Look, I’m simply going to chop straight to the purpose.
Errors are what preserve groups from profitable video games within the NFL. You possibly can barely beat dangerous groups if you happen to make sufficient errors.
So what do you suppose will occur if you happen to do it in opposition to a very good workforce?
The Bucs know what occurs, and so they had the privilege of discovering out what occurs once more of their 23-20 loss to the Texans.
However I imply, it’s not like they’re unfamiliar with such a loss. This is identical workforce that leads the league in turnovers and is top-Three in penalties heading into Week 16. They know all about making errors.
And there have been loads of them once more on Saturday. Turnovers, penalties, dropped passes – you identify it. If there was a strategy to screw one thing up, the Bucs bought it finished.
The Bucs helped Houston construct a 17-Three lead within the first half thanks to a few turnovers (which included a pick-six) and a primary quarter that noticed the Bucs get hit with 5 penalties for 40 yards.
#GoBucs have 131 yards and common 7.Three yards per play in comparison with simply 15 yards and 1.5 ypp for the #Texans.
That’s what two turnovers, a pick-six, and 5 penalties for 40yds (to date) in a single quarter will get you each time. pic.twitter.com/5kTEb00ez2
— Evan Winter (@evan_winter) December 21, 2019
It’s simple to return and see the place this workforce screwed up. For starters, simply have a look at the dropped move by Cameron Brate on fourth down that prevented any sort of comeback. Peyton Barber had his 17-yard run on 4th-and-2 referred to as again due to a holding name. As a substitute of getting a 1st-and-10 at Houston’s 11, the Bucs have been compelled to aim a 54-yard subject objective that was blocked. Jameis Winston overthrew a number of receivers all through the sport and may’ve had two extra passes intercepted on the day. The teaching employees value the workforce a timeout within the first half and made a number of questionable play calls.
It makes issues worse when you think about that not solely did it value the Bucs the sport, however the loss additionally takes away from a superb defensive efficiency.
Todd Bowles and his crew got here to play and utterly shut down Deshaun Watson and the Texans offense. Watson completed with a 19-of-32 stat line for 184 yards and an interception. He added 37 yards on seven carries, however was held out of the tip zone and was additionally sacked 5 instances. The workforce scored simply 16 factors on offense and averaged 3.6 yards per play. DeAndre Hopkins was held to 5 catches for 23 yards. The Texans have been 4-of-14 on third down and 1-of-Four within the purple zone.
It needs to be irritating for this employees to witness such an unbalanced efficiency, regardless that they’ve a hand in the whole lot. The errors that have been made on Saturday shouldn’t be occurring this late within the season and the worst a part of your complete state of affairs is nobody will know if it’s simply rising pains, a pattern, or a scientific issues that’s inflicting these similar points to occur week after week.
The Bucs made plenty of these similar errors throughout their four-game win streak, however the distinction is that they performed dangerous groups over that stretch. The Texans should not a foul workforce. The truth is, they have been awarded with the 2019 AFC South crown after beating the Bucs.
If Tampa Bay ever needs to get again to profitable the NFC South and making the playoffs, then it’ll must learn to keep away from video games such because the one in opposition to the Texans, or else it’ll be early-season playoff exits and “playoff video games” in early December for the foreseeable future.
