Better Win In London
April 20th, 2019
Win there or prepare for draft.
If you aren’t playing for the playoffs, then you are playing for the draft (or you better be).
With the release of the 2019 schedule, it is clear to one paid Bucs observer that there is a do-or-die game on the slate. And that is a game not played on American soil (or turf).
That would be the rotten “home’ game in London.
Per jet-flyin’, kiss–stealin‘, data-analyzin’, Bucs-film-studyin’, limousine-ridin’ Thomas Bassinger of the Tampa Bay Times, most teams who lose in London are doomed for the season.
Crucial for the #Bucs to steal their game in London. Here’s why: One NFL team has lost in London and made the playoffs. The 2008 #Chargers did it, but the AFC West was weak that season. Got in at 8-8.
— Thomas Bassinger (@tometrics) April 18, 2019
So there you have it. That NFC South showdown in a foreign country takes on the greatest of importance. This will be the biggest division game for the Bucs since they faced the Stinking Panthers in the final game of the 2016 season at the Den of Depression to stay remotely alive for a wild card berth.
And that was only the second time this decade the Bucs had a winning record.
April 20th, 2019 at 10:03 am
BUCS 31 PANTHERS 13
for us to enjoy with a few morning beers on that sunday….
April 20th, 2019 at 10:12 am
Yea I agree Joe, can’t lose that one. But damn, it doesn’t look good right now on paper. Too many questions…
Go BUCS
April 20th, 2019 at 10:25 am
I’ll add a twist to the boring statitician’s take. Teams play overseas often because they suck and can’t fill their own stadiums. Of course they have losing seasons. Yeaah, I know they had to do it to get the Superbowl. Used to be this town had the luster to do it without all that. Okay?
A bright spot: It’s not the Bears, Giants, or Patriots or another another team our lymie friends have adopted. It’s the Panthers. So maybe the Bucs will actually be the home team.
April 20th, 2019 at 10:33 am
They sign Berry and/or a CB that can play besides Our last pick in the second round….then I’ll start believing.
Until then, this secondary looks horrific.
April 20th, 2019 at 10:39 am
Lol we gonna shock the world again remember last year staring down and 0-3 start gtfo any given Sunday !!
April 20th, 2019 at 10:39 am
I think it’s more important to win the first road game against the Panthers to open the season. We just can’t lose to them in week 2, and then put the pressure on a must win in another road game in week 6.
April 20th, 2019 at 10:42 am
Radio Raheem’s illustrious HC career died in Great Britain.
April 20th, 2019 at 10:54 am
Our corners are good. They will play to their strengths with the press. That will help the pass rush. While we do need LBer help, if Q.W. is gone I’m talking Oliver @5. No trade down. And grab a LBer in the 2nd. But again I’m good with corners as it stands
April 20th, 2019 at 11:11 am
Every Playoff team that doesn’t play in London in a given year doesn’t win in London. So the corelary that you have to win in London to make the Playoffs doesn’t hold water. Nice try though…
April 20th, 2019 at 11:15 am
Given the difficulty of our schedule and the amount of traveling required, I would be surprised if we even get 6 wins (thats being generous IMO). Our away stretch with London and 2 trips out west is brutal. Unless Jameis has a remarkable season and suddenly becomes a different player, we are in trouble. This is the craziest schedule I can remember seeing and of course it happens to us. We better nail this draft and even then we still have a difficult road ahead.
April 20th, 2019 at 11:54 am
Thomas Bassinger is a quack. His tweet has no correlation it’s just a coincidence.
April 20th, 2019 at 1:28 pm
WhatdaBuc
Agree with your assessment…press coverage combined with a stronger pass rush will make our DB’s look better.
Here is an aspect of our DB that nobody is bringing up despite Bowles/BA’s ability to get creative.
Ronde Barber had 5.5 sacks his third year and routinely followed that with season of 2-3 sacks. Yes he’s a special player and had a gift. How do we know VHIII doesn’t have that same gift for getting to the passer? Or perhaps Davis or one of our Safeties.
At least this season I have more confidence that Bowles/BA can think outside of the box. Smitty/Koetter were close minded coaches who were truly locked in their little boxes.
April 20th, 2019 at 1:44 pm
Both of these teams have weaknesses and panthers aren’t much better than us even with a pretty good defense. Good offense can beat good defense if you can fix the run game. That should be BA primary concern because our receivers will be good without a doubt
April 20th, 2019 at 1:47 pm
I remember the 2011 season when the Bucs went to London, got embarrassed vs the Bears, and the 10 game losing streak started. They were 4-2 at the time.
And of course, the Bucs were the home team then too.
April 20th, 2019 at 2:27 pm
The Bucs shouldn’t have to go play in London until every NFL team does. What is this BS? A tryout for becoming the London Buccaneers?
April 20th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Can’t wait to start drinking at 7am for that game
April 20th, 2019 at 4:43 pm
Playoffs won’t be an issue either way! Please!
Is this a joke?!?
April 20th, 2019 at 8:22 pm
If it doesn’t go well early in the season, they should tank and plan for that QB-heavy draft. Thanks for saying that. Won’t happen cause BA doesn’t want to plan for the future; his is now. More shortsightedness.
Yo, Ho, Ho we’re the Buccaneers.
April 20th, 2019 at 10:08 pm
I can’t believe a division game, which bears more weight in the playoff tie breaker, is being played in friggin London.
April 21st, 2019 at 9:16 am
These overseas games SUCK and the NFL schedule makers suck! The only thing the English care about is tea and biscuits, putting some old broad on a pedestal and giving her a really nice mansion and kissing her wrinkled ass and call her the queen, rioting, and probably the WORST thing the dumbest pastime in the whole world kickball!!! Err soccer!! I mean seriously you have a huge ass field kick the ball back and forth for a time no one knows except the ref , if an opponent touches your leg you fall to the ground like the little priss euro you are and cry for 15 minutes, then when the ref is tired he finally blows the whistle and then you go shower with your “mates” with a 0-0 tie!!! CMON LEAVE OUR SPORT ALONE!!! ( thanks for the rant I feel better)