Carolina Improved With Loss
December 30th, 2015
No only do the Bucs get a 14-1 Carolina team needing a victory Sunday to lock up the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC, they’ll face a team on the road that’s better than ever.
That was a take of former Jets personnel executive and linebackers coach Pat Kirwan, via the CBS Sports video below breaking down the Bucs-Panthers matchup.
Kirwan relays a story from Shannon Sharpe, who played for the 1998 Broncos. They lost in their 14th game it drove the team, when it got past the shock and anger, to get deeper into film study and ditch their surging egos.
Oh, my. Imagine if Kirwan is on the money, and the Panthers return Sunday re-focused and playing their best ball in front of a rabid home crowd.
Joe’s not about to predict where the Panthers are mentally, but Joe will say the Bucs have no excuses on Sunday. They have to show up and play competitive football.
December 30th, 2015 at 12:06 pm
This game will be a good indicator of how good we will be next year
December 30th, 2015 at 12:14 pm
@bucs fan 7423 How so? Many of the guys who will see a lot of playing time are fighting for their chance to comeback next season and duke it out for a roster spot. I believe Jameis should maybe play a half or a quarter at most. What is the point of risking injury to meaningful players? Let Glennon play like Joe previously posted hopefully he balls out and we trade him in the off season to get more players that will contribute and not just hold a clip board on the sidelines.
December 30th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
They’re going to be really scary when Ted Ginn isn’t their #1 receiver. 15-1 with Ted Ginn as the #1 receiver is why Cam is easily the MVP.
December 30th, 2015 at 12:25 pm
They won’t. They’re planning cruises, spring break, returning to their primary home, etc. Be prepared to be embarrassed.
December 30th, 2015 at 12:27 pm
Does any Bucs fan really want the Stinking Panthers to win the Super Bowl? I got a Cam Newton voodoo doll I’ll be sticking needles through. Yeah mon.
December 30th, 2015 at 12:51 pm
the bucs are where the panthers were 3 years ago, just not mentally tough or experienced enough to go toe to toe with a team that has won the way carolina has won all year and going back to last year. i just don’t think there’s enough “want-to” remaining across the bucs roster to give the panthers a tough game
December 30th, 2015 at 1:04 pm
I hear what you are saying Bucs Fan #7423. The Carolina Panthers had a losing record last year. Amazing to see what a difference a single year can make. In the five years Ron Rivera has been there three of those years had losing records. I’m sure foolish Panthers fans were calling for Riverboat Ron to be fired after two losing seasons. A familiar tune…
December 30th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
The Bucs are going to get destroyed.
December 30th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Maybe things will fall into place for the Bucs to move up the draft board a few spots. Sad that the draft is so frequently our goal at this time of the year season after season.
December 30th, 2015 at 1:29 pm
I agree with starting Glennon.
December 30th, 2015 at 1:48 pm
The outcome of this game could be really good for us (we actually squeak by and upset the Kitties) or be really bad (we get blown out and embarrassed, possibly even worse than the first game).
But there is a third possibility: we play well but lose by a small margin. The Panthers get their #1 seed and bye week, while we prove to the nation that we are truly an up and coming team to be reckoned with in the future.
December 30th, 2015 at 2:03 pm
Mike Shula…….gawd, I don’t believe this one. He’ll be over on the Stinkcat’s sideline calling the offensive plays. I always want the Bucs to win. I need a voodoo doll of Shula. It would be sweet payback to beat him and his team. Man, it was rough when the dumb jerk called our offense back in the Dungy Days. Go Bucs Sunday–Make Karma A Bitch!!!
December 30th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
D-Rome Says:
December 30th, 2015 at 1:04 pm
I hear what you are saying Bucs Fan #7423. The Carolina Panthers had a losing record last year. Amazing to see what a difference a single year can make. In the five years Ron Rivera has been there three of those years had losing records. I’m sure foolish Panthers fans were calling for Riverboat Ron to be fired after two losing seasons. A familiar tune…
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Ron Rivera NFL games when their fans wanted him fired: 32 (13 wins)
Lovie Smith NFL games when our fans want him fired: 176 (8 wins with the Bucs)
So nope, nothing familiar at all. They had a young, inexperienced NFL coach and let him grow. We have an entrenched in his way, decade long NFL veteran coach who isn’t ever changing. Slight difference…
December 30th, 2015 at 2:19 pm
too bad we have to play a real team. Playing all these bad and average teams almost made me think we were decent. Take out the rookie class and this team and coach should be exiled to the cfl.
