Playoff/Basement Path Is Clear
November 18th, 2016
It was hardly stellar- football played last night between the Panthers and Saints, but it was the result Bucs fans needed.
Tampa Bay is now alone in second place at 4-5 after Carolina (4-6) held on to beat the Saints (4-6).
After the Bucs play the Chiefs on Sunday, Tampa Bay will have three of its final six games against the both of those teams. If the Bucs want to escape the NFC South basement for the first time since 2010, then the table is set perfectly.
For the true optimists, the Bucs now have the Saints behind them an extra clear path to playoff glory.
Running the table will be good enough to win the division. One loss, aka a 10-6 record, also should get the division done on tiebreakers. After that, Joe can’t see the Bucs with any shot at the playoffs finishing 9-7.
The Cardinals (4-4-1) have the tiebreaker edge on the Bucs, based on their beating of Tampa Bay in the desert. The Giants (6-3) are too good. The Redskins (5-3-1) might be for real, aka good enough to finish the season 9-6-1.
Joe’s feeling pumped this morning. Maybe the Bucs can hang with the Chiefs and steal a win in Arrowhead? Regardless, a clear shot at the playoffs on Nov. 18 is something Joe will take.
November 18th, 2016 at 8:04 am
I think 9-7 could get it done as a division winner but not as a wild card. I could see the falcons finishing 9-7 and us having the tiebreaker over them.
November 18th, 2016 at 8:06 am
Meaningful football in mid-November is progress any way you slice it.
November 18th, 2016 at 8:09 am
Oh….what could have been…..The Rams and Raiders games could easily had been wins….we were so close…..a 15 yd pass in the Rams game and a unnecessary holding penalty in the Raiders game…..we are 6-3…..
We need an upset this weekend…..a high mountain to climb.
November 18th, 2016 at 8:16 am
Please go read the PFT story on Johnthan Banks @ Buc coaches. Ouch.
November 18th, 2016 at 8:17 am
This is hilarious if you think this Bucs team is capable of the playoffs. You can do the numbers however you want, but this team does not have the talent or discipline to be a playoff team. This team is finishing with 6 wins. Losses to KC, SEA, Dallas, NO and probably CAR (cause game won’t matter). I like the optimism but let’s be realistic. Whatever your numbers say and how you wanna spin this there is an actual ZERO percent shot this team makes playoffs. Go in to the off-season and address WR, S (both), and move Smith from LT in to guard.
November 18th, 2016 at 8:23 am
STOP Joe. This scenario is highly unlikely with the current roster.
November 18th, 2016 at 8:32 am
4 wins with maybe another 2-3 wins in them if they play error free and the d stays aggressive
Definitely not close to a playoff team
November 18th, 2016 at 8:33 am
A win at KC gives me hope for playoffs. A win at KC and JW and Ayers healthy the rest of the season is the ticket to playoffs Baby!
You can take that to the HOUSE!
Go Bucs!
November 18th, 2016 at 8:36 am
Probably going to lose both games against the aints and kitties….and def against the Cowboys. So just stay in draft mode. Probably picking 7th.
November 18th, 2016 at 8:37 am
@Tampabayfan
While that scenario would have been great!!! the other side of the coin, is that some in this fragile “fanbase” and I use that term loosely!!!!! If that would have played out, the clowns in this fanbase would be screaming for a superbowl appearance or fire the coaches, GM, grounds crew and whoever!!! They simple could not handle that scenario!!!! After all these same “fans” have already decided that Coach Smitty could not get the job done before pre-season games!!!!!!!
One game at a time everyone!!!!!!
It took love 21 games to win 4!!!!!! Improvement Indeed!!!!!
Go America!!!!!!!!!!!
And Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 18th, 2016 at 9:07 am
I personally fall in the, “one game at a time,” bucket. I am cautiously optimistic that some of our injured players should start contributing this week, although last nights game was a reminder of how quickly a great player (Luke K.) can go down. I try not to dwell on possibilities. We are getting to that point in the season where we can anticipate a front-runner to fall dramattically and a first half loser catch fire. The Buc’s are one of those “wait and see,” teams that unfortunately in the past have leaned more toward the disappointment side of the ledger. It would be nice for a change to break that “wait till next year,” ceiling.
November 18th, 2016 at 9:14 am
I think they would also have to win the division, hope for a dirty bird implosion and a jameis and the Bucs explosion, a win this weekend would do wonders for confidence, as long as they don’t believe the hype and get overconfident
November 18th, 2016 at 9:22 am
Look let me be honest last year we were third in the NFC south around this time this year we are second look people I’m not saying we are going to the playoffs but I’m still going to root for this team to make it so let’s look at it like this I 100% sold we can beat the chargers the saints 2x and the panthers that’s 4 wins now if we can win just one game we are not supposed to win like dal,sea or KC i will say right here right now we are going to the playoffs no doubt but I’ll wait and see win pro lose I love my Bucs I maybe live in Carolina but I know I will be there next year when they play Atlanta go Bucs
November 18th, 2016 at 9:47 am
Play off talk is insane. I am excited to get Doug back…The defense is playing better. Jaboo is playing better. Hopefully the Dougernaut can take some pressure off of Jameis. I have said since pre-season…I want to be at least .500 and not be in last in our division. That will be good enough for me. I am driving from the Panhandle to see the Bucs play Seattle with a buddy who is a Seahawks fan…it will be a long ride back if we are not competitive. Go Bucs!
November 18th, 2016 at 9:56 am
Maybe the tiddlywink playoffs.
November 18th, 2016 at 10:07 am
Talking about the playoffs is a bit silly at this point. Other than Atl the Bucs have not beat a team with a winning record this year, and our 2nd game against Atl was so lopsided it wasn’t even fair. In fact against teams with at least a .500 record the defense has allowed 40,43,27,30 points and to the rams we gave up 37 pts. We still have to get past KC, Seattle, and Dallas which have a combined record of 21-5. I’ll be happy if we can avoid the basement this year.
November 18th, 2016 at 10:11 am
Nah. Everyone seems to talk about how great we are after a win against a dumpy team. I would love for them to be a playoff team but not happening this year. To many holes. Worried about Sunday against a really good proven team. Hope we fight hard. However. We just have to many holes (from injuries and to many holes)
November 18th, 2016 at 10:16 am
Yes, last nights game didn’t contain stellar performances but, Both team’s D’s are playing much better; the Saints score on everyone, when they want to; and Cam will be starting in our next go around.
Schedules matter and our forth-place finish has yielded a BRUTAL schedule.
November 18th, 2016 at 10:18 am
@ Realist
You often say exactly what I’m thinking…thank you for putting it to words 🙂
November 18th, 2016 at 10:21 am
TALL TASK…I would love for us to make the playoffs….BUT…we were in this position last year…we were 4-6, won 2 in a row to get us back to .500 and then kwon got suspended for the last 4 games ending our playoff hopes….this year is no different….beat a quality team or 2 and then we can talk playoffs…..DIRK=JIM TOMSULA…GO KAP..GO BUCS!!!!
November 18th, 2016 at 10:22 am
PLAYOFFS? TAMPA BAY BUC IN THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR? What strain of the..wacky tabacky you smoking Joe? You’s crackin me up. You are what your record says you are. and 4-5 says..YOU SUCK!!! Now spin it anyways you like..you still suck to holy hell and beyond.
November 18th, 2016 at 10:30 am
If the Bucs get on a run and start playing better than they have played thus far, if they can beat one of the three (KC, Sea, Dal) then magic could happen. Those are two Huge IFs. We would have to run the table except for lets say KC and Dal, and then we would end up with 9-6 and would probably still miss the playoffs.
