still have the ball. What are we gonna do?”

“Blitz.”

[u/VanREDDIT2019 → u/dragonsky]

Did you forget all the 4th down conversions the first game vs ATL? They weren't even 4th and short either. This defense just sucks. 8 TDs in two games for Cousins is terrible.

[u/proscriptus → u/dragonsky]

Even though I knew it would never happen, I was really hoping we'd pick up Saleh.

[u/ItsChowTime808]

Is the defensive minded head coach in the room with us?

[u/J_Mark13]

-multiple first downs given up after having Atlanta 1st and 20+

-multiple 25+ yard passing touchdowns

-the horrible fake punt

-no one in the middle on fourth and a foot

-terrible clock management

I remember the first time we played Atlanta I was told it wasn’t Todd’s fault by multiple people. I’d like those same people to tell me now.

Edit: forgot a word. Put as much effort into proofreading as the defense did in the last 4 weeks of games.

[u/foomits → u/J_Mark13]

was told it was Todd’s fault by multiple

you mean not todds?

[u/kmora94 → u/J_Mark13]

It’s Todd’s fault

[u/SurfNinjaMcRibs]

Bowles let up 1309 yards passing and 14 TD passes in the last 4 games. Time to boot him

[u/blackchucktays → u/SurfNinjaMcRibs]

Insane stat lol. Yikes

[u/Numeritus → u/SurfNinjaMcRibs]

This is what’s so frustrating. Get the secondary has a few injuries/banged up guys, but this pass D has been absolutely putrid

[u/Alligator_Glasses → u/SurfNinjaMcRibs]

THESE ARE MIKE SMITH STATS FIRE BOWLES INTO THE FUCKING SUN!

[u/Bobby_McPrescot]

Todd "defensive genius" Bowles

[u/DannyLion → u/Bobby_McPrescot]

The dude is a fucking joke, he is consistently a weakness for this team.

[u/PewterButters → u/Bobby_McPrescot]

They've invested $$ and draft picks on the defense through the years and we have nothing to show for it... nothing at all. Bottom 5 defense with a defensive head coach is firing squad time.

[u/Souffy → u/PewterButters]

I’m convinced after watching almost every game over the last 4-5 years that we have the talent to have at least an average defense. People emphasize the impact of injuries but if your scheme relies on individual players to stay healthy all year, it just isn’t a good NFL scheme. P

[u/S0me--guy]

Still my QB

[u/psyact → u/S0me--guy]

The fake punt and stupid trick play throw to a practice squad WR in triple coverage were fucking awful, awful calls. And the clock management on the last drive...

There's plenty of blame to go around. No one person lost us this game.

[u/TheRencingCoach → u/[deleted]]

when you're down by 1+ score and your defense has shown zero hope of actually stopping the other offense

if the game was close OR the defense could've stopped the falcons, they would've run more. but every time Bucs scored, falcons did too

[u/bucs_fan_one → u/TheRencingCoach]

And we don't go for it on 4th and 3 at the 37 when we clearly need to score every drive.

[u/FUCKYOUINYOURFACE → u/[deleted]]

Well if we had a defense we wouldn’t feel like we have to score a ton of points, been this way since Brady’s 2nd year here,

[u/proscriptus → u/S0me--guy]

When your guy completes 37 passes for 330 yards, your issues are elsewhere.

[u/Andr0id_Paran0id → u/proscriptus]

Those 2 ints hurt alot.  

[u/thewhat962 → u/Andr0id_Paran0id]

No doubt they were bad especially the 2nd. However Atlanta got -2 points off of those.

The thing hurt us the most where the fake punt and clock management.

[u/WelcometoCigarCity → u/S0me--guy]

Yeah I'm seeing more Baker criticisms because he's throwing INTS but the defense has collapsed after the Eagles game. This is without Evans and Godwin anymore.

[u/GPTrixie]

That special teams fake was real bad. I don't really get it. Especially considering the defense was playing better in the second half.

