There are some who believe the difference in the Bucs defense under ousted defensive coordinator Mike Smith and current defensive shot-caller Mark Duffner is just a mere coincidence.

The numbers suggest otherwise.

In the five games Smith ran the defense this season, every opponent (including the Dan Marino of our time, Mitch Trubisky) threw for over 300 yards passing.

In the eight games Duffner has taken over, a Bucs opponent has yet to throw for over 300 yards in a game. And that includes the likes of Drew Brees, pouty Cam Newton, Baker Mayfield and Alex Smith.

Further, in five of those games, Duffner’s Bucs-led defense held foes to under 200 yards passing.

Does that make anyone think the stars just magically aligned for the Bucs at the very time Smith was jettisoned?

Of course not.