Game 8, Defensive Drive Analysis: Aint' No Sunshine When She's Gone

"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

It's not warm when she's away

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

And she's always gone too long

Anytime she's gone away"

Our defense has gone away. The Bucs lost the NY Giants, 32 - 18. The game was much closer than that score represents, but that score reflects just how far the game really was.

Tampa Bay's Basic stats before the game

Defensive Passing:  14^th (244 yards/game)

Defensive Rushing:  16^th (107 yards/game)

Points Against:  28^th (28.4 ppg)

NYG's Basic stats before the game

Offensive Passing:  11^th (258 yards/game)

Offensive Rushing:  27^th (94 yards/game)

Points For:  5^th (26.9 ppg)

Here is what transpired in the game for the defense:

NYG Offense vs TB Defense
	NYG		Tampa Bay		TB - Opp Differential	Differential %
	Offense		Defense
	Pre-Game Stat		Game Stat
Passing yds	258		213		-45	82.6%
Rushing yds	94		114		20	121.3%
Points	26.9		32.0		5.1	119.0%

Limited passing yards: check. Did not contain rushing yards. Points allowed above average, except the defense only allowed 26 points.

TB Defense vs NYG Offense
Qtr	Drive	Plays	Yards	Result	RZ	Pts		40 + yard Drives	50 + yard Drives	60 + yard Drives	70 + Yard Drives	80 + Yard Drives	Totals
1	1	1	0	INT									0
	2	10	63	FG	1	3				1			1
	3	12	80	TD	1	7						1	1
	4	9	28	TD	1	7							0
	5	7	32	Downs									0
	6	1	-1	End Half									0
3	7	4	7	FG	1	3							0
	8	12	47	INT				1					1
	9	5	13	Punt									0
	10	3	42	FG		3		1
	11	10	54	FG		3			1				1
Total	11	74	365		4	26		2	1	1	0	1	5

The Bucs defense allowed five long drives of 40 yards or more. There was only one forced punt by the defense.  Notice the last two Giants' drives were long drives that resulted in scores. Those drives gave hope and dashed hoped for the Bucs' offense. Field goals were only allowed, but at the same time, it ate away the clock.

Here is a time stamp of the game from pro-football-reference.com:

9:35  Bucs score TD, but failed 2 pt conversion.  Bucs 18, NYG 20.

9:18  NYG start at NYG 24 yard line.

7: 24  NYG kick a FG.  Bucs 18, NYG 23.  Traversed 42 yards.  Big play: 24 yard pass to OBJ.

7:18  Bucs start at Bucs 20 yard line.

5:07  Bucs punt the ball for a touchback.

4:57  NYG start at NYG 20 yard line

0:28  NYG kick a FG.  Bucs 18, NYG 26.  Traversed 54 yards.  (Converted 3^rd and 6, a 9 yard pass to OBJ)

0:18  Bucs start at Bucs 6 yard line.

The Bucs offense tried to make a comeback, but the defense could not prevent the Giants from scoring on their last two possessions. As you can tell from the time stamp, the Giants made sure the Bucs' offense had no time left to generate any feasible comeback; a 10 play drive that ate up 4:29 and essentially secured a Giants' win.

This is the fifth consecutive game where the defense has allowed 20 points to be scored or more. The average points allowed for those five games is 27.6 points.

Tampa Bay
Points Allowed Breakdown, 2015
Game	Team	1st	2nd	Total at 1st Half		3rd	4th	Total at 2nd Half		Total
1	Ten	21	14	35		7	0	7		42
2	NO	0	7	7		0	12	12		19
3	Hou	7	0	7		3	9	12		19
4	Car	10	7	17		14	6	20		37
5	Jax	0	14	14		10	7	17		31
6	Was	0	7	7		14	10	24		31
7	Atl	3	0	3		7	10	17		20
8	NYG	10	7	17		3	12	15		32
	Total	51	56	107		58	66	124

Against the Giants, the Bucs' defense allowed 17 points to be put up in the first half. That is the most since the Carolina game.

Conclusion

Our defense is incapable of preventing the opposing team from moving the ball. In the past two games, the defense has forced only one punt. The defense needed stops at the end of games and it failed to do so. It did not give our offense that one last chance as it let the Giants eat the clock away. I do not see any chance this defense can improve because there is no pattern to suggest it will change.

"Wonder this time where she's gone

Wonder if she's gone to stay

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

And this house just ain't no home

Anytime she goes away."