Is Hope Still Alive?
November 25th, 2018
Warning — this is not a post for the legions of jaded, bitter Buccaneers fans who have waved the white flag on this season, this coaching staff and this front office.
Today, the Panthers lost and fell to 6-5 on the season, as the Bucs rose to 4-7. The teams square off in Tampa next Sunday.
Atlanta is 4-7 and the Bucs close the season against the Bucs in Tampa. Of course, they’re all chasing the mighty Saints in the NFC South.
But across the NFC, parity is taking over. The Redskins are 6-5 with no quarterback. The Giants (3-8) effectively were dumped from the playoff chase today losing to the Eagles, who are now 5-6 but would lose a tiebreaker to the Bucs. Tampa Bay still has Dallas (6-5) on the schedule.
No other NFC Wild Card hopeful has more than six wins, regardless of what happens in tonight’s Packers-Vikings game.
Is it just, is it reasonable, to have a shred of hope for the Buccaneers to run the table and make the playoffs?
Hey, the Bucs do have a two-game winning streak against the Saints, who might have the NFC South title clinched when they arrive in Tampa in two weeks.
Do the Bucs have a run in them? They have the firepower to beat any team on offense. And a kicking game has returned, as the defensive line is coming on.
Joe is unable to buy into the hope now, but it is alive, even if it’s on life support. There’s a path here for the Bucs, and maybe even a survival route for Dirk Koetter.
It’s ok, Bucs fans. Dare to dream for a week.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:23 pm
No f ing way even if we run the table Koetter has got to go
November 25th, 2018 at 7:24 pm
Americas’s Favorite Delusional Sports Writer Hack.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:25 pm
I was at the den of depression and I was rooting for a Bucs win! I will continue to root for this team to win regardless of who is the quarterback or the coach. Jameis had a nice game.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:26 pm
As long as we are not mathematically eliminated and can have a chance of making the playoffs i will keep hope alive, even at the cost of a #1 draft choice.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:26 pm
Friggen hylarious
November 25th, 2018 at 7:27 pm
I’d say why the heck not?! At this point is nice to have hope. The NFC playoff picture is beyond convoluted. That being said even if we do run the table, DK still, STILL should be fired. But I say again why the heck not. I just want this team to win, and I dont care how we do it.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:28 pm
Hope is gone joe,
Real buc fans just want to see more wins, even though we’re not gonna make the playoffs
November 25th, 2018 at 7:29 pm
Funny thing is that there’s not a player(shouldn’t be) on the team that doesn’t believe they win win the last 5.
All we gotta do is beat a struggling Panther. That’s it.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:29 pm
2 words. Keep dreaming.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:31 pm
All you gotta do is get your Phillip Rivers on….then take a page out of the Rockies playbook and ya good.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:32 pm
If this team wins 4 or 5 more games then the current regime stays in place. They need a lot of help on defense but maybe with some patience this can come together. Of course JW would absolutely have to play lights out in order for that to happen which is not likely. As I said earlier today, I hope it does happen as that would certainly bring some optimism
November 25th, 2018 at 7:34 pm
Mike Evans: “Well then I guess there’s only one thing left to do.“
DJax: “What’s that?”
Mike Evans: “Win the whole f**king thing.“
November 25th, 2018 at 7:34 pm
This win feels so dry because we haven’t seen a well played football game since week 2.
Browns win was not well played.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:37 pm
I don’t think it happens. Chances are the D reverts to dumpster fire next week against the panthers. If it did happen then that probably buys us another year of koetter which would make a bunch of us unhappy. The draft position groupies would be suicidal, and probably a contract extension for JW which would make a certain subsection of fans apoplectic.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:37 pm
Lol. We are talking about a Dirk Koetter coached team here. They’ll lose next week. Carolina will pound them like last time. This team is soft and poorly coached. Bad recipe for a physical well coached team coming in. No way I can handle another season of watching Dirk make stoopid decisions during games. I’d be shocked if they won more than 1 more game. Draft and coaching search talk time!!
