“The Bucs Are For Real”
September 15th, 2016
The biggest national NFL media voice has moved all-in on Tampa Bay — at least for this week.
Joe’s talking about mighty ProFootballTalk.com creator and guru Mike Florio, who also hosts PFT Live on NBC Sports Radio (Joe’s morning routine) and breaks down all things NFL on NBC TV.
Florio was picking games today, and he smells the Bucs going 2-0.
Florio’s take: There really wasn’t an eyebrow-raising upset in Week One. So let’s roll the dice and get ahead of an “I should have seen it coming” moment. The Bucs are for real and the Cardinals could be reeling if they start the year 0-2 at home.
Florio’s pick: Buccaneers 28, Cardinals 24.
Could you imagine? Joe would lose his mind in ecstasy. (And yes, Joe will be there in the flesh Sunday with postgame coverage.)
Derrick Brooks said on WDAE-AM 620 this week that the Bucs beating Arizona would send shockwaves through the NFL, not because of the Cardinals loss and 0-2 record, per Brooks, but because of the Bucs’ rise after two road games to start the season.
Dare to dream today, Bucs fans.
September 15th, 2016 at 12:44 pm
too many times over the last couple of years the bucs have come out flat or disinterested. I think that was more a reflection on the horrendous coaching the last 2 years. It starts this week, hopefully the bucs come out fast, physical and smart. Bucs 31 Cards 17
September 15th, 2016 at 12:45 pm
If we win in zona I say 10 wins is a very safe bet,
And yes I will be losing my spit if we win
September 15th, 2016 at 12:47 pm
I say rams is a W,
We need to steal at least one from either zona, den, or car, then we set the perfect pace for at least 10 wins and a playoff push
September 15th, 2016 at 12:49 pm
@Joe
Great job going out west. I admire you guys. Instead of taking all the cash and sticking it in your pockets you are investing in your product!!!
You guys are the anti-Hugh Culverhouse!
September 15th, 2016 at 12:50 pm
on the one hand, it’s not impossible: they lost to the punchless rams at home last year.
on the other hand, even if we do win it doesn’t guarantee greatness: the rams were still mediocre last year despite beating AZ in AZ
September 15th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
I agree the Bucs are for real I think we gotta chance to beat the cards
September 15th, 2016 at 1:00 pm
NE did not do anything to AZ on either offense or defense that the Bucs are incapable of doing. Dare I say the Bucs have a better offense with Jameis, Martin, Evans, and a first rate OL. So, all things being equal, the Bucs can win, unless we come out flat and AZ goes off.
September 15th, 2016 at 1:17 pm
I guess I have some Missouri in me, show me first Bucs that you can beat Arizona at their place. I’ll be pulling for the Bucs win with every ounce of my thought. To win there will produce a super high of monumental glee in Bucsville.
September 15th, 2016 at 1:26 pm
I’d join the joes in ecstasy at 2-0, I just don’t see it. But I’m married so im use to being wrong. Either way GO BUCS!!!
September 15th, 2016 at 1:39 pm
If the Bucs beat the Cardinals, I will have a Rocky Mountain High!
September 15th, 2016 at 1:45 pm
It’s gutcheck time. This would be the most euphoric football feeling I’ve had in 14 years if the Bucs could pull off this upset. It would give us some serious swagger heading into our home opener.
September 15th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
@BUCSFANSINCE76…..I saw the same thing, I agree with you, that’s why I keep saying we can beat them. They don’t seem to be the 2015 Cards (so far), believe there’s something going on with that crew, idk, some kind of distraction or something, point is they are not gelling, yet…..with that said ,we got a chance to beat them now, before they find their mojo.
September 15th, 2016 at 2:07 pm
This game could be like the SF game in ’97 that showed the league the Bucs were for real when they not only won, but knocked both Jerry Rice and Steve Young out of the game (I’m not suggesting I hope Fitz & Palmer get hurt)…
This is the biggest game for the Bucs in many, many years…
If these guys want to make a real statement, it begins Sunday at 4:05pm.
September 15th, 2016 at 2:08 pm
I don’t typically believe in moral victories, but this game is a very rare exception. It seems like every time we think we are for real, we lay an egg (Pittsburgh in 2010, or even the Giants last year). If we can play this team at their level, even a loss would be very impressive. They are an extremely desperate team playing for their lives – on their home field. They are going to be completely focused and locked on our team. There is no chance we can surprise them. If we are able to somehow beat them, we are going to get love unlike any love we’ve had for a really long time. It’s still a long season and a lot can go wrong, but 2-0 would be one helluva start to a potentially special season.
September 15th, 2016 at 2:13 pm
Yes!!!
Bucs have limitless potential this year, guys.
We can truly beat any team on any given sunday and I think we will perform well in the clutch moments (which tend to decide most games).
