Better Without Division Title?
December 2nd, 2020
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.
Yeah, Joe is bummed that the Bucs won’t win an NFC South crown this year. Been a long, long time since that’s happened. Not since 2007.The guys over at Football Outsiders seem to think the Bucs are in a more advantageous position (provided the Bucs make the playoffs) than the soon-to-be 2020 NFC South champion slimy Saints.
Bryan Knowles: I think the Bucs most benefit from the NFC East being so terrible. If the Saints get, say, the second seed and have to host the Cardinals, that seems like a much tougher matchup than the Buccaneers traveling to New York.
The lack of the bye does help, I think, but it’s impact is dwarfed by the poor performance of the NFC East.
Scott Spratt: That makes sense, Bryan. But does it rely on the Bucs specifically landing on the fifth seed, then? Because at least for now, the Rams sit there with just four losses, and the Rams beat the Bucs head to head.
This is an interesting point to Joe and sort of softens the blow of how the Bucs are in a tailspin at maybe the worst time of the year.
Playing at Washington or New York or Philly (or Dallas) sounds only slightly better than hosting the Cardinals. Provided the Bucs get the No. 5 seed. Currently, Football Outsiders has the Bucs with a 29.2 percent chance at the No. 5 seed, and 37.3 percent shot to finish at No. 6.
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:36 pm
The F does it matter Where you land. The object is to be the better team Regardless of who you are playing. Smoke and Mirriors don’t cut it in the Playoffs.
You either belong there or you don’t
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:46 pm
If the Rams and Cardinals split their games, they both lose 6 and the Bucs can do it at 11-5.
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:48 pm
Too early to say they won’t take the division. The don’t deserve to, but the Saints could also face some sort of major hiccup. Would be funny if they win well in the playoffs on a wild card and host a lower wildcard team for the NFC Chaimpionship game…like LAR or SEA? Naw…bad idea. Let’s go play in someone else’s house.
December 2nd, 2020 at 12:54 pm
None of it matters unless they win the next game … actually they are realistically one and done if they lose another game this season…. how’s that for a reality check!!!
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:09 pm
That is actually pretty hard Altered. But true
December 2nd, 2020 at 1:17 pm
Why are we talking playoffs … geez … Atlanta we play twice won’t be a walk in the park and we play Minnesota next who is no slouch … need to realize as funny as it sounds Chicago isn’t out of it and we are a game up on them and they hold the tie breaker
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:02 pm
The only hope that I have is that there playing stupid with everybody thinking theyll make the playoffs and then switch to the correct play calling for the nfc championship
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:03 pm
Sure we’re better off not winning the division. Who wants a home playoff game? Much better traveling to a cold NE team with nothing to lose, and everything to gain. How has it worked out for the Bucs in the past winning a game their heavily favored in? What could go wrong? We got um just where we want um!!
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:07 pm
This is a monsterously talented offensive team.
What it needs, is time together. No offseason really hurt team chemistry.
Defensively- We need to get our act together in the secondary.
We will be a scary team to play, by the time the playoffs roll around.
We just need to get in the dance.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:14 pm
This year’s playoff bracket is lame with only a 1 seed having a bye week. That is too large of an advantage for only one team per conference. The Chefs could finish 15-1 and host a Wild Card, just like the 6-10 NFC East champ? That makes no sense.
On the flip side, having an 8 win minimum for playoff eligibility should be added to the formula… same as being “Bowl eligible” in college.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:24 pm
Being OK with not winning the NFC South sounds like a loser mentality.
If you’re good, you win your division, otherwise you hit the road.
It’s really all academic at this point, since 8-8 and missing the playoffs entirely seems like where they are headed anyway
Peace, out
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:44 pm
Playoffs. We can dream can’t we?
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:48 pm
Don’tt worry. Saints are gonna suck next year cause they’re the second team over the cap limit already and the cap limit is gonna be severely lowered so they’re gonna be in a lot of trouble next year.
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:27 pm
I’ve never been a fan of looking at odds of other teams’ records or whether they make the playoffs or not. Same goes for looking at personnel issues with upcoming teams (are key players hurt? who is in Covid protocol? etc.). Whenever you start thinking you’ve got the upper hand in the NFL because of starting players of an upcoming opponent being out, that hand pulls out a knife and thrusts it into your heart. How many times have teams playing backup QBs taken us down. What matters is how your team performs regardless of who or where you play and who’s on the field. At one time, we thought we could beat anyone, anywhere. Not now. So let’s just buckle up and play and stop looking ahead to what may transpire in the playoff picture.
