Important Game
October 27th, 2016
Key test Sunday.
No, Joe is not about to call the Raiders game “must-win.” That’s silly.
However, it is an important game.
If nothing else, the Bucs will find out how they test out against a team that, like the Bucs, is loaded with young talent.
Unlike the Bucs, the Raiders (who won just one more game than the Bucs last season) are winning. They’re 4-0 on the road.
One great thing Joe loves about his good friend “The Commish,” Justin Pawlowski’s “Bucs Uncensored” podcast is the audio e-mails from angry Bucs fans. It’s hilarious! On Wednesday’s podcast, Justin received an audio e-mail from a passionate fan who didn’t give a damn that the Bucs beat the 49ers. Why, the e-mailer said, the 49ers are so inept, they couldn’t perform foul acts on large women if they wanted to.
(You will have to listen to the podcast to get the specifics of the lewd maneuvers — which is why the podcast is called “Bucs Uncensored.”).
So that is why this game with the Raiders is important — but not a must-win. It’s a barometer. Are the Bucs good enough to beat a winning team? Also, can the Bucs begin to cleanse the stench of losing at the Den of Depression?
October 27th, 2016 at 12:40 pm
I listened to the podcast this morning (thanks guys). I disagree that this game isn’t a must-win. After listening to the podcast I’m convinced it’s a must-win for no other reason than to show the fan base this is a team on the rise. Win, and the improvement is for real. Lose and it’s the same old same old. Most reasonable people here know the Panthers and 49ers were not very good tests.
October 27th, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Nothing short of two or three years of LOTS of winning is going to convince this fan base of anything.
If #3 lights up the Raiders and Quizz rushes for 150 it will be because the Raiders have one of the worst defenses in the league. Mark it down!
I think Defense Rules was right about the negativity in our fan base. It’s deep and it’s not going to be changed by even one successful season much less one game.
October 27th, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Every game is a must win game.
October 27th, 2016 at 1:18 pm
Bucs win. We have a better Offense and Defense. The Raiders have been living out of suitcases since last weekend, staying in Florida after the Jaguars game. I am sure this will have an effect on them, anyone else agree or disagree that the Raiders will be lagging due to remaining in Florida.
October 27th, 2016 at 1:19 pm
RumRunner, this is football, not smuggling.
October 27th, 2016 at 1:26 pm
I can assure you that any extended period of time spent in Florida can have an adverse affect on cognition, performance and decision making.
October 27th, 2016 at 1:37 pm
A Bucs win & a Falcons loss to the Packers this Sunday puts us in a tie with the Dirty Birds for 1st. Thursday Night Footbal on November 3 has Atlanta visiting the Bucs.
October 27th, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Not must win… but this can be the “statement” game. Show the home crowd you can beat a team with a winning record and has played well on the road. Prove you are the product of injuries to the good teams.
October 27th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Oakland’s road record this year is quite interesting. As others have said, they’re 4-0 on the road (Bucs are 3-1 on the road). But 2 of the Raiders’ wins (at Saints and at Ravens) were by a mere 1 pt. Their 3rd road win (at Titans) was by one touchdown. Point being that they’re pulling out close wins on the road. That’s good for them, but it means that the Bucs need to get ahead early then step on the Raiders’ throats. No more of this ‘fall behind early then claw your way back’ crapola.
Raiders most revealing game was against the Chiefs (Raiders lost 26-10). Chiefs kept the ball for almost 37 mins and out-rushed the Raiders 183-to-64 yds (Passing yds were the same for both teams). As long as we don’t turn the ball over and/or fall behind early, have a suspicion this Sunday’s game will look very similar to that game. If the Bucs run game comes through, we should win. But should we need a more robust passing game, Brees, Ryan & Rivers all lit up the Raiders’ defense for over 350 passing yds each.
October 27th, 2016 at 3:39 pm
I’m expecting a Bucs win. Can’t see it any other way, a home win and a winning record. I’m leaning heavily towards this game being a must win leading to the Falcon matchup on Thursday and all the excitement a win over the Raiders would set the Falcon game up for. Go Bucs!
October 27th, 2016 at 4:33 pm
This is a very big game for this franchise… 3-3, at home, and a lot of hype surrounding the Raiders. A win on Sunday could be a catalyst for a winning season. A win on Sunday makes our resume look pretty good at the midway mark and should give us plenty of juice for the Falcons. A win on Sunday most likely means our defense is gelling and our offense is moving on from the “Dunkaneers” dream. A win on Sunday would make me one very excited Bucs fan.
October 27th, 2016 at 4:41 pm
Bucs fans are justified in their negativity. All the losing grinds you down all the bad draft picks and blowouts at home justify thinking negatively first then being happily surprised they win. Sports is not a fairytale like religion where “faith” is rewarded by some mythical being.
Sports is about results, and the Bucs results have been a joke for far too long
October 27th, 2016 at 4:48 pm
I am hoping for a HOME win cos of the 1999 wipeout, plus I love my team! The 1999 Bucs were already within 2 years of the SB team which blew Oakland off the planet. Weather is going to be close to perfect. I’ll have it on Bucs Radio w/Gene, Dave and krewe. GO GET THEM TAMPA BAY!!!!
October 27th, 2016 at 5:04 pm
@ Defense Rules. I agree. and to that end a heavy dose of the Bucs run game should set the tone for the day. Pulling for the kid from Auburn. Just read where he came out of college early because his mother was homeless in an effort to provide for her. Scored his first professional touchdown last Sunday GO BUCS
October 27th, 2016 at 5:49 pm
This was from ESPN – Take it for what it’s worth –
FPI win projection: Buccaneers, 55 percent
The Oakland Raiders rank last in yards per game allowed and face a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that topped 500 yards last week. The Buccaneers are FPI favorites for the second time this season.
ESPN does have a point. Could be a blow out if the Bucs get rolling
October 27th, 2016 at 6:27 pm
I don’t get why some people here are putting down the Panthers and the 49ers games because they are inept teams. You guys forget that the norm around here was that every sorry team used to come here and abuse us? Well guess what , I for one was very happy to see our team finally beat two sorry teams for a change.
October 27th, 2016 at 6:52 pm
Let kick some Raiders Ass!
October 27th, 2016 at 7:21 pm
Im thinking koetter is going to be predictable and run the ball non stop unless we fall behind which will be too late when raiders pull away late in the game
Everyone is going to screaming- Throw the damn ball all game long
Jameis is going to be inconsistent on 3rd and long.
Very little targets to shepard at all
There is something about koetter
October 27th, 2016 at 7:42 pm
I would just treat them all as must win.
October 27th, 2016 at 8:03 pm
I think if we win on sunday against oakland it will make thursday against atlanta the biggest game in years for our home team… Dont look now but we can make the playoffs ppl…
October 27th, 2016 at 8:08 pm
The Raiders haven’t beaten a winning eam yet this year. Plus, they lost to the Falcons. The Bucs have issues, but they are middle of the pack on O and D. The Raiders are middle on O, but have the worst D in the NFL. But it’s not noticeable when you play the worst offenses. So I say bring them on, and we’ll expect a performance more like Week 1 and than Weeks 2 through 4.
October 28th, 2016 at 7:07 am
It would sure be nice to be on the other side of .500 for a change.