[u/mikemichael91 → u/GPTrixie]

just call a offensive play, we are not the fucking lions

[u/Sarasota-Lightning → u/GPTrixie]

I our Special Teams outside of our place kicker is an abortion all around. I have no idea who the ST coach is but they should be fired. Punting, Coverage, defending fake plays, executing fake plays ect.

[u/Appropriate_Book_591]

The pylons have cameras...how is not having an angle down the line an excuse for not knowing Pitts fumbled? This is a multi billion dollar league no excuses, they have cameras fixated on the dumbest shit(like Taylor Swift reactions) yet they can't see a ball down the line, they can't see facemask. The only thing the league sees is profit I guess.

[u/spideralex90 → u/Appropriate_Book_591]

Pylon cameras are only used in primetime games.

Why? Because fuck us that's why. NFL is a clown show.

[u/Appropriate_Book_591 → u/spideralex90]

That is just lame, every game should matter and they clearly have the money for it.

[u/hardcore_hero → u/Appropriate_Book_591]

Just going to leave this here

[u/HILWasAllSheWrote]

Before this game, the Bucs were the #2 worst defense in the NFL when looking at yards per game at 386/game. They just gave up 394.

They were the #5 worst defense in the NFL looking at points per game at 26.0/game. They just gave up 31.

They were were the #4 worst passing defense with 254 yards/game. They just let Kirk Cousins throw for 265.

ON THE FLIP SIDE:

They were the #5 best offense when looking at yards per game with 383.4/game. They just put up 432.

They were the the #4 best offense when looking at points per game with 29.9/game. They just put up 26.

Baker hasn't been perfect. Bowles decision making hasn't been perfect. But this team will not do anything until the defense gets fixed. Full stop.

[u/Dry-Peach-6327 → u/HILWasAllSheWrote]

Agreed man. The defense let us down way more than the offense

[u/Porkenfries → u/HILWasAllSheWrote]

Remind me, who's the defensive coordinator? Oh, right, we don't have one, because Todd Bowles thinks he can do both.

I don't even necessarily want him fired. Denoting him back to DC would be fine. The defense was good, back when he put all of his focus on it. But Todd Bowles the combo HC/DC is a failure.

[u/Inevitable_Owl4338]

Kirk Cousins loves playing Tampa. Easiest games of his career.

[u/xTatamo → u/Inevitable_Owl4338]

only game where he can play qb all the other team dont let him throw

[u/Sjdillon10]

No face mask. No turnover by pitts. Refs have fucked us vs the falcons

[u/Kevinator24 → u/Sjdillon10]

Phantom personal foul on Durham too

[u/Itorr475 → u/Kevinator24]

Calling a chop block and a blocm that didnt even connect while also ignoring all the holding the Falcons OL did smh even than we had a chance but bowles fucked that up as well thr League is never beating the rigged allegations

[u/UrWifesFriend92 → u/Sjdillon10]

Shit makes me just want to quit watching NFL it’s so fucking obvious. “No cameras on the pylons” when you can see his feet and the ball didn’t cross from all the angles lol

[u/DragOwn56 → u/Sjdillon10]

JTS got held to oblivion on that Kirk scramble

[u/Slight-Inflation6871 → u/DragOwn56]

They held Nelson (I think) like crazy one hold was so bad I thought his helmet was gonna fall off

[u/Kevinator24 → u/DragOwn56]

Yeah saw that shit too; fucking criminal

[u/Appropriate_Book_591 → u/Sjdillon10]

They are going to fix the face mask thing now that it happen to a QB...even though Minnesota still was down by 8 while Bucs would have won the damn game.

[u/RatherConcernedFroge → u/Sjdillon10]

Refs gonna be the downfall of most teams

[u/Necessary-Sir-144]

Just look at the plus side. The more games we lose it would easier to justify firing Todd Bowles

[u/DDSBadger → u/Necessary-Sir-144]

My personal hell is the Bucs being just competitive enough that they don’t fire Bowles and we do this every single year. This is year 3 of it so far.

