Explains short passing.
For the second week in a row, the Bucs were a short-pass offense, specifically to running backs.
In Week 1, the Bucs did this, very likely because, as Joe pointed out two weeks ago, the Bengals had the worst defense stopping screen passes in 2025.
And it seems like past tape determined how the Bucs would attack the Browns. The Bucs offense was borderline anemic today with short passes to running backs.
Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell combined for eight targets. They combined for six yards receiving.
With receivers like Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka, going to the short game with running backs as targets and getting virtually zero production is shameful.
But it appears from Bucs coach Todd Bowles, this was predetermined prior to the game.
> “It was something they were giving us on tape,” Bowles said.
OK. Tape is one thing. To the best of Joe’s knowledge, offenses are allowed to adjust when the results aren’t there.
But it seems even Bowles was getting fed up with no production from dinking and dunking. Late in the game, the Bucs were throwing the ball downfield. Part of the reason was they didn’t have much of a choice. But Bowles said he wanted to be more aggressive, too.
> “You are not going to get it just going putt, putt, putt, putt, putt, putt, so we took a shot at some passes,” Bowles said.
Joe sure wishes Bowles would have felt the same way in the first half.