Bucs 12-4 and a trip to the SB this season, watch
September 15th, 2016 at 2:28 pm
i was just on nfl.com. if you scroll down the main page, youll see Jameis smiling at you 6 different times. By next year everyone will be calling him Americas Quarter Back.
September 15th, 2016 at 2:41 pm
Will be watching in Canada (my band has a show in ALberta the night before) via Sunday Ticket & Chromecast wherever I can get WIFI and a TV with an HDMI port. Let’s do this man.
GO BUCS!
September 15th, 2016 at 2:56 pm
I’m losing my mind just imagining us taking down Arizona and going 2-0!
September 15th, 2016 at 3:39 pm
This is how to predict our wins and losses beginning of the year while our team grows and develop end of the year
Does the opposing team pocess a elite QB to beat our defense
Arizona- Palmer can beat our defense LOSS
Rams QBs suck WIN
Denver QB is a rook and suck WIN
Panthers at MNF Cam LOSS
Our defining victory and notch for Jaboo will be against the 2015 superbowl winners denver broncos…
We comeback after the bye week and head toward the playoffs
10-6
Tampa wins first playoff game
September 15th, 2016 at 4:06 pm
As much as its an awesome feeling thinking about the Bucs beating Arizona on Sunday, the folks at the University of Seffner campus are predicting a 27-20 loss. Our Defense needs more horsepower for next season. Once we get that, we’ll be serious Super Bowl contenders next year, and so on. With Jameis in command, its only a matter of time before our team brings Tampa a 2nd Vince Lombardi Trophy. Go Bucs!!!
September 15th, 2016 at 4:22 pm
I’d love it if the Bucs win, but Florio isn’t known for his fantastic evaluation of teams and schemes, so this prediction isn’t coming from someone with keen insight on either team.
That being said, I think the Bucs can win this week. As previously stated in these comments, the Bucs offense in its current state is just as good, if not better than the Pats offense without Brady or Gronk. Same could be said about the talent on defense, but Belichik (sp?) is definitely a step above Smith (not a huge step above) as being a defensive guru.
Can’t wait for Sunday.
September 15th, 2016 at 4:41 pm
IF..Our bucs can beat Arizona? This will be a statement we are a changed team. IF..we can get twice the defensive pressure on Palmer than we got in ATL? We got a shot at winning. IF..Jameis and the offense can score 30 or more points? We got a shot. IF..that is! So many IF’S
We got a shot. But I won’t predict a win.
September 15th, 2016 at 4:48 pm
A couple of posters believe we have a better offense than they saw from NE last week.
I agree but think it all the way through. All we are saying is that the Patriots without Brady…with an untested rookie making his first NFL start…without arguably the best TE in the game..are not as good as our team.
While I agree I would not say we are better than the “real” Pats offense with Brady and Gronk….but we’re getting there.
Still the Cards lost to the Garapolo Pats which does give us hope.
September 15th, 2016 at 5:18 pm
I’ll predict it for you MJ. Buccs win. And this week coach K won’t take his foot off the gass.
September 15th, 2016 at 6:52 pm
@Joe….try to keep a straight face at the presser. 🙂
September 15th, 2016 at 7:44 pm
Mike Johnson, nice post. It is good to see you posting without saying I’ll believe it when they do it. I like your if’s better. Some of us here, like me, aren’t as knowledgeable as many posters. You and several others give us keys to watch for in the game. I like it.
September 15th, 2016 at 7:47 pm
After watching the Bucs last week I think we have a shot at beating anyone this year. Arizona is desperate though and the game could go either way. I think it’s going to end up 27-24 Bucs and may go to overtime. Just hope we can get more pressure on the QB this week because we will need it.
September 15th, 2016 at 8:05 pm
Since we are all going with predictions i’m gonna say that our rookie kicker will hit the game winning FG as time expires.
September 15th, 2016 at 8:06 pm
and Licht will find the biggest diving board in Tampa and do a triple corkscrew and stick the landing – no splash!!
September 15th, 2016 at 8:23 pm
Well sense we are predicting, let me get this in. This Bucs team is for real. We win 37-17 going away. Boom.
September 15th, 2016 at 8:47 pm
Hey Joe(s),
“The Bucs Are For Real” Like No Sh$t, Sherlock!! Now about this game, I always pick my Bucs. The AZ GM may rue chewing his team out cos Beli-CHEAT beat them. He may have POed the players off too much. They are human beings like us. I want to see my DK 48K offense continue to slowly mature. I would love to see R. Aguayo boot a 60-yarder to win in the last second!!!! 🙂 🙂 I’ll have it on Brother Gene, Dave M and the rest of the Bucs Radio posse. GO MIGHTY BUCS SUNDAY IN THE DESERT!!
September 15th, 2016 at 9:55 pm
Staying at the Hilton in Glendale Joe. Come by and I’ll buy you a beer. You got the email.
September 16th, 2016 at 7:28 am
If the Bucs start 2-0 GMC might be right about Jameis as MVP.