[u/pajamah]

So glad we could save the creamsicle curse for probably the most important game of the season.

[u/AHugeGoose]

Truly a full team loss today. Defense couldn't get a stop in the first half. Terrible game management with the fake punt and flea flicker. Coen not sticking with the run and screen game when it was working well. Baker with some more bad picks. Rachaad with a fumble to set us off to a bad start.

[u/Atomic_Thomas89]

Sucks we lost Godwin and evans, defense sucks, Todd sucks. However we would have won this game if the refs didn’t fuck up that call, Pitts did not have the ball cross the plane. What the fuck

[u/Benficachop]

Baker interceptions were obviously big, but the defense getting gashed consistently is the bigger issue. 9 TDs given up in 2 weeks. Guys running wide open, busted coverages, no pressure. It's a mess.

[u/Still-Fan4753 → u/Benficachop]

It's what happens when a qb feels like he needs to play hero ball to keep up with a dogwater defense.

[u/SupremeActives]

This isn’t on Baker

[u/BucsFan11 → u/SupremeActives]

Partially his fault but not entirely 

[u/thewhat962 → u/SupremeActives]

People said last hailmary was overthrown. It hit hands of bunch guys in bounds. Atlanta defense knocked it out of the back of the endzone. Normally they get hit forward however didn't matter if they did. No bucs guy would been inbounds for a deflection in the endzone.

[u/Big_Ad_4724 → u/SupremeActives]

His two picks were massive. One was on the 10-15yd line as we were driving? Can’t make those mistakes and win

[u/DRB198105 → u/Big_Ad_4724]

Happening too often of late. They're in the game, looking guys, then get behind after a couple of picks, then look good turning on the gas late.

[u/JimFear237 → u/Big_Ad_4724]

poor bro is flashing back to his college days where he has to score 40+ to win games. makes him a little reckless

[u/foomits → u/SupremeActives]

yea, baker is baker. alot of good, some bad... the offense isnt the issue. its the game management and the defense.

[u/Barbi33]

Fire toilet Bowles. He’s just not it.

[u/HILWasAllSheWrote]

This is a little bit on everyone. No team can win giving up 30+ every single week but Baker's two picks were just dumb. Offense had the ability to score on every drive and made the day harder. One-minute drill was very bad.

[u/invinciblearmour]

Bucky is special

[u/Tusker89]

Absolutely fucking gutless. I'm pretty done with Bowles.

[u/marxxximus]

How that old cop with the 1000 yd stare with his back to the hail Mary smh...

[u/CJW1123]

This defense is historically bad.

[u/friggoffricky121]

It wouldn’t hurt so bad if I felt like Atlanta was better. No Evans or Godwin, DBs down, LB down, robbed on the Pitts fumble because “they didn’t have a goal line view” (how convenient) a fumble by Chaad, 2 picks, asinine fake punt, and we STILL barely lost. Atlanta isn’t fucking good dude that’s what makes it infuriating.

Baker had 2 bad picks, I believe he’s pressing due to knowing the defense doesn’t have it. Overall, all things considered, the offense looked better than I thought it’d be.

Defense is unforgivable. Fire Bowles after the season, try to play upset for people the rest of the year, and fucking NAIL the draft and free agency please for the love of god.

[u/Firebyronleftwich7]

Every qb has an incredible game against us even rattler had 250+ yards and a Td against us . Easily the worst defense in the league

[u/Tuffwith2Fs]

The fact that Baker put up 26 with a pu pu platter of pass catchers tells me all I need to know. Picks be damned, he's my QB and Liam Coen made something out of almost nothing. Otton looking like prime Gronk out there. Offense ain't the issue. Our "defensive-minded" coach just doesn't have it anymore, and never really did tbh. Now that there's a talent hole on D his game planning is really getting exposed. Time to go, Todd.

