Only One Loser Remains
November 14th, 2017
Show time
The road ahead of the Bucs is unusually bumpy.
With seven games remaining, Tampa Bay’s remaining opponents currently have a combined record of 38-26.
The only loser among the bunch is the Dolphins (4-5) and the Bucs head to their house on Sunday.
Here are the opponent records and the remaining schedule order:
4-5 @Miami
5-4 @Atlanta
5-4 @Green Bay
5-4 DETROIT
5-4 ATLANTA
7-3 @Carolina
7-2 NEW ORLEANS
Joe is very, very, very pleased that the Bucs have a tough schedule ahead. Let’s see what this Bucs team is made of. Let’s see how much they want to fight.
Because what’s very clear is that if the Bucs aren’t carrying a tough-guy mindset into Thanksgiving and beyond, then they’re sure to be headed into next season as four-win team on a six-game losing streak and seeking a new coach and general manager.
That’s just reality. There’s a enough talent in the house now to win a few games.
But any kind of success down the stretch rightfully will say a lot about the Bucs and how they’ve fixed themselves in the face of significant injuries and a brutal start.
Joe would love to hear of Chucky crying in his Hooters beer mug because the Bucs are on a roll and 2018 Bucs coaching fantasies are buried.
November 14th, 2017 at 1:15 pm
So 4-12 or 5-11 would be enough to get Koetter canned and the Chucky talk really going…. I see maybe two wins the rest of the season. It will be Child’s Play for the rest of the season!
November 14th, 2017 at 1:27 pm
It’s a Bucs life.
November 14th, 2017 at 1:36 pm
Yes DB55 it’s a Buc’s life!
Even if we win out and end up 10-6 I just don’t think that gets us in the playoffs this year given the current records in our division and Conference.
And wouldn’t that be Buc luck! Fitz wins the next two…#3 comes back healthy..we win out and it’s soooo what you’re still not invited to the post season.
Actually I’m not too worried about winning out. LMAO
November 14th, 2017 at 1:49 pm
In years past I’ve been an advocate of playing for a better draft pick because I viewed those seasons in a vacuum. I heard Old School mention something on his podcast that made me think about that approach a lot differently and has made me see this season a lot differently. The premise of what he was saying was that this team has a culture of losing and there are a lot of people that come to work there every day that don’t know how to win, especially tough games. I don’t think that culture is going to be changed by getting a # 4 pick versus a #11 pick. It’s changed by the guys going out and refusing to lose quietly, if they do lose. It’s gritting out a few wins that are close and learning how to close out games and not trip on their own feet at the end of a game.
If they can learn to do that then I think it will create a much better culture in the locker room and that will help the new guy, wherever he’s drafted, come in to a setting that is much more conducive to him being part of a winning club.
November 14th, 2017 at 1:59 pm
Spbf
That would not surprise me.
November 14th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
I really thought I’d be able to say we were better than the Packers without AR but I really can’t say anymore. I agree though I’m glad the road is tough, the last 6 games simply will represent teams you’ll have to beat to get to the playoffs every year not just this year. If they can’t beat them now Dirk never will. Every year oh if Mike Evans had help we’d be in the playoffs, if McCoy had help the defense would be unstoppable. Every year we pin our hopes on the word if and frankly I’m tired of the inexperienced coaching leading this team. You won’t pay a VP of operations so go get me a coach who knows how to win who we all expect will win games and stop looking for the next new guy because the Glazer’s are horrible at hiring the right guy
November 14th, 2017 at 2:32 pm
The big question at this point is ‘Will Sunday’s win against the Jets serve as the same springboard for a win streak this year that the Bears’ game did last year?’ MUCH different schedule last year (remaining teams after Chicago win had a losing record at the time as I remember). This year will be a much bigger challenge for the defense. What would really help is if this Bucs’ offense finally came alive & started putting some real points on the board, started controlling the TOP, and minimized turnovers. They didn’t do that last year in the 2nd half when the Bucs averaged slightly less than 20 pts/game after Chicago. In those 7 games the offense averaged about 2 TDs/game, almost 2 FGs/game, plus almost 2 turnovers/game. Need to do considerably better this year to be competitive.
