One of these quarterbacks’ teams is averaging 31 points per game over the past five weeks.
Perhaps you remember the last time — and the only time — a Kevin Stefanski offense faced a Todd Bowles defense.
Joe sure does. It was one of the worst Bucs-fan afternoons of this decade.
Hopefully, that scene doesn’t repeat itself today when the Bucs faced Stefanski’s 3-4 Falcons team.
With backup QB Jacoby Brissett starting for Stefanski’s bumbling 2022 Browns, Cleveland racked up 367 yards of offense on the Bucs, including 189 yards rushing and 22 first downs.
The Browns won in overtime after Bowles pulled the ball out of Tom Brady’s hands on first down with 32 seconds remaining on the clock and the game tied at 17.
On that first down, the Bucs threw a quick dumpoff pass to Rachaad White instead of pushing the rock downfield with a timeout in their pocket. Bowles didn’t call timeout after the 1-yard gain. Bowles’ rationale after the game was that he didn’t want to risk throwing an interception and that would give the Browns field position. Meanwhile, Brady had been fantastic at protecting the ball all season, and he didn’t have an interception in that game, despite 40-plus pass attempts.
The Browns dominated time of possession and the win bumped their sad record to 4-7.
That’s the only time a Stefanski offense faced Bowles, per Joe’s research.
Over the past five weeks, no team has scored more than the Falcons. They’re averaging 31 points per game through that stretch, which coincided with quarterback Michael Penix re-taking the starting job. The Bucs have their work cut out for them today.