Several star players around the NFL were perplexed by the Bucs’ defensive call on the last play of the game.
Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles dialed up a Cover 0 call which is when most of the players on defense blitz, except for the corners who are utilized for man-coverage. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was also left in coverage against Rams star wide receiver Cooper Kupp.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford stood in against the blitz and delivered a 44-yard strike to Kupp to set the Rams up in field-goal range.
Kicker Matt Gay then hit a 30-yard attempt to send his team to the NFC Championship Game.
After the game ended, numerous NFL players (and former players) voiced their displeasure with Bowles on social media after calling Cover 0.
Smh blitz the slot guy that’s guarding the triple crown WR and leaving him 1v1 with a safety smh can’t make this shit up 🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️
— LeGarrette Blount (@LG_Blount) January 23, 2022
Cover 0
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) January 23, 2022
Cover 0 get yo ass bust up!!
— Nino (@qdiggs6) January 23, 2022
Cover 0! https://t.co/jHYDdW3g0e
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 23, 2022
Cover 0 hurts again!!!
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) January 23, 2022
Dawg called cover 0 with the safety guarding their best receiver 🥺
— ahmad black (@ahmadblack35) January 23, 2022
Why cover 0. I don’t get it. https://t.co/i0QA0k2RYU
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 23, 2022
Yeah let’s play cover 0 to the field like they don’t have Kupp and OBJ….. fools had no timeouts left either 😂😂😂 it’s almost insane when you think about it.
— Ace Sanders (@WhyNot8Teen) January 23, 2022
I’m really confused. Monday morning QB is easy. However 22 man, 22 man, to cover 0 is not what I’m doing in that situation. Not with those DBs.
— Quincy Avery (@QuincyAvery) January 23, 2022
I didn’t understand that last defensive call by the Bucs. All out blitz??? Why not just sit back let them complete a 15 yd pass in bounds and the game would go to overtime. I don’t understand???!
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) January 23, 2022
This ended a wild fourth quarter which saw the Buccaneers erase a three-touchdown deficit. The Rams looked to be on their way to a full self-destruction before Stafford hit that throw.
Up next will be an NFC West battle with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. The 49ers have beaten the Rams the last six times in their head-to-head.
Hopefully, both of these teams know not to call cover zero if that situation comes up next weekend.
The post Several NFL Stars Had Same Reaction To Bucs’ Last Defensive Play Call appeared first on The Spun.