Bucs head coach Todd Bowles delivered a severe message to his group after their hard-fought, mistaken-prone 28-13 win over the visiting Las Vegas Raiders. The win, which snapped a three-game dropping streak at Raymond James Stadium, coupled with a 35-21 loss by Atlanta, propelled Tampa Bay into sole possession of first place within the NFC South.
In the intervening time.
“It’s one factor attending to first place, it’s an entire [other] factor staying there,” Bowles mentioned. “We bought 4 video games left. It’s going to be a battle during. We now have to return prepared each week.”
Tampa Bay has now received three straight video games because the bye week when the group was 4-6, and at one level was three video games behind Atlanta, which swept the Bucs earlier this yr. The Bucs’ three-game successful streak has coincided with the Falcons’ four-game dropping streak to permit Tampa Bay to surge from behind and retake the lead within the NFC South.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photograph by: USA Immediately
The Bucs at the moment are 7-6 and the Falcons have fallen from 6-3 to 6-7 on the season. Tampa Bay now controls its personal future with 4 video games left. If the Bucs win all 4 video games left on the schedule they’ll end 11-6 and can win the NFC South for a fourth straight time no matter what the Falcons do.
That’s what Bowles meant in his post-game deal with to the group in a really excited Tampa Bay locker room at Raymond James Stadium.
“Properly, similar to I’m telling these guys, you recognize, simply because we’re in first, it’s one factor. To remain in first is an entire [other] deal. We bought 4 weeks to play. We’re completely happy to be enjoying significant soccer in December. We perceive what meaning, now we have to exit each week and attempt to squeeze out these video games but it surely feels good.”
Bucs No Stranger To Taking part in Significant Soccer In December
The Bucs are in an identical state of affairs to a yr in the past when the group noticed an an identical 3-1 begin dissolve right into a 4-6 document by midseason. Really, Tampa Bay slumped to 4-7 earlier than successful 5 of the final six video games to complete 9-8 and capturing the division title for a 3rd straight season. The Bucs went 4-1 final December, solely dropping as soon as – at dwelling to the Saints on New Yr’s Eve, 23-13.
Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
With a 26-23 additional time win at Carolina final week, coupled with Sunday’s 28-13 over Las Vegas, Tampa Bay is already 2-0 within the month of December this yr. Subsequent up are a pair of street video games at Los Angeles subsequent Sunday in opposition to an 8-4 Chargers group that’s enjoying Kansas Metropolis on Sunday Night time Soccer, adopted by a visit to Dallas on December 22. The Bucs return dwelling to play the Panthers once more on December 29 earlier than the season finale at dwelling in Week 18 in opposition to the Saints the primary week in January.
Bucs social media publicly shared an abbreviated message from head coach Todd Bowles to his group.
“Now we’ve bought 4 video games left,” Bowles mentioned in a clip the Bucs put out on social media. “December soccer. We’re making an attempt to play significant soccer in December. Proper? We’ve bought 4 video games left. We’ve bought a two recreation street journey. I’ll see you guys on Wednesday.”
The important thing takeaway there for the group is that the non-injured gamers don’t have to return in to the power on Monday. They’ll take a “Victory Monday” off and are available again for observe on Wednesday.
Bucs left deal with and group captain Tristan Wirfs broke the group down after Bowles’ deal with.
“Hey, good work at present, boys. Option to preserve (expletive) swinging,” mentioned Wirfs. “That’s all it takes. In the future at a time. Let’s preserve grinding.”