November 14th, 2017 at 2:38 pm
This is from ESPN
Week 11 NFL Power Rankings: Win projections for all 32 teams
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2017 record: 3-6
Projected wins: 5.7. Ryan Fitzpatrick brought his Fitz-magic in Week 10 to snap the Buccaneers’ five-game losing streak. That was against the Jets, though. The Bucs have the Falcons (twice), Saints, Panthers, Packers and Lions the rest of the way.
6-10 at best
According to ESPN
November 14th, 2017 at 3:10 pm
Joe is very, very, very pleased that the Bucs have a tough schedule ahead. Let’s see what this Bucs team is made of. Let’s see how much they want to fight.
WTF!!!!….you need the remaining games to see what this team is made of…lol….c’mon man….what a joke….everybody knows exactly what this team is made of….everything but winning….
the only way we get to 6wins is if we win sunday and CAR and NO sit their starters because they are already in the playoffs…..I think we finish 3-13….I hope not but it aint looking good….we cant score and we never know what we’ll get from the defense….GO BUCS!!!!
November 14th, 2017 at 3:11 pm
IF….and humungous IF….IF the Buccs win, odds are they will win the division.
November 14th, 2017 at 3:11 pm
Buccs win out, rather^
November 14th, 2017 at 3:15 pm
If you are without a legit NFL QB – your season is obviously a lost cause and there is an amazing QB prospect that you could lose your way into position to get… Then and ONLY then is it appropriate to intentionally lose NFL games IMO.
Losing to the Saints the last game of 2014 was not only acceptable – it was the right thing to do for the good of the franchise. Which is why the Glazers made “The Call” at halftime…
But this year??? Or ever again in the foreseeable future?
HELL NO.
This franchise needs every win it can get. And if going 7-9 gets the Bucs the 13th pick instead of the 6th pick – so be it.
Losing on purpose to “get a better draft pick next year” is straight up loser mentality and should not even be seriously discussed in regards to this team.
November 14th, 2017 at 3:20 pm
@Patrick
Thanks for that post. I’m not as big a believer in the value of individual draft picks and where they fall because it’s really crapshoot. Picking 15th instead of 3rd doesn’t matter to me…it’s a crap shoot. I value draft picks overall but no so much by…oohh that’s ten spots lower. I’m more from the old Bobby Beatherd school of GM…get as many picks as you can…in fact Beathard frequently traded down to increase his number of picks because he realized what a crap shoot the draft is and the more chances you get the better your odds.
And there’s always injury. Most here were desperate for a RB and many want Dalvin including me…but look at what happened.
But your have nailed it for me. Losing and winning are cultures…winning must be learned and losing is an easy habit to fall into. I want to win every game we play in the next seven…and if we only win 2 or 3 more just enough to knock us out of the top ten draft picks…BFD. We MUST learn to win every chance we get.
November 14th, 2017 at 3:40 pm
Patrick, Pickgrin & StPete … If Joe allowed emojis, those comments would get a huge Thumbs Up.
November 14th, 2017 at 3:40 pm
Carolina and the Aints are going to be tough to say the least but regardless of the teams’ records we face, I feel all the other games are very winnable. I’m not looking at the rest of the season with the mentality that if we win out, yada yada yada. The chances are none to none that we win out. I’m more interested to see if this team rises to the challenge to at least remain competitive and play for this coaching staff. That will go a long way in determining if a new regime is necessary.
November 14th, 2017 at 4:18 pm
I can see emojis
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
November 14th, 2017 at 4:22 pm
Winning head coach Dirk Koetter may be 3-9 against winning teams as an NFL head coach, but he was 2-19 vs ranked teams as a college head coach. So the good news is, he’s getting better. Some people may say it’s hard to win with the 4th best coach in the division. I say, I sure as hell hope not. Given the current setup.
November 14th, 2017 at 4:28 pm
We don’t have to tank to get a better draft choice, we just have to finish the year. Barring some bad injuries by our remaining foes I see maybe 2 more wins at best. That would leave us with a 5-11 record. If that happens defending the current regime becomes hard to justify. If you want to bring Koetter, Licht back after that say so. What Joe needs is a new poll. Stick with what got us here, go after Gruden, or name someone you’d rather see take over. My vote would be Gruden, who was severely handicapped with not having two firsts, and two seconds his first two years. Think that didn’t have an effect on his record down the road you’re kidding yourselfs. Should he return he’d have the luxury of his first year of high picks from 1 thru 5.
