Giving the defense props.
Yeah, Joe guesses one could go back to the win over San Francisco and suggest that’s when the Bucs’ defense began to play stingy. Joe won’t argue with you about that.
But man, the past two games, Joe has been very impressed with the Bucs’ defense. The Bucs in Detroit held the mighty Lions to 24 points.
Just on face value, you hold any team to 24 points and you should be in the game or at least have a chance to win. That’s good.
But the Lions, up until that game, has a six-game streak at home, including a loss to Washington in the playoffs last year, where the Lions averaged 37 points a game.
The Bucs held the Lions to two touchdowns less than their average. Not a couple of points, not a field goal or two — but two touchdowns less! That’s impressive to Joe.
Then the way the defense of the Bucs tore up the slimy Saints, well, you just hate to see that. 🙂 Damn, that was an impressive, suffocating, curb-stomping of a defensive display.
This has not been lost on Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. Appearing on the Manning Bros. Show Monday night on BSPN (Joe didn’t see it live as Joe is one of millions of innocent Americans being held hostage by Disney bean counters’ racketeering tactics, denying Joe football.) There, Mayfield made sure to give the Bucs’ defense props.
Peyton Manning asked Mayfield how he thought the Bucs were at the bye week.
“Good,” Mayfield said. “You know, we’ve had a lot of injuries so far, just banged up.
“The guys are guys are making plays. Guys have stepped up in a big way.
“And I think our defense right now is in a really good place, just the way they’re pressuring.”
In the past three games, the Bucs have racked up 15 sacks from 11 different players. Anthony Nelson and YaYa Diaby each have three sacks the past three games. And who will ever forget Nelson’s pick-six of Spencer Rattler?
The way the defense has played lately, the defense may just be bailing the offense out until the offense can find a way to shake off the cobwebs and get its act in gear.
In other words, the defense is playing so well, it is buying the offense time.
Eli: At what point in the week do you practice your scrambling?
Baker: I tried one time in Fayetteville, Arkansas and it didn't go too well. Wound up getting arrested. pic.twitter.com/wyC7Ra1W8i
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) November 4, 2025