A rule that helped sink the Bucs twice last season has been changed for 2025
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a solid season in 2024, claiming their fourth straight division crown and fifth straight playoff appearance. However, like any other, it was still one of ups and downs that saw some painful losses at times throughout the year. Two of those losses came in overtime on the road, where their […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a solid season in 2024, claiming their fourth straight division crown and fifth straight playoff appearance. However, like any other, it was still one of ups and downs that saw some painful losses at times throughout the year.
Two of those losses came in overtime on the road, where their tired defense couldn't get off the field and allowed game ending touchdowns. That will no longer be a possibility in 2025 after Tuesday. Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the league has passed a rule change to adopt the playoff overtime rules where each team gets to possess the ball at least once regardless.
The previous rule gave each team the opportunity to possess the ball, unless the team who had the ball first scored a touchdown, which would automatically end the game.
That's exactly how the Bucs' trips to Atlanta and Kansas City ended last year, with the Bucs' defense watching the Falcons and Chiefs waltz into the end zone and run onto the field in celebration before Tampa Bay's offense got a chance to even touch the ball.
Now, could Tampa Bay's defense done SOMETHING to have stopped their opponents? Sure, particularly in the case of the Atlanta game. Tampa Bay allowed a humiliating 509 passing yards – the most in Atlanta franchise history – to Kirk Cousins in a 36-30 loss on October 3. Cousins was so bad outside of the team's games against Tampa Bay that he was ultimately benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix, Jr. late in the season.
But there's something wrong about a coin toss giving a team an advantage in an even matchup after 60 grueling minutes. Keeping the odds the same is how it should have been from the beginning, and it's something they've done recently in the playoffs with teach team having the chance to possess the ball. Finally, they are applying that same principal to the regular season as well.
Tampa Bay has to improve its pass defense in 2025 to take a step forward as a true Super Bowl contender. But if they end up back in overtime next season, at least their offense will get at least the chance to bail them out if they're in a similar spot again.
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