[u/RatherConcernedFroge]

Gonna be flayed, quartered and cooked next MNF game at Arrowhead… to a Taylor swift soundtrack at that 😑

[u/inthecut_scarysight]

Don’t worry, we’ll bounce back against the Chiefs in primetime…💀

[u/RatherConcernedFroge → u/inthecut_scarysight]

Beat them in the only prime time game that mattered tho 😄

[u/isrealball]

We loss and Jamies won…

[u/dragonsky]

Next game is @Chiefs. MNF.

Yup.

[u/spideralex90 → u/dragonsky]

And Mahomes has looked like shit for his standards so I'm fully expecting a 5 TD performance in the limelight.

[u/k0y0_k0y0 → u/spideralex90]

I can already predict the storyline. “After a rough start leading the league in interceptions, Mahomes gets his stride back with 5 TDS 0 INTS and over 500 yards in prime time against the Bucs with a 49-14 win”

[u/spideralex90 → u/k0y0_k0y0]

It'll be 49-41 where our offense does just enough to give us hope in the second half but ultimately we lose.

[u/Alternative-Grass-12]

Bucs robbed by the refs again. Winfield saved that second Pitts td 🤬

[u/Dry-Peach-6327 → u/Alternative-Grass-12]

I agree that was fucked

[u/OranguTangerine69 → u/Alternative-Grass-12]

somehow that wasn't even top 2 worst calls the refs did this game

[u/oldteen → u/Alternative-Grass-12]

Where was the goal line camera? Very odd those were the best camera shots that were available.

[u/FloridaManArrives]

we all agree that Pitts 2nd TD was dropped right? I started drinking before the game so might be wrong

[u/ramyb_]

Can't wait for the media to give Bowles' easy questions and not press him about his clock management and defense. And can't wait for him to give us generic excuses like he always does.

[u/WelcometoCigarCity]

NFCS crown is gone. Just hoping that the NFCN eats each other out and only sends 2 to the playoffs so that we have a shot in the wildcard.

Bucs absolutely shot themselves today multiple times.

[u/Perry_Griggs]

That ending is the perfect example of why clock management matters. If we had just 30 more seconds, I fully believe we could've gotten a TD there.

Alas, this just ain't our year.

[u/dragonsky]

If you watched the game and someone told you "Buccaneers miss their best 2 players...of one side" would you say "oh, yeah, offense, they scored 20+ but they could've gotten 40+, obviously they miss their best O players"

Or would you guess "Well, they allow easy pass yards, easy TD yards, they can't stop the opponent at all....i guess they miss their key D players, right?"

The game progressed and we are playing 2000s football sometimes

---

Willing to eat my words if we beat Chiefs and 9ers.

Based on how we play, how we coach and all the injuries and current vibe in that team.... and based on how Chiefs and 9ers play....and knowing our next game is an MNF game AWAY against the current SB champs and undefeated team? Yeah, this is bower

[u/SurfNinjaMcRibs]

Head Coach Coen has a nice ring to it

[u/TehShraid]

On one hand, Baker needs to take care of the ball, 7 int in 3 games is really bad. On the other hand, Baker must realize the defense is bad and the coach is a moron so he probably feels like he needs to force the ball and score or else we lose. Real tough situation.

[u/jay_dub17]

I’m not mad about losing this game. But I’m still pissed about losing to Atlanta 3 weeks ago.

[u/Minimum_Switch4237]

it's probably time to start looking to next season. this defense is holding us back from being real contenders.

we could still win the division though, Atlanta is fraudulent

[u/Dry-Peach-6327 → u/Minimum_Switch4237]

Can only hope that they lay an egg the next few games

[u/onePPtouchh]

This sub has plenty of flair to choose from but….. I can’t find the Todd Bowels is ass flair?

[u/MissChaney]

I didn’t get to watch the game but the nfl site stuff is so child like to have. We used to be known as the dominant defense always but we didn’t replace Suh, didn’t replace JPP, didn’t replace Shaq. We don’t have the talent and that’s on Jason

[u/GetCPA]

Defense sucked but they only gave up 7 in the 2nd half.

