“Definitely Kind Of A Contrast To How It’s Been In Years Past”
November 16th, 2020
A true new day in Tampa Bay says a long-time Buccaneer
Joe is so damn excited to not be talking NFL Draft on Thanksgiving this year.
When turkey day rolled around last year, the Bucs were 4-7 and preparing to take on the Jaguars. Let that dark cloud float by for a moment.
Yes, the stench of losing has cleared from One Buc Palace. Team Glazer can sell its shares in Lysol, or maybe trade them to Arthur Blanc for a Raheem Morris/Dirk Koetter autographed ball.
Joe has had such a great time rocking Bucs gear buying groceries this morning and running errands. It feels good to be alive.
The Bucs are 7-3. It’s been 12 years since anyone could say that. And Joe is even happier for the lost generation of Bucs fans, like the typical 19-year-old dude who wore a mattress-in-the-yard Mike Williams jersey to his first Bucs game back in 2011. Those young adults have earned this morning’s smile and civic pride.
Cameron Brate celebrated the Bucs win, in part, by joining Joe and virtually assembled media for a chat today.
Brate has suffered mind-numbing losing since joining the Bucs as an undrafted rookie in 2014. So Joe asked Brate what’s different this year after 10 games in the locker room and around the team in general.
“It’s definitely more fun to win, you know, to consistently to be winning games and to be in pretty much every game minus that last Saints game. Definitely refreshing,” Brate said. “And, you know, just that belief that we’re going to win every single game; it’s definitely kind of a contrast to how it’s been in years past. And you don’t really get that kind of edge unless you actually start to win games consistently.”
Yes, the Bucs have a new belief. It starts with the head coach and runs through the 2020 quarter, not the guy he replaced.
It really is a new day in Tampa Bay. Brate knows it. Joe knows it. Real fans know it.
Now the question is can the Bucs sustain. Can they knock off the Rams and/or Chiefs? Can they pound the snot out of their final four inferior opponents to at least earn a Wild Card trip to the shaky NFC East winner?
Joe might need medical attention if the Bucs get to Christmas without wiping the smile off Joe’s face. This team can do it, and that’s what’s so exciting.
November 16th, 2020 at 2:14 pm
The Panthers game was crucial. Think what you would be writing if we lost that one – three duds in a row. But credit to the coaches. They adjusted for the game – and during the game. I wasn’t sure they had it in them. But they showed what they could do under pressure. Bodes well for the rest of the season. So I share your enthusiasm – now.
November 16th, 2020 at 2:14 pm
Rams on Monday night football and then the Chiefs on Thanksgiving weekend. Primetime games, playoffs on the line, in thick of national discussions. Ring relevant is pretty fun I must say
November 16th, 2020 at 2:16 pm
The Bucs need to win their games but now is the time to start looking at their Wild Card competition.
That Hail Mary for Arizona vs Buffalo didn’t help.
We are essentially in the race vs 3 other teams:
Bears……Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks (one of those will win the division)
It would help if the Vikings beat the Bears tonight…..the Bears have games remaining vs Packers & another vs Vikings.
Beating the Rams would go a long way…….but the Rams, Cardinals & Seahawks all play each other….some twice. So, there are guaranteed losses there.
November 16th, 2020 at 2:19 pm
love both comments^^ Go bucs, bring on the lambs!!
November 16th, 2020 at 2:19 pm
If the Bucs play like yesterday, and are healthy, there is no reason why we can’t win both of the next two home games.
November 16th, 2020 at 2:21 pm
I believe the Bucs can run the table IF and that’s a HUGE IF the following:
– BL continues to call good games and put his players in favorable matchups (which he does not always do)
– RUN the ball
– protect Brady
– strategically play zone and don’t ask some of these young players to do things they’re not good at right now
November 16th, 2020 at 2:26 pm
Casual Observer Says:
The Panthers game was crucial. Think what you would be writing if we lost that one – three duds in a row. But credit to the coaches. They adjusted for the game – and during the game. I wasn’t sure they had it in them. But they showed what they could do under pressure. Bodes well for the rest of the season. So I share your enthusiasm – now.
Well said. If we lose against the P-Cats, we’re all talking about how we aren’t that good of a team and the sky is falling. It’s the nature of the football fan business. I never want to see a guy get injured but with that said, Whitworth being out is definitely a big boost to our Front 7.
November 16th, 2020 at 2:35 pm
@Joe, I know your all excited. I am happy for the Buc’s. I also think we have a really good chance to make the playoff. The issue is if we don’t acknowledge that we have an AWFUL defense by this head coach it will be one and done. We have an OC that is so bad you can count on ONE hand how many times he has run the ball twice in a row.
We need to RUN the ball more to protect our Defense, they are BAD.
November 16th, 2020 at 2:35 pm
The Rams sacked Wilson 6 times yesterday. If somehow the Bucs can keep Brady clean, they should win Monday night. But the Oline has not played well against a nasty opponents Dline.
November 16th, 2020 at 2:48 pm
The Rams game is huge. This could decide a wildcard spot. Hopefully the Bucs realize it because I guaranty Sean McVay does … just like Sean Patton did.
November 16th, 2020 at 2:50 pm
The Rams and the Chiefs. Beat them and we shall see. Our Bucs are just one amongst many good teams in the NFl with 6 and 7-3 records. They are all bunched up right now. The proof in the pudding will come shorty as one or 2 teams break out of the pack. No hype just perform. Just win..period. Anything can and will happen in these next 7 games.
