After Consecutive Losses, 'Dumb' Buccaneers Have Bruce Arians Soul Searching

And just like that, the avocado ice cream in Tampa no longer tastes so good. Following an unappetizing performance by Tom Brady, the reigning Super Bowl champion Buccaneers have now lost two straight games and find themselves in need of a lunch-time tutor.

"We're a very dumb football team. And that's a reflection on the coaches," Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said following Sunday's ten-point loss to Washington.

Brady's struggles on Sunday (two interceptions, 220 yards) were among a number of costly mental mistakes that plagued Tampa in the 29-19 loss. They were penalized six times and allowed the previously two-win Washington Football Team to grind out 320 total yards. Arians harped on the Bucs' mental miscues: "The stupidity has to go away if we're gonna go anywhere."

"It has nothing to do with ability," Arians continued. "It's about execution and being a smart football team."

Brady echoed Arians' comments following the unexpected loss, telling reporters after the game:  "It doesn't matter who you play, if you have a bunch of self-inflicted errors too."

After reeling off four straight wins, Tampa Bay has now dropped consecutive games by a combined 19 points. Tampa's inconsistency and recent error-filled performances have quieted any talk of the Buccaneers locking up the top seed in the NFC playoffs.

"It's very alarming to watch the energy at every practice and show up with a lack of execution and energy that it takes to win on Sunday," said Arians. "We've got a lot of soul-searching to do."

Tampa's next chance to taste victory is next Monday night when they host the 3-6 Giants, the true masters of dumb football.

 

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