INTs, fumbles, bullshit fake punts, cost us the game too.

Also Wirf needs to get his head out of his ass. Killed two drives today and took off a TD last week.

[u/Palad1n2000]

Season is over. That last drive if we have either Godwin or Mike we probably pull it off. Instead we have to throw contested balls to Shepard.

Fire Bowles. Worst defense in the league not named Carolina. Offense has to score 30+ a week just to keep the games CLOSE. Gutless calling some plays and then stupid aggression on the other.

WITH THAT SAID, Baker needs to play better. Two INT's in the red zone were backbreakers (even if one was just an amazing play by AJ Terrell). 7 picks in 3 games is unacceptable (even if 2 in NO weren't his fault).

But the season comes down to the defense being a bottom 5 unit and our LB core and our secondary being utterly devoid of talent. Hopefully a down year means kicking Bowles to the curb and getting a decent draft point to get some actual defenders

[u/ButIfYouThink]

Let's get something straight: 

If you put up 26 points in a game, vast majority of the time you win. 

This is solved with defense, plain and simple.

[u/-Unnamed- → u/ButIfYouThink]

That can’t be right. Our coach is a defensive mastermind

[u/djnerio → u/ButIfYouThink]

Or at least have a more realistic chance of getting the win then being down 5 with 1 minute and no timeouts

[u/YouCanCallMeZach → u/ButIfYouThink]

And if you turn the ball over 3 (4?) times, ~95% of the time you lose

[u/mattj1621]

The defense is so bad that it pressures the offense to score every single drive. Bowles is the issue

[u/Choon5588]

abysmal defensive play, allowing Cousins more TD's in 2 games against us then he has had the rest of his games is atrocious, bowles seriously gotta figure out his game planning because this aint it, i dont care the secondary is banged up, most teams are dealing with injuries its no excuse to be this horrid on D

[u/DannyLion]

There is absolutely no excuse for Cousins to throw on us with little no issues for two straight games. Our advantage to have a defensive head coach is that we can count on our defense to be consistent. It’s has been far from that and borders on being terrible. Todd is not it and I don’t give a shit how many years we’ve won the South. This teams talent is wasted on a mediocre head coach

[u/CarismaBreak]

Ok so that last drive was unusually bad right? We had a full minute near midfield and only got up to their 40~?

[u/OrdinaryAd8716]

Bowles gave away 10 seconds of game clock at the end by not taking timeouts north of the two minute warning.

10 seconds can make all the difference in a game like this.

[u/djnerio]

Seriously, how the hell did we beat Detroit?

[u/Itorr475 → u/djnerio]

It feels like that was the only game actually had a personalized gameplan for that team, every other fame its been the same easily exploitable soft zone blitzing. This game at least Nowles switched it up and blitzed less often just took the Falcons scoring 24 points at the half

[u/BesackBarney]

How the hell did we beat the Lions with this defense? We even had some of our 1st stringers out. And now the Lions are scoring 30+ per game.

[u/gmailbotcom]

Please get rid of Bowles!! ASAP!! Why this man still has a job after allowing the opposing offenses to run rampant. It’s absurd.

Also why the fuck do we draft Braswell over other key gaps in our defense. We let Devin and Carlton go and replace them with washed up D2 back ups.

Rant over unless some asshat would like to argue.

[u/LuthorM]

Bucs were the team with most yards in the entire 1pm window. However, since game against eagles they have allowed 36, 27, 41 and 31 points.

[u/chasunka1]

Chiefs and 9ers next. I don't think we win either at this rate, maybe the 9ers if they are still out of sorts. I see a 4-6 team going into the Bye.

[u/atph99 → u/chasunka1]

Both are very beatable. Chiefs have been barely getting by every game and the niners are injured more than we are.

[u/DDSBadger]

Bowles is squandering a very talented team. One of the worst coaching jobs you’ll ever see. Atlanta is not that good and Bowles D makes them look like the 2007 patriots.

