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The one move that defined the 2018 NFL season for all 32 teams

By Erik Lambert

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 11: Mike Smith, defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, stands on the field during pregame warmups prior to facing the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on September 11, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 11: Mike Smith, defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, stands on the field during pregame warmups prior to facing the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on September 11, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keeping Mike Smith

Problems with former defensive coordinator Mike Smith were starting to creep up last season. The Buccaneers defense failed to allow less than 20 points in any of their final seven games that season. Then, despite their rampant spending in free agency and the draft to upgrade their talent, the unit was even worse when the 2018 season began. In four of the five games he coached, the defense gave up at least 30 points.

The team finished 2-3 in that stretch. The problems persisted for another three weeks before his replacement Mark Duffner finally got things a little more under control. Yet it was too little, too late. The team was 3-6 and far out of the playoff picture. Not to mention their ongoing issues at quarterback. One has to wonder what might’ve happened had they made the switch before the season. Maybe a full year of a Duffner defense might’ve changed their fortunes.

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