November 18th, 2016 at 10:31 am
Oops bad math. 9-7
November 18th, 2016 at 11:13 am
Yogi was right. This is ‘deja vu all over again’. Last year it was the same thing; Bucs got to 6-6 then Ooops. I was one of those who predicted 9-7 or maybe even 10-6 this year IF the Bucs could stay healthy. If not, kiss another season goodbye. I thought that the Bucs would have some decent starters, BUT … would lack depth. The depth-thingie turned out to be a truism, but our starting 22 aren’t as talented in total as I thought they were in preseason. We still have far too many holes. Talking playoffs may fall into the category of ‘being a tad delusional’ with this year’s team?
November 18th, 2016 at 11:20 am
Improvement? More like wishful thinking, it’s out there for the taking BUCS, and it starts in Arrowhead! STEP/UP AMERICA DOWN WITH BANNON THE BIGOT!!
November 18th, 2016 at 11:23 am
the only games that matter are panthers and two saints. and atlanta being beat by the panthers or saints. win the division you are in. not much possibility otherwise.
November 18th, 2016 at 11:33 am
@bighogheinous
It took lovie 21 games to win 4!!! Improvement Indeed!!!!!
How can you ask “AMERICA” to step when your heroes can not be bothered to let there voices be heard!!!! How do they look their ancestors in the eye!!!! How can they not look at picture of Dr MLK and not be ashamed for everything that he fought for, and your so called heroes and roll models cannot even take 2 minutes to fill out a voter’s ballet and mail it!!!!!! It can not be any easier today!!!!! And you have the nerve to ask this great country to step up!!!! What have you done to step!!!! How have you tried to make your community any better!!!!! While you are sitting around, waiting for everyone to treat you better!!! I picked up the TAB for 4 Police Officers to Thank them for all their hard work an service in my community!!!!
You Step UP!!!!!! Its called Freedom!!! And it is only what we make it with out actions!!!!!!!!
Go AMERICA!!!!!!!
AND GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 18th, 2016 at 12:02 pm
One game at a time, that’s how it go.
November 18th, 2016 at 5:48 pm
I thought the bucs hang in there for a while against the Broncos. I think the Bron os are just as good as the cheifs. So if the show up the whole game instead of just the first quarter if might be a game.
November 18th, 2016 at 8:40 pm
@ The Buc Realist (RESPECT) I’ve been waiting for your America loving ass, so I can tell you that I love this country too! I am not my brothers keeper, my thoughts on cops is as a country we NEED them, but there are some that will never deserve that uniform, what I don’t get with you is the freedoms that we have are our freedoms ie: the right to not vote, the right to protest peacefully, the right to say STEP/UP AMERICA, when unarmed Black People or being killed by cops, when a Tyrant like Trump can be elected to the most powerful position in the world (NOT MY PRESIDENT), and then surround himself with even bigger bigots than himself. STEP/UP ANERICA I VOTED DOWN WITH BANNON
November 18th, 2016 at 11:56 pm
I appreciate Joe’s optimism. But I don’t think this years Bucs team is anywhere good enough for a playoff run. Sure we can beat the likes of 2 win bears and 1 win 9ers. But beating the saints twice, and the panthers a second time is highly unlikely. Yes the saints are a bit of a mess, but their offense can score at will. And our defense can not handle high volume passing attacks. and the panthers with cam back at QB is a whole different ball game. I’m hopefully to win out, but I will not let myself fall into that trap. I’ll wait until we have a winning record in December before getting too excited.
November 19th, 2016 at 12:01 am
The right to not vote? If you do not vote, then do not complain about the results of the election. Pretty simple. Be part of the solution, not the problem.
November 19th, 2016 at 5:42 am
@bighog, get your head out of your a$$….its people like you who motivated people like me to vote for Trump! Have a nice weekend.
November 19th, 2016 at 9:03 am
@MadMax: you didn’t vote Trump because of people like me, you voted your conscious (which tells me a lot about you) and I voted my conscious, even though we voted differently we both had a right to do so! E-mails didn’t bother me as much as bigotry and divisiveness! The sun is up and a good day is to be made…..enjoy!