November 25th, 2018 at 7:37 pm
no agree with first poster also the writer of the article forgot about the ravens who the bucs still play
Sorry to disappoint you, but Joe didn’t forget at all. –Joe
November 25th, 2018 at 7:38 pm
with 5 games left so far
it’s good Jameis = 1 ….bad Jameis = 0
November 25th, 2018 at 7:38 pm
I am truly concerned anout your mental health joe. not even pickgrin or bonzi are delusional enough to think this team should be mentioned in the same sentence as the word playoff
November 25th, 2018 at 7:42 pm
Screw the playoffs. The Bucs are going nowhere in playoff competition. Play well enough to keep Koetter and Licht safe. We have the most prolific offense in franchise history. Build on the foundation they laid. Upgrade coaches and players where possible on the defense. Reinforce the Ol, add a RB or two and hope for better luck with injuries. Starting over from scratch is a bad idea.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:46 pm
Sparky…..The problem with all that is the “play well” part of it.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:49 pm
Lol, building us up just enough to bring us down…..i said it before the game began, watch us go on a 4 game win streak. This team keeps finding creative ways to screw things up. So glad to see Big V do good for a change….i still believe in the rook. But hey, if they go on a win streak and we make the playoffs and have a chance, then screw draft position and lets go…..but im in no way getting my hopes up.
But think, the higher the draft position, the more we can get in trading down. I think DT Christian Wilkins will be there around 10-15 which is where we should trade down to. Dude reminds me so much of Sapp with his size and speed. then yes, go QB while keeping JW3 for another year.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:50 pm
This talk will even get warmer next week after we destroy the pussycats
November 25th, 2018 at 7:50 pm
people relax we beat a 2-8 team before the game, now 2-9 all of sudden the d-line looks good the defense is back come on get real, at least it looks like the bucs have a kicker
November 25th, 2018 at 7:50 pm
There’s still hope. We’re making a run. Fake-ass self-called fans can go back to their misery, hoping for losses. GO BUCS! Playoffs in sight
November 25th, 2018 at 7:52 pm
Not a chance at all. None!
ZERO!
November 25th, 2018 at 7:56 pm
As is usual the league is full of mediocrity. There are maybe at most a half dozen good teams…a half dozen bad teams…20 mediocre teams who could get hot and on a run depending on injuries and luck.
And so if the Bucs ran the table and made the playoffs as a wild card do we really believe the Glazers would fire Koetter and Licht?
Remember the Coach and GM started the season with their FRANCHISE QB suspended. The fact that Fitzmagic saved two of those first three doesn’t mitigate all the damage done by the suspension. Practices…planning…routine…all out the window thanks to our mature franchise QB. I’m not suggesting we dump JW…I am suggesting we all grow up and concede that JW is the MAJOR reason this season is on life support…it was Koetter out partying till three AM with two known bad dudes…one of them currently in prison for rape the same crime JW had to beat.
As for Licht…he drafted the risk so he doesn’t get the same pass. But it ain’t over till it’s over. If this team can play the rest of the year the way they did today and finish 8-8 I suspect there will be a lot of disappointed Koetter/Licht/JW haters.
How many bad penalties did we take today…none? We had the personal foul against our mean center but that’s a penalty of competition not another offsides or incorrect formation.
I’m trying to remember the last time the Bucs looked this good.
I’m trying to remember the last time JW went an entire game without a single turnover. I’m getting older…memory is weaker but I certainly don’t remember a game like this so far this year.
November 25th, 2018 at 7:59 pm
As far as hope….it’s at a all time low. But I will appreciate iate some good football down the stretch of the season and spare further embarassment.
If they can scave off elimination for a few weeks I’ll take it. Much better then watching the anylists laugh at our team.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:01 pm
Dan McLaughlin
What time is the curfew at the nut house you reside in???? Must be getting close for meds and night night….
Bucs have never been on a run and never will go on a run. Bucs have zero hope with glazers in charge. Any sane individual can see that
November 25th, 2018 at 8:01 pm
I am with Pryda. Koetter has to go regardless of the end record which despite the optimism some people have is probably going to be 5-11 or 6-10…..
November 25th, 2018 at 8:02 pm
Yes Dirk has to go. That’s a done deal.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:04 pm
All it takes is one win and now we’re going to run the table. lol
November 25th, 2018 at 8:05 pm
it was the stinkin niners when the bucs get blasted by the panthers the joy in mudville will come back to reality, the bucs are a 6-10 team who should beat the 3-13 teams then waxed by the legit playoff teams….false hope running wild once again in tampa… dont forget none of the niners drafted nfl vets played today & undrafted matt breita was gashing the bucs wait til 22 comes to town w cam and a real defense
November 25th, 2018 at 8:07 pm
Who is Joe kidding? Hope, bahahahahaha! Today’s win is the last win you’ll see this year.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:07 pm
Thank you for the information. But let’s be real, each additional win doesn’t pull us closer to a playoff birth, it takes us further from the top of the draft.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:09 pm
Is Hope Still Alive? You kiddin me?Yes..we hope..The glazers will wipe the slate clean and bring in some football know how to get this organization going.
Hope alive aye Joe? Thanks for the Sunday evening chuckle. I’ll top it off with a..Nite cap!