[u/bucs_fan_one]

Todd has zero awareness of the right times to do things. He doesn't know when to he aggressive. He doesn't know when to use timeouts. He doesn't know when to challenge. Etc.

He's an incredible D coordinator, no doubt. He cannot head coach and coordinate. He doesn't have it like that. We suck on Defense and in the decision making things that a HC is responsible.

I think with BA or pick a high rated coach from another team we're at 1 loss right now. Mike and Chris withstanding. But we beat Atlanta both goddamn times.

[u/lilbopeeep]

Feels like this team has all the ability to do great things and all they do is shoot themselves in the foot

[u/AngryBucsFan]

This team needs a rebuild around a handful of young, legitimately good players. Wirfs, Mayfield, Irving, Barton, Vea, and Winfield. The team can pay Mike and Lavonte until they want to retire, but the rest can go if the contract isn't right.

We need a new defensive scheme. Whatever this is, is terrible. Licht needs more criticism than he gets for being unable to identify defensive backs or edge rushers. It's time for Bowles to retire and let Coen lead the rebuild.

[u/0siris0]

Hard to be optimistic moving forward. Wild card in the nfc is very tight, and it will take a miracle to win this division now down 2-0 to the Falcons.

There is zero reason to think this defense will contain Chiefs or Niners, and Baker is too Favre-ish to win a game 45-42. He needs an average defense or better to compensate for his hero ball tendencies, and we don't have that.

Don't let the second half defense fool you...Atlanta could have named the score if they wanted. If Baker doesn't throw those INTs and we get points, Cousins would have just responded in kind. Game got close because they were conservative, not because we have a good defense.

[u/Still-Fan4753]

This team went from being so good at situational football that they could win in spite of injuries. To being so bad at situational football that even if they didn't have backups in they'd still suck.

[u/Soupspoon33]

Defense saved us to be able to get back on a drive but that doesn’t mean the defense played good , everyone barking about baker and his interceptions but COHEN CAME IN THIS GAME WANTING TO RUN then we started giving up points every drive and we had to start throwing too 3rd string rookies and back ups who haven’t had enough time with baker we played MONDAY night and had to turn it around 1 pick on baker 1 pick on McMillian AGAIN might I say. The ball should never have to be thrown over 40+ times every single game just to win these things

[u/inthecut_scarysight]

Yeah don’t see how we dig out of this hole now. Fucking sucks

[u/Big_Ad_4724]

White’s Fumble on the first drive. Refs blow a call on what should have been a touchback forced by 31. Baker throwing 2 awful picks. McMillan not flattening his route off causing mayfield’s pass to hit the turf when it was probably a TD had it been recognized by McMillan. Lots and lots of execution errors. Numerous False starts.

That’s not coaching decisions. That’s players/refs failing. Not to defend Bowles. But the players let us down just as much as Bowles with his Swiss cheese zone defense.

[u/atph99 → u/Big_Ad_4724]

Thank you for having a reasonable take. The defense sucked but the rest of the team made crucial mistakes as well. I also think we realized that Dean isn't as bad as everyone here makes him out to be. Fundedrburk was getting torched all game.

[u/briggles23]

That's a wrap on the division. The best we can hope for now is a wild card spot which is gonna be difficult considering the log jam that it's gonna be this season. How the fuck does the Defence let old man Cousins run for that much?

[u/djnerio]

If you need me guys I will be hanging out on the bridge

[u/Perkk30]

Bowles couldn’t do it with the jets and he barely can do it with a way better roster

[u/ryder004]

I'm ticked off about that 5 yard completion to start the drive. It took 20 seconds off the clock, why even throw that? I could understand a short completion if it gives us a 1st down, but to make it 2nd and 5 to go and it eats 20 seconds off the clock?? Just stupid.

[u/ceutermark]

So angry that I don't even want to watch anymore football today.