December 30th, 2015 at 2:57 pm
I ajte to say this being a proud Bucs fan Butt..Carolina be comin Sunday Buc faithful. They are angry, want home field advantage and will take no prisoners.
I pray we will at least be competitive. Cause the Pnthers are comin and bringin hell with them!!
Make sure you have a few libations ready for the game. You’re gonna need’em.
December 30th, 2015 at 3:30 pm
Bucs Fan #7423 Says
“This game will be a good indicator of how good we will be next year.”
Sure, if we discount Free Agency, the Draft and any upcoming trades. If any events like those happen, we might just have new players that will improve the team!
December 30th, 2015 at 3:32 pm
@orlbucfan
Dungy always said the thing he regretted most here was firing Shula. He’d felt the guy was growing as an OC and getting better. He seems to have been right.
December 30th, 2015 at 3:34 pm
bucsrightoff, don’t be ignorant. Why don’t you spend some time traveling around the country or at minimum listen to other sports radio stations from time to time. Every NFL city has ignorant, narrow minded fans who believe their team should never lose a game and then blames the head coach for on field penalties as if the coach has control of the physical actions their players take on the field.
December 30th, 2015 at 4:02 pm
D-Rome Says:
December 30th, 2015 at 3:34 pm
bucsrightoff, don’t be ignorant. Why don’t you spend some time traveling around the country or at minimum listen to other sports radio stations from time to time. Every NFL city has ignorant, narrow minded fans who believe their team should never lose a game and then blames the head coach for on field penalties as if the coach has control of the physical actions their players take on the field.
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Ignorant of what? It’s people like you who are acting like Lovie is learning on the job and adapting like crazy. Uhh no, he is who he is at this point. Nothing has changed from Chicago, and likely nothing ever will. Ron by the way was on his way out until he started to embrace Riverboat Ron. He actually did change and adapt his style/mentality. But a guy who has 176 NFL games coached likely is totally convinced his approach will work. As we’ve seen so far, Lovie’s arrogance is why we’re so short of talent on defense. He thought anyone could work in his D, that former Bears/Cowboys players were plug and play. Obviously not
The head coach of an NFL is no different than a CEO. You know why they get paid all that money? Because when things go wrong, the buck starts at the top. Unfortunately for us we have a coach who doesn’t accept blame ever, and chooses to try and talk his way out of any blame. Maybe if he were willing to not treat fans like idiots (“70% completion is misleading…”), he would get more rope. But for the level of arrogance, the results justify the heat he gets.
December 30th, 2015 at 4:09 pm
@orlbucsfan – regarding the mike shula venom…that was almost 15 years ago, and from the look of it he has evolved his offensive coaching philosophy massively. as a fan base that went from one set-in-his-ways head coach to another to another (with only the listless Raheem Morris breaking up the theme), it’s hard to remember that it’s possible to get better at your job by adapting, but it does happen
December 30th, 2015 at 4:16 pm
I think you would have to chain JW to the bench to keep him out of the game. Did anyone see him at FSU dress up when suspended? Ain’t gonna happen…he’d rather get both of his legs broken in the game then sit out! Just saying….
December 30th, 2015 at 4:37 pm
I just hope Lovie finds a way to keep them under 50…..
December 30th, 2015 at 6:12 pm
I will never like Mike Shula. Tony Dungy never said a nasty thing about anyone during his tenure here. That goes for Shula, and I think the other one was Clyde Christensen or something like that. Both stunk up the place w/the offense. When T. Dungy took the job with the Colts, he let them know he wanted them to do the offensive hires. The result was NFL history. It will be an interesting game Sunday. I hope the Bucs win (somehow). That will put some egg right on Shula’s face which won’t hurt. Go Bucs!
December 31st, 2015 at 7:50 pm
Only way that the Bucs have a chance is if the Cards fall behind by 4 TDs in their game with Seattle and Carolina pulls all of its starters in the 2nd half realizing that they will get the #1 seed regardless of the result. The chances of that happening are slim to none and the Bucs might tank anyways: Lovie probably would want to keep his first round pick in the top 10; a win would cost him around 5 slots on the draft board…..