November 25th, 2018 at 8:12 pm
Its amazing how much of a homer site this is.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Sure Joel. A Bucs site shouldn’t favor the Bucs?
Go Bucs Baby
November 25th, 2018 at 8:24 pm
Nope not doing it. Look today was awesome and a massive step in right direction (who else smiled like a lunatic with every football santos sailed through the uprights!). Today’s win is about the future…we will miss the playoffs and also may not have a top ten draft pick, BUT it’s a small exhale for next year. Jameis showed us great decision making…THATS what I’ll be looking forward to for the remainder of this season. #stillwith3 #gobucs
November 25th, 2018 at 8:25 pm
No hope…Only pain !
November 25th, 2018 at 8:27 pm
A nice win and a very good performance by Winston. The 49er’s currently have the top pick ( projected ) and are on their 3rd string QB. So…there’s that.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:31 pm
Seen crazier things just this weekend. One play at a time, one game at a time. Just baby steps for this team right now. If we get good Jameis the rest of the way. And a defense with a little gumption. And don’t look now, but kicking is, dear I say, routine again.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:31 pm
I can see us running the table, but like the Jfro led team when they won ten and Jboo led team with nine wins – we would lose some type of crazy tie breaker
November 25th, 2018 at 8:33 pm
You people just don’t get it.
Hoping for the best is not a bad thing. Hope is not something that is written in stone. Every fan of this team should be ‘hoping’ to make the playoffs. Every fan should be ‘hoping’ the team wins out, no matter how unlikely it is.
‘Hope’ is just wanting the best for your team, for its players.
Some of you want to lose out for a better draft pick. That’s a selfish attitude.
Some of you want Koetter to get canned. That’s a selfish attitude.
You are not considering the consequences for the players who are trying their best, who need ‘hope’ themselves. All you are thinking about is blowing things up. These are careers on the line, and the players deserve to prosper and win.
Losing out is a losing attitude. That’s what we are trying to move past.
I know, the haters and trolls will disagree with this, but I believe there are plenty of fans here that want the Bucs to do well. Not just later, but now. Because with a losing attitude, later will never come.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:36 pm
This article is typical of “It’s a Bucs Life” mentality. So we run the table, and possibly (in a dream world) make the playoffs. That means we will get worse picks, and next year its back to the same old mediocre crap on the field. Aren’t you guys sick of this sh!t yet?
November 25th, 2018 at 8:36 pm
On a side note, Santos made me cheer. Even my wife watched the game today, for the first time in years.
And I almost did not get to watch it. Stupid digital antenna decided to take a crap, and I had to dig in closets and cabinets to find the old one.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:39 pm
Bucs 14 Says:
“This article is typical of “It’s a Bucs Life” mentality. So we run the table, and possibly (in a dream world) make the playoffs. That means we will get worse picks, and next year its back to the same old mediocre crap on the field. Aren’t you guys sick of this sh!t yet?”
I hate to break it to you, but according to people like you, this last draft was bad (I disagree)…and we had a good draft position.
Except for the first pick, positioning does not matter. Elite players are found everywhere in the draft. This whole draft position thing is a complete myth.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:42 pm
The fans are the downfall of the Bucs.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:43 pm
I believe the 2 teams that has gained the most momentum
Are the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks
The Saints, Rams, Bears are locks to win their divisions
Dallas may win the NFC East
The Seahawks, Vikings, Panthers, Packers , Washington are fighting for wildcards
I like Seattle and Green Bay
November 25th, 2018 at 8:44 pm
I hope that the Bucs win out (don’t expect this)…. That doesn’t keep me from wanting change at the head coach position. In fact this would even more make me want a change. The manner in which this team has been handled this season is befuddling. This team wins despite the coaching.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:45 pm
and it hasn’t won often under this coach
November 25th, 2018 at 9:05 pm
tnew Says:
November 25th, 2018 at 8:45 pm
and it hasn’t won often under this coach
Bucs have never won often including under the one dimensional bum Dungy the clown but don’t let reality stop yoy from insinuating otherwise
November 25th, 2018 at 9:47 pm
Lost 2 games from horrible defense and 2 from QBs turning it over left and right.
They could easily be 8-3.
I’m forever an optimist
November 25th, 2018 at 9:51 pm
I hope we end up winning the last 5, back door the playoffs at 9-7, and ride that donkey all the way to a Championship. Do I think it’ll happen? Hell no, but a man can hope. I’m tired of watching losing football. High draft picks don’t guarantee jack.
November 25th, 2018 at 9:53 pm
Lol gtfoh.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:01 pm
No thanks joe I’ll leave the dreaming to the media. Your not fooling anyone with this crazy talk after beating up on that team. This is still the same team that lost to Atlanta and Carolina and had the giants throwing a party on the sidelines just like the panthers, that’s how easy it was.