November 16th, 2020 at 2:54 pm
Bucs have very winnable games against ATL (2x) Minn and Det
That gets them to 11-5
Saints have losable games (with Jameis) ATL (2x) and the Chiefs
Cards have losable games against Seattle, NE, Rams (2x)
Rams have losable games against Bucs, Cards(2x), Pats and Seahawks
Seahawks have only two remaining games they could lose Cards & Rams
Basically if the Bucs want the division they can only lose maybe 1 more game to have a real shot.
To ensure a wildcard all Buc fans need to root for the NFC West teams to lose as much as possible. I doubt they all win double digit games, but it is 2020…
November 16th, 2020 at 2:56 pm
great post… yes, this is usually the time of year where we need to think about losing for a draft pick
November 16th, 2020 at 3:05 pm
I cant wait for this game. Bucs will be wearing their PEWTER alternates for a national audience. We last saw them week 3 against the Broncos and they looked sweet! For the first time in a long long time im excited for a game not worried about how were going to screw it up. I expect us to win and I believe the players believe it now themselves.
November 16th, 2020 at 3:11 pm
We will see what adjudtments they make to keep Toms jersey clean. Rams put a beating on Russ. The Bucs have not responded well in the Bear game and the Saint game. I expect they will make adjustments and do better. Brady is a surgeon, with the ball, just get the ball out quick, help out the line. It is so good to be 7-3 as opossed to their record at this time in the season for the lost decade. GO BUCS!!!!
November 16th, 2020 at 3:31 pm
Bucs need to be aiming for top seed in NFC so they would get a bye.
They would hold a tie-breaker over Packers.
If Saints win division, and Bucs make playoffs, they will most likely face Seahawks, Rams or Cardinals in 1st round wild card playoff.
November 16th, 2020 at 3:41 pm
One at a time.
November 16th, 2020 at 3:46 pm
Happy we won but not overly excited, at the moment.
If the Rams sacked Wilson six times.. that’s something. He has made a living out of avoiding pressure. Tom ain’t that nimble. Mainly worried about our D versus Mahomes/Reid. We haven’t faced anything with that level of creativity and talent. We couldn’t beat the offensive juggernaut that is the Bears, and it took our best Snake Plisskin impersonation on our last MNF.
Glad to wear my Bucs gear (sans alarm clock numbers) too, Joe. But keeping it real. Long way to go, as inconsistent as we are.
November 16th, 2020 at 4:11 pm
Im still loking for the division. Even though we shot ourselfs in the foot. We screwed up our chance. Im rooting for the Saints to screw up theirs.
November 16th, 2020 at 4:56 pm
I think Brady and BA will get the “OMG it’s prime time!!!” Out of them.
November 16th, 2020 at 5:16 pm
Shame on anyone who is simply writing off the Falcons x2, Lions and Vikes as 4 easy wins. They won’t be.
November 16th, 2020 at 5:17 pm
The Bucs lost to the Giants last, because of kicking, then came out the next week and put up 52 vs the Rams.
Not sure I by the nonsense about “learning to win” – that’s just generic bumper sticker garbage.
Just make your kicks and don’t have the worst defense in the history of the NFL through week 9, and you should be OK when you’re scoring 29 points a game.
November 16th, 2020 at 5:45 pm
Imma give the Tompa Bay Bucs props here. The Panthers should not be this easy. They always play us tough, but what a great job of putting a horrible loss behind them by the GOAT and the entire team.
You know how a lot of people either doubted or condemned RJIII as the holdever at RB last year? I thought there might be hope because at times last year he did look good and at times, well, let’s just say he was very disappointing.
This year we have seen a different RB in RJIII. Currently he is 3rd in the league in rushing and that arrow of a run for 98 yards was a thing of beauty. Only the 4th 98 + yard run in NFL history.
Fake Joes 😉, please give RJIII all of our thanks for being the most improved player on the team. He has earned it. He just looks more relaxed and confident.
November 16th, 2020 at 6:17 pm
THANK YOU JOE! I am that “lost generation Bucs fan.” Ive been a fan of the team since 2007. I’ve seen ONE playoff game in my lifetime. It didn’t go well. My first jersey was Josh Freeman. It didn’t age well. When I finally became an adult and could afford to travel to my first Bucs game, I flew all the way From Hawaii, and drove through the night from Atlanta to Tampa, to see us get curb stomped by the Rams. It’s not been the most fun time.So I am soaking up every ounce of the Bucs 7-3 record this morning. I don’t ask for sympathy, but I absolutely appreciate that fans like me crossed your mind.
November 16th, 2020 at 6:58 pm
Yeah instead of draft picks we have TBBF giving us the breakdown on potential playoff opponents. What a refreshing change indeed!
November 16th, 2020 at 7:15 pm
How many prime time games has TB12 been in….?
He’s been in 9 freaking SuperBowls!!!
I don’t think prime time games scare TB12, that’s a ridiculous narrative.
November 16th, 2020 at 9:59 pm
After the lost decade it’s hard to believe but it sure looks diff around these parts. Let’s go Bucs
November 17th, 2020 at 8:41 am
“…or maybe trade them to Arthur Blanc for a Raheem Morris/Dirk Koetter autographed ball.”
Does this imply there is a possibility Blank might hire Dirk? How awesome would it be for that to happen and Dirk hire Smitty again!!! That is an automatic 2 wins every year for the Bucs.