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:38 pm
Not surprising The Bucs haven’t won division since 2007… Horrible coaches and qbs… spent the majority of those years in last place…
Now is Arians a better HC than they have had through those years?… we keep hearing he is suppose to be…
Is an aging Brady a better QB? certainly better than those last several put together…
the division title would be nice but winning in the playoffs would be better… The Bucs even getting to the playoffs is an vast improvement over the decade!
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:45 pm
Let’s be clear here. Our Bucs need to..run the table with these last 4 and finish strong. If not I see us barely sneaking in and out with a game for the playoffs. This team here…All of you thought Brady was the savior only to see him slow as molasses back there at QB. All I can say is we better keep him healthy. he goes down and we got the Jacksonville Jags Wonder Gabbert. An that could be real ugly quickly
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:47 pm
11-5 here we come.
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:48 pm
Mike Johnson’s been worried about Brady getting hurt since 1998 or so.
December 2nd, 2020 at 5:21 pm
I agree it is sort of premature to be talking Playoffs.
Minnesota is no slouch, and Atlanta seems to have hit their stride.
The Falcons just put up 40 some points on their opponent last week.
December 2nd, 2020 at 6:07 pm
Nope, sorry.
They blew their chance at the division, and have also blown the #5 seed.
Get ready to travel to Green Bay, LA or Seattle. Or maybe nowhere if they keep p!ssing games away…
December 2nd, 2020 at 6:34 pm
Leonard Fournette did mention in an earlier interview coming off of injury that he has never seen a staff so concerned about a players health. Maybe they are stacking the deck by not using their runners heavily..?they have had some unquestionably unfortunate season ending injuries on both sides of the ball that’s lead to new faces, and position swaps, reps for depth guys earlier in the season on offense? But???? Its 2020 I just wanna see Dem BUCS win in front of the Nation get sem damn RESPECT as a franchise. Thats no JOKE
December 2nd, 2020 at 6:49 pm
for the quit complaining crowd, 7-5 with this group of personnel is a crime, period – and as many above have correctly stated, what appeared to be a 4 game cakewalk now seems like maybe a W @ DET and flip a coin with the rest of them…
the team mirrors the image of their coach, overconfident and ready for a cocktail by 530 pm….
being out-coached numerous times this year, his OC is just not a good play caller and the DC is very, very inconsistent throughout his coaching career – he has lived and died by the TO count his entire career
We see both sides of the ball breaking down at different times, a serious lack of energy early in games and a lot like with JW – trying to dig out of early holes and bad throws forced by very quick pressure
The product looks very similar to last year with a much different group of key players on O at least
If it looks like a rat, smells like a rat, sounds like a rat…..you dont make the payoffs
Hope they get their heads out of their you know whats in the bye
What happened to the team we saw mow down the Pack? Can we get them back?
December 2nd, 2020 at 9:39 pm
If your pinnig your playoff success on playing against a bad team, you shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
December 2nd, 2020 at 9:56 pm
Gotta love Bucs mentality. Next it will be Bucs are better off not making the playoffs which is more likely anyway. This franchise always set the bar very low, no matter the players or coaches. Pathetic!!!!
December 3rd, 2020 at 5:31 am
Mike Johnson Says:
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:45 pm
Let’s be clear here. Our Bucs need to..run the table with these last 4 and finish strong. If not I see us barely sneaking in and out with a game for the playoffs. This team here…All of you thought Brady was the savior only to see him slow as molasses back there at QB. All I can say is we better keep him healthy. he goes down and we got the Jacksonville Jags Wonder Gabbert. An that could be real ugly quickly
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Mike Johnson: You make it sound like Brady is slow and terrible/below average, then you say the Bucs are doomed without him.
contradiction:
[ˌkäntrəˈdikSH(ə)n]
NOUN
A combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another.
December 3rd, 2020 at 7:39 am
Get to the playoffs- beta both the Rams and Saints in the revenge tour to get to the Chiefs in the SB to complete it (unless Mike Tomlin and Steelers get there – then the story line of the former Bucs assistant now coaching against coach the former Steelers assistant coach), naw TB12 will still be the story and potentially and undefeated Pitt team
December 3rd, 2020 at 8:01 am
9-7 here we come 7th seed.
December 3rd, 2020 at 2:10 pm
I don’t think it matters much this year unless you are #1 seed, and even #1 might end up not mattering that much either if they add a playoff team. Home field advantage isn’t much of a factor this year. I also thinking the late bye should help the buccaneers because they can be rested late in the year.
December 4th, 2020 at 12:51 am
NJ Giants won a ‘Chip as a WC, Eve going to effing Lambeau to beat a still dangerous Farve. I agree with those who believe playing to not win the division is cheap and is a losing mentality though, and I don’t believe this team, with the “Lost Decade+” deserve our belief that we can trust them to use that as an advantageous position. Go by Coach Herm: Play to win the game.