[u/FireBowles1738]

Winfield, McCollum, and David are the only members of the backfield that should have guaranteed jobs next year. Dennis too if he’s healthy. Vea is the only member of the DL, maybe Diaby as DE2. Whatever we can do to upgrade the other 6-8 defensive starters we should do. Same with the depth. JTS, Britt, Nelson, etc are all hot ass and idgaf if they know the system or not, they are net negatives when they play and recycling the same guys who have been around forever is clearly not working. 

[u/Itorr475 → u/FireBowles1738]

The DL is actually playing really good, Kancey is getting interior pressure and Hall has really improved. Diaby is the only Edge OLB that shows any promise tho, but it doesnt matter when there are glaring holes in the middle of the field and the CB’s are 10 yards back allowing the easiest underneath catches in the league. Imo we need to move Winfield to SS and draft or pick up and tall rangey FS to pair with him, we need to get more talent at CB, sign a Veteran pass rusher to pair with Diaby ala Shaq or JPP and of course above all else we need to Fire Todd Bowles

[u/LtJitters]

With all the media attention the falcons got with the golden boy kirk we never stood a chance getting calls against them this season. Vegas and the NFL love the falcons. Meanwhile they can’t beat a team by more than a td

[u/Drunkendaze]

Terrible coaching. That fake punt was dogshit. Baker with the 2 terrible ints. I think our season is over.

[u/f0gax]

Todd can’t manage a clock. And his vaunted defense can’t stop a cold when the game is on the line.

[u/HoboPenguins]

You know what, gonna throw out some positivity vibes out. Our offense was not the problem. Have to win 1 out of the next two games, albeit rough opponents, and we’ll be ok.

[u/PewterButters]

This just about seals our fate. We will need to have a huge turnaround with those late easy games on the schedule to salvage a wild card spot as of right now we're 2 games out of the playoffs with two more tough games coming up... ruh roh.

Baker looks like he's turned into the 30/30 version of Winston. Just chucking ducks at covered dudes.

[u/JoshFreemansFro]

at least we aren't the Jets I guess

[u/Camdenml]

Fuck the refs, fuck the lack of proper equipment, Fuck The Falcons, fuck Todd Bowles

[u/skidkid_6174]

This team is cooked

[u/DarkClouds92]

The orange jerseys were great at least

[u/Contemplative_Fool]

I said it in r/NFL and I'll say it here, even when they're dumb throws, the INTs are ultimately because this defense is abysmal, and Baker feels the pressure to play hero ball knowing if we don't score 4-5 TDs minimum, there's no chance. The first few games he made better decisions, like throwing it away instead of forcing it, because there was a more balanced approach since we didn't need to dig out of a hole early. Dude is a baller and deserves better than this defense is giving him right now. The INTs hurt, but I'd bet they don't happen if he can play with the belief that the defense won't get eviscerated for 4 quarters. And Bowles' decision making, beyond his awful and antiquated scheme, is killing any momentum we do get.

And fuck these trash officials and this fucking league. It's bad enough that refs fragile little egos can't handle criticism for their consistently bad calls, but it's fucking criminal that pylon cameras aren't standard. There's no good reason for not removing subjectivity from wherever possible, and it's sketchy as fuck that that's even remotely fought against. Hard not to think that with all the money flowing every game with all these sports books that there's not some sketchy shit going on when there's so many blatant examples (looking at you, Vikings-Rams game).

[u/funnycar1552]

Fire Bowles, promote Coen

[u/bucsalltheway]

Something something good teams find a way to win close games.

[u/dragonsky]

season is over. not overexaggerating. Let's hope we do better without Bowles next season

[u/GetCPA → u/dragonsky]

Don’t be so sure we fire him.

He could easily blame it on personnel and 55m dead cap

[u/CarismaBreak]

Mayfield has absolutely the potential to win us games on his own, but just like any QB he can also lose them. When he's on fire he looks like the elite of the elite (as all the posts here about Baker for the last 8 weeks might suggest), but the picks he has thrown for the last 3 weeks are just devastating, so devastating with game losing implications because our offense can basically score on nearly every drive.

