Finally Bucs play complete game in win over the 49ers
The Buccaneers finally did something that we have been waiting all season to see. They put a complete game together in beating the San Francisco 49ers 27-9. Offensively, defensively, and in the kicking game, for one Sunday afternoon it all came together for the Bucs.
I know it was one of the worst teams in football That the Bucs beat, but you have to start somewhere and the Bucs took care of business against the 49ers.
The Play of the defense I thought was most impressive. Everyone has been pulling their hair out over the poor play of the defense So far this season. Well, Sunday, the Bucs defense came to play and actually looked a real NFL defense.
The DL put consistent pressure on 49er QB Nick Mullens and registered 4 sacks. Jason Pierre Paul recorded a sack giving him 10.5 on the season and the first Bucs defensive player to register double digit sacks for the first time since Simeon Rice had 14 sacks during the 2007 season. Gerald McCoy, Vinny Curry, and Carl Nassib also registered sacks for the Buccaneers.
It was a coming out party for Vita Vea as Vea had 4 tackles and recorded his first sack of the season. Instead of tying up blockers, Vea was able to shed his blockers and make plays up and down the line of scrimmage. Let’s hope there are a lot more games like this on the horizon for Vita Vea.
The play of Jameis Winston was what we have been expecting to see from Winston all season. This was Winstons best games in two seasons as he took what the defense gave him, did not try to force the ball into areas that were well covered and even took a sack instead of trying to make a play.
Winston throw for 312 yards and 2 TD’s in the win, passing the ball to 8 different receivers. Most importantly Winston dId not turn the ball over.
Now the question is can we see the same type of play from Winston next week against a much better opponent in the Carolina Panthers?
The Bucs won the turnover battle getting two picks late in the game from Ryan Smith and Isaiah Johnson.
What about the kicking game? For the first time I did not feel that the Bucs K might miss an EXP, or a FG. Cairo Santos has been perfect on FG’s and EXP’s through his first two games for the Bucs.
I know it sounds kind of trivial to think that the kicker actually doing what he is supposed to would be one of the things that was right with this win. But after what we have seen from the kicking game the first 11 games of the season it is nice to have someone that can actually make a routine EXP and a 30 yard FG.
We have not seen the Bucs put two solid games together since Dirk Koetter’s first season in 2015. The competition will be much better in the weeks ahead with Carolina, New Orleans and Baltimore all on the horizon.
For one week I thought the Bucs played a pretty solid game. There was much more to like than not like with the win against the 49ers.
-DeSean Jackson is as good as gone after this season. The frustration continues to mount for Jackson as he and Winston have absolutely zero chemistry. You can see the frustration in Jackson’s effort and his body language.
Jackson was targeted 9 times and ended with 3 catches for 18 yards. Mike Evans was also targeted 9 times and caught 6 passes for 116 Yards.
Jackson’s demeanor on Sunday after the game is not what this Bucs team needs right now, especially after their first win in 5 games. Jackson quickly left the field after the game ended as quickly exited the locker room.
Let‘s hope this situation doesn't cause a rift inside the locker room.
