“Teams Salivate When They Play The Bucs”
November 22nd, 2025
The Buccaneers’ pass defense has had a rough year.
It certainly hasn’t been all bad, but you’re generally sleeping well on Saturday nights knowing your fantasy football quarterback is facing Tampa Bay the next day.
The defense ranks seventh-worst in the NFL in yards per attempt and sixth-worst in total passing yards allowed.
Retired Rams and Patriots defensive end Chris Long says it’s not just about pass rush.
“Teams salivate when they play the Bucs,” Long noted on his popular Green Light podcast, which takes a very deep dive into most Bucs games.
“Even if they get healthy, that’s the one thing that the Bucs, defensively, even more than the lack of pass rush … if your linebackers don’t have a great feel or they’re not great in coverage in today’s NFL that’s a tough deal.”
Long has been a steady critic of Bucs inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis and, well, Lavonte David isn’t what he used to be. Long also was highly critical of Todd Bowles asking Anthony Nelson to cover Bills Pro Bowl running back James Cook last Sunday.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is not afraid to work the middle of the field, Long noted, and he expects plenty of that tomorrow night when the Bucs face the Rams on Sunday Night Football.
As for teams salivating facing the Bucs defense, it’s a sad reality right now.