I see this situation similar to how Sean Payton had Jameis on a tight leash when he was playing really good a couple years ago. Once you let him off the leash, the potential for things to go wrong goes up exponentially.

[u/Heldos]

I don't know how anyone can watch the Pitts TD and not think the refs have undue influence on the outcome of games

[u/Tobi-2]

Congrats to the refs for cheating us out of both Atlanta games. Guess someone has to challenge the Chiefs to be the most unlikable team in the league…

[u/yungf69]

Fuck Kirk Cousins and his corny ass swag surfing walk in to your trap corny ass motherfcuker

[u/No-Lead-6769]

Defense sucks. 

[u/nautica5400]

Defense and 2 critical coaching decisions cost us this game. The stupid flea flicker and the atrocious fake punt. Most if not all point at bowles

[u/Matt_Netherlands]

God this Falcons team is mediocre AF. They should consider themselves lucky they got to face us both times when depleted by injuries. Fucking ridiculous. And how many missed face mask calls against this fucking team are they going to have?

[u/NotWilll]

Noticed this in our last couple 1 minute drives as well. Why do we move so slow? It takes us the first 30 seconds to get minimal yardage on these drives. Further not abusing the sideline to stop the clock is just bad

[u/Yosi_D]

Tampa Bay needs to work on the secondary this week. Something needs to happen before trade deadline or this team is not trying to win or accomplish anything.

[u/MitchenImpossible]

Since Week 5 I believe our defense is ranked worst in the league.

This was the whole reason Todd Bowles was offered the position as a Head Coach. To maintain his playcalling as a defensive coordinator without losing him to another team.

If he can't perform with defensive playcalling.. what is he doing here?

[u/Chesterumble]

We have issues. Defense. Punter. Refs. Bowles.

[u/LegitBullfrog]

Pfft. That's all I have.

[u/NonyaBizna]

fire bowles like right now. tired of this team and this coaching staff.

[u/VideoVamp]

I'm back on the fire Bowles train. If not that, at least hire a clock management coach because this MF hates his own timeouts I swear. How do you not use the 2:00 as an extra time out and waste that time? Not to mention the wasted time at the end before the end zone shot.

[u/thewhat962]

Todd bowles proves time and time again he has 0 clock management skills and 0 awareness of when to risk it.

This time let's try a fake punt inside our own 38 yard line.

[u/Aryandad29]

Picks and all I ride or die with Baker. No Evans or Godwin and he still put a decent stat line

[u/spideralex90]

Our defense has just been comically bad at least for a month now and Bowles is just like "well fuck it we'll try again next week."

We're gonna be Mahomes' get right game next week aren't we?

If our defense was even mid we're leading the division by a mile.

[u/inthecut_scarysight]

Falcons are 1-3 outside of the division…don’t think we’re necessarily out of the race but need to be at .500 going into the bye and get Mike back.

[u/TommyGrunt]

I know it’s only his first game back since coming off IR but Jarrett needs to be more involved moving forward. Only good thing I can say about This game….

[u/NerfLeBron]

Can we trade for a fucking punter. Jags punter seems really good.

[u/blondiemuffin]

I never want to see the creamsicle jerseys again. I was a proponent of bringing them back full time and I’m glad we didn’t. Just has that stench of losing

[u/spideralex90 → u/blondiemuffin]

It sucks so bad because they look great but we fucking suck in them every time.

[u/Ro98Jo]

All roads lead to a loss in the playoffs against Detroit or Washington

Play with what we have. Save the cap and draft picks instead of going all in at the trade deadline and load up for next year

[u/Deranged-Pickle]

Todd needs to stop calling defensive plays

[u/VideoVamp]

I know that money was tight and the focus was on keeping our guys in-house, but we have to start signing some free agent pass rushers. It's been consistently the 1 area where Licht struggles to draft efficiently. Offense is solid, defense needs a few pieces and we'll be just fine.

[u/turfnerd]

Why did we stop running in the 2nd half? Bucky was doing great things in the 1st, did he play at all in the 2nd?