Lavonte David, Buccaneers Using Rams Loss As Motivation For 2022

Lavonte David and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not forgotten the disappointing end to their Super Bowl title defense.

After falling behind 27-3 in the divisional round to the Rams, the Buccaneers nearly completed an epic comeback, one only familiar to their quarterback, Tom Brady.

In fact, the Bucs DID end up tieing the game at 27, however, several key plays, including a big reception from Cooper Kupp, ensured the game would NOT go to overtime. The Rams beat the then-defending Super Bowl champions and ultimately hoisted the Lombardi Trophy just a few weeks later when they defeated the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

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Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David remembers and so does the rest of the team.

“It’s a big motivation, a huge motivation,” David said via Greg Auman. “I feel like we got us back in that game, and for us to end the game like that, it’s not what we want to be remembered as.”

It’s not hard to imagine a scenario in which the Buccaneers win their second-straight Super Bowl had they completed that comeback against the Rams. Had things played out that way, the Bucs would have hosted the San Francisco 49ers and then took on the Bengals in the Super Bowl. The Bucs, led by David and Brady, would have been heavy favorites in each game.

The Buccaneers’ offseason has been just as wild as that game back in January. Hopes were diminished during Tom Brady’s 40-day retirement but were instantly renewed the moment he announced his comeback. Then free agency happened.

Prior to the Brady return, there was little thought in retaining many of their free agents, let alone adding some more to the offense. However, many Bucs, such as Leonard Fournette, have returned and then they added Russell Gage from the rival Falcons. Former Brady teammate, safety Logan Ryan, also joined the fray. Then Bruce Arians retired.

Logan Ryan has found a new home in Tampa.#GoBucs #NFL #NFLFreeAgency @FPC_Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/Dm8eaCjbD7

— Full Press NFL (@FullPressNFL) March 18, 2022

Just a few weeks ago, Arians announced that he would be stepping down as head coach of the Buccaneers and enter the front office under general manager Jason Licht. Arians’ retirement opened the door for Todd Bowles to take the reins after serving as the team’s defensive coordinator under Arians for the last three seasons.

It is not clear how the team will change under Bowles, however, if the Buccaneers can be more disciplined across the board (and use a tad bit more play-action on offense), there is no reason they shouldn’t cruise to another NFC South title. In addition, given the landscape of the NFC, there is a fairly open path for the Buccaneers to return to the NFC Championship Game and ultimately represent the conference in the Super Bowl.

Not surprisingly, the Rams present the biggest challenge to the Buccaneers in reaching that goal.

“That taste is definitely going to be in our mouth for a while,” David added. “I believe we play them in the regular season. Not trying to say we’re going to circle that game, but it’s a game that obviously is going to be very important.”