You actually think a defense led by Geraldine is going to help this offense beat Atlanta, Carolina, Dallas, Baltimore and New Orleans. Run the table with New Orleans waiting for revenge? Don’t know what your smoking tonight but this defense has a chance to maybe stop Baltimore but that’s it. One more possible win on the schedule unless they managed to slowly changed the scheme and forgives it out today. Defense played better but now they can’t stop the run
November 25th, 2018 at 10:17 pm
Bonzai….I’m with you.
Better draft position equals better team…
The Patriots have drafted at the bottom for the last oh 15 years now…
Effing morons dude!
Better draft slots…lmao…like that matters in Tampa.
November 25th, 2018 at 11:43 pm
We drafted 17th and had our guy D James and Vita Vea and any O-lineman we wanted or RB besides Barkley. Draft position means nothing unless you are top 3. Quit rooting for us to lose so we can pick another sh*tty pick that Mike Smith will ruin (just kidding-thank God that guy is finally gone). Vea was awesome today. He rode Staley, a perennial Pro Bowler, 9 yards back into the QB and got a sack. He was everywhere today. He is getting healthy and his confidence has to be sky high. It was good to see.
November 25th, 2018 at 11:59 pm
All you haters can just keep on hating but the reality is this team has a ton of talent.
Jameis has talent.
Barber has talent.
The O line has talent.
The wide receivers have talent.
The tight ends have talent.
The linebackers have talent.
The D line has talent.
The young safeties have talent.
The young cornerbacks have talent.
Hopefully James has learned, finally, about forcing too many passes during the game.
As usual, they need another player or 2 in the trenches (every team does every year). Add another D back and a running back.
They really are not that far off. Limit turnovers and they are probably sitting at six or seven wins right now. That is despite the defense only playing consistently good in three games.
Throw in the defenses playing better and two games they could be sitting at eight or nine wins.
That’s the reality of it. Talent level from team to team does not vary that greatly in the NFL. Teams that have 4-6 wins right now could easily be looking at 8 or 9 wins if they just did a couple things differently here and there.
November 26th, 2018 at 1:38 am
No chance they make the playoffs..Schedule is tough, have no tiebreakers- yet and they arent a good football team and we cant expect them to play good for 5 straight weeks.
is 7-9/8-8 possible? unlikely, but yes.. especially if they play like they played today. to be honest, if they found a way to 7-9/8-8 then IMO it makes Koetter and to a lesser extent Licht look more incompetent and more deserving to be fired because it will show this season was more on coaching and talent procurement.
Yes it was the 49ers, but if they woulda beat WSH and/or NYG then they woulda been at worst 1 GB with some tiebreakers and 50% of the haters woulda been on the bandwagon still.
November 26th, 2018 at 6:57 am
^^Actually we have the tiebreaker over the Eagles^^
November 26th, 2018 at 9:27 am
I am still in favor of keeping Licht & Koetter, and completely gutting the D side of the ball, except just a few players, and carving expensive dead wood from the roster and spending it on the D.
All the O really needs is a solid RG and a smidgen more OL depth.
This team is NOT a total train wreck despite what many “feel.” There is very little wrong with the offense.
And there IS an argument to be made for keeping the O together, another year into the system, and overall continuity.
November 26th, 2018 at 9:28 am
Don’t get seduced by this last game. The 49ers are a very poor offensive team.
November 26th, 2018 at 11:11 am
Cobra
If that was the “real” JW we saw yesterday I agree with you completely. Dump DJAX and any other malcontents or bad attitudes.
What I find funny is posts like the very first one. No matter what happens they want Koetter gone. LMAO
If through some luck the Buc’s back into the playoffs does anybody here really believe the Glazers would like to be known as owners who fired an HC after he made the playoffs. smh
Cliche time….do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. We all see and smell the turd filled bathwater of this season…not sure we see the babies in there that need to be nurtured not tossed out.
November 26th, 2018 at 3:09 pm
Joel
“Its amazing how much of a homer site this is”
You do realized it’s called “Joe Bucs Fan” for a reason…..
——————————————-
SPBF– Koetter does have to be gone…This team has not operated on any level like a professional football team, his coaching is atrocious, both on the field and in it’s administrative facets.
He may be good at drawing up plays, but he is responsible for the entire team..he does not have those skills.. and while yesterdays win was a delight, the reckoning is still coming and the playoffs are not.
November 26th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
I’m a true fan. Love the optimism. Losing is for losers. High draft picks are nice but nothing is guaranteed in those. You play to win. Period.