November 14th, 2017 at 4:58 pm
REALLY ??Joe wants Koetter back when his coaching has to be in question (this year) and has a raves about a qb that is the worst qb in bucs own division….Bring Gruden back and hope Winston can either be more accurate or trade him.
November 14th, 2017 at 5:17 pm
I want some stability so I still support Koetter for at least one more year.
BUT IF we must make a change Chucky does not excite me and I don’t know how the job would excite him. I like Chucky. Run to Knoxville and repeat Phil Fulmer’s trick of a National Championship for the Vols. Far easier to turn around the Vols than the Bucs or ANY NFL team. Chucky the salesman with an SB on his record would be a sick recruiter. Can only imagine the talent level at Knoxville with their facilities and rabid fan base if Chucky was there to recruit and coach.
Now some have mentioned Harbaugh. I really like Harbaugh…he’s a former NFL QB of stature himself…he’s good with QB’s and teams period.
And Harbaugh is a class act believe it or not. So I’m in Atlanta several years ago with my wife for a reunion of her Dental Class. The NCAA was in town and as fate would have it Indiana stayed at our hotel. Harbaugh was there supporting his BIL the coach of Indiana. So some little black kid approaches Harbaugh for an autograph and asks…aren’t you the guy that won the SB with the Ravens. Harbaugh was unfazed…he laughed and said no that was my brother do you still want an autograph. The kid said yea. Harbaugh left the dining area and returned about five minutes later.
He found the kid finishing breakfast with his father and walked up to their table and said…OK here’s your autograph. He had a 49er’s jersey and autographed it for the kid. It was a great moment for that kid and his father.
November 14th, 2017 at 5:17 pm
Defense Rules Says:
November 14th, 2017 at 3:40 pm
Patrick, Pickgrin & StPete … If Joe allowed emojis, those comments would get a huge Thumbs Up.
👏👍😎👏👍😎👏👍😎👏👍😎
Oh dam, DB beat me to it!
November 14th, 2017 at 5:18 pm
Agreed 100% on Harbaugh over Chucky. Besides, Chucky aint coming back…
November 14th, 2017 at 5:19 pm
They can run the table Mike Evans coming back next game
November 14th, 2017 at 5:38 pm
Here is to hoping we finish 9-7…
November 14th, 2017 at 5:59 pm
The last two games will be interesting considering one of these teams may have clinched the division. Koetter could grab an extra win with a team resting their players.
November 14th, 2017 at 6:23 pm
After the loss in Buffalo, I said this team would win 5 games this year. The Jets, Dolphins, and in GB. I dont think they will go into GB and win so we could be looking at 4-12.
November 14th, 2017 at 7:15 pm
Every single one of those games is winnable. The next two week both opponents play us on short weeks after TNF games. After that maybe Jameis is healthy enough to play and the MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE Mike Smith doesn’t slip back into his old ways calling that soft as sissy 12 yard cushion zone coverage.
Its all up to Jameis, Mike Smith and the overall effort of the team. It’s very possible. Only game that scares me on there is New Orleans, and if Jameis has one of his good games there its 100% winnable.
November 14th, 2017 at 7:37 pm
I love what Koetter said about Jameis when he first hurt his shoulder. The shoulder can’t get any worse by playing”. Really? And an extra concussion or two can’t CTE, right? Please. I don’t expect Jameis to be healthy this whole season. And rushing him back just to see him play horrible is not the answer. Excuse me while I throw up, I got a case of Bucs fever.
November 14th, 2017 at 8:07 pm
Please god no more Chucky talk. We do not need another mediocre coach. Go out and get a good young offensive minded guy to right our ship
November 14th, 2017 at 9:10 pm
Only the bucs fans unfortunately have to debate sitting a healthy starting quarterback because of course silly season for us is in season. Off-season is our fantasy football fix
If he’s healthy he needs that work badly, he needs to get over his deep field accuracy right now not mid-season next year
November 14th, 2017 at 9:28 pm
Are people really talking about the Bucs winning out in a serious context? As a long time season ticket holder, I also suffer from Bucs delusion syndrome, but come on guys.
November 16th, 2017 at 3:15 pm
I can see winning the next three could lead us to at least 8-8; considering New Orleans not interested in the last game. But we won’t get anywhere if we don’t run the table which I find it almost impossible how things are right now…
November 16th, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Chucky won a SB. Not mediocre at all…