What can you even say about this latest debacle?
Thursday night. Creamsicles. Against the Falcons. Against Kirk Cousins.
It’s like we all knew we were standing in the path of a charging freight train, and for
some reason we believed it would brake in time or magically veer off the track.
No no, we all got hit full speed — a bloody smear sprayed all over the tattered grass of Raymond James Stadium.
The latest loss for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a 29-28 defeat against the lowly Atlanta Falcons, is beyond brutal. It is irredeemable, unacceptable, and embarrassing — a morbidly beautiful tribute to the ‘76 Bucs, the Bucs of the 80s, and the teams of the late aughts and 2010s.
You can rationalize or cope or hope or do whatever you need. We all grieve in different ways, but I’m here to tell you the blunt truth: this season is over. Start your preliminary coaching research and mock drafts now.
Shoutouts for a few guys who actually did their jobs, and we’re out.
Offensive Top Performer: WR Mike Evans
This man, THE Franchise Player, got his collarbone literally shattered not even two months ago, and on Thursday he came out in full uniform ready to brawl like a bloodied and bruised boxer in the late rounds refusing to throw in the towel. The result? Six catches for 132 yards with a long of 45, taking a couple massive shots along the way.
Evans fought back for this team that was desperately trying to reverse its tailspin, and it essentially turned its back on him. It was disgraceful.
The receiver corps as a whole looked strong. Godwin made several critical catches, including a touchdown and two-point conversion. In his first action of the entire year after a broken neck, Jalen McMillan looked great with 2 catches for 38 yards. And Emeka Egbuka radiated improved confidence with 4 catches for 64 yards.
It’s shame their QB completely let them all down, as he has been doing for weeks. If Baker Mayfield is too hurt or too rattled to play, he should be sitting. He has not been good enough, and he essentially ended both of the Bucs’ last two possessions single-handedly. It cannot happen.
Defensive Top Performer: No One
Up two scores with 10 minutes left. The Falcons gifted penalties left and right all night long — a franchise-record 19 to be precise, the most in an NFL game this year! Third and 28 on the final drive, and the Bucs gave it up.
This is one of the worst defenses in the league and now authors of the biggest collapse for the Bucs in the last 5 years. They might as well play the rest of their games in neighboring Orlando it’s so Mickey Mouse.
Complete. Trash.
Special Teams Top Performer: K Chase McLaughlin
It might perhaps be lost in this depressive quagmire, but McLaughlin is a huge reason this team even has a winning record to begin with — may I remind people of game-winners against the Texans, Jets, and Seahawks.
He was perfect again Thursday, including his NFL-best 10th field goal from 50+ yards — he has not missed from that distance.
