History Says It Will Take 14 Wins
May 20th, 2021
Aiming high
Joe was inspired to write this post after reading a truly moronic prediction for the 2021 Buccaneers at TheAthletic.com.
Longtime Raiders/NFL writer Vic Tafur had the audacity to advise sports bettors to wager on the under for the Bucs’ season-win-total line, which is currently 11 1/2 games.
The logic? Tafur believes the Bucs returning every starter means they’ll be more focused on the playoffs and prepping for the postseason than regular-season success. So Tafur sort of sees the Bucs as an 11-win team.
Goofy stuff.
Joe believes the Bucs wholeheartedly will be gunning for the coveted first-round bye in the playoffs. History strongly suggests that will require a 14-win season — a 14-3 record in the inaugural 17-game schedule.
The last five teams to claim the NFC’s first-round bye were 13-3, including Green Bay last season.
In 2015, the Panthers had their miracle 15-win campaign, but the year prior to that, it was Seattle taking the No. 1 seed with just 12 wins. Thirteen wins was good enough in 2012 and 2013.
So Joe is assuming that 13 + 1 this season is very likely to equate to the January bye week every team will desire more than ever.
Imagine having the footballs to bet the under on the Bucs right now. Joe has no such nerve.
Is it the weekend yet?
Joe's making a run to @BigStormBrewing shortly.https://t.co/vGcehHQRHu pic.twitter.com/JLSQxjVVp2— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) May 20, 2021
May 20th, 2021 at 12:04 pm
The race to 14.
May 20th, 2021 at 12:04 pm
I just took the over at 11.5, happily all day long.
May 20th, 2021 at 12:05 pm
Sounds like he’s salty about the absolute shellacking our boys gave to his Raiders last season. I have the Devin White hit on Carr saved to my phone and just seeing his face knowing he messed up and then DW laying the hurt on him is just so satisfying.
May 20th, 2021 at 12:06 pm
The under? That’s insane. Under 11 wins may not be enough to make it into the post season even with the expanded schedule.
May 20th, 2021 at 12:21 pm
Joes, you gents should have another pccasional feature. I’m sure you could come up with a catchy name. Select the most moronic Bucs takes from around the media for the week and post them so we can all make fun of them regularly.
Heck, 10 wins (10-7) might not even make you the playoffs. The Bucs 10-6 in 2010, which for the math geniuses is a better winning percentage, didn’t make the playoffs. Last years’ Dolphins 10-6 didn’t make the playoffs.
11 wins is a minimum and even that doesn’t guarantee the playoffs. The Chargers went 11-5 one season and missed the playoffs, a very cruel outcome for sure.
What an idiot.
May 20th, 2021 at 12:32 pm
It’s unrealistic 6 teams beat the Bucs in 2021. 0 is doable. 2 is likely. 3 is possible. 4 is stretching it.
May 20th, 2021 at 12:39 pm
(11-6) would be the under and that certainly would not guarantee a playoff berth.
At least two teams in the superbowl era (1985 Broncos & 2008 Patriots) failed to make the playoffs; there may be more. I’ve got the Bucs going (13-4).
May 20th, 2021 at 12:44 pm
NFC Championship rolls through Tampa, Time to shine. GO BUCS!!!!
May 20th, 2021 at 12:48 pm
That picture is the best picture from the entire regular 2020 season
May 20th, 2021 at 12:53 pm
Many sports writers said the same about KC last year and even during the season. They won 14 games. Hope the bucs can match or beat that to get the 1st round bye week.
May 20th, 2021 at 1:13 pm
Love that pic
May 20th, 2021 at 2:22 pm
Have you all seen the Quicker Pick by Bounty? Devin racing some WRs, he put up a 4.3 40, that kid is quick
May 20th, 2021 at 4:29 pm
Best pic of the season? I certainly would put the peace sign to cheetah as #1. That was legendary! Evans has some series hops though!
May 20th, 2021 at 4:30 pm
Sportswriters have a bad habit of underestimating Tom Brady. He came here to prove that it wasn’t the system that made him the GOAT.
He proved that last season, but does that mean he is going to lie down?
No, he now has to prove that he really is the best ever. He is going for pitching a perfect season. Anything else will be a letdown and no one on that team wants to let Brady down, not even Lenny.
May 20th, 2021 at 4:33 pm
My bad – you said “regular season”. Agree with that!
May 20th, 2021 at 4:35 pm
Brady is probably dead serious about nailing a perfect season. Fall in line boys and be ready to rock down by down! LFG!
May 20th, 2021 at 4:43 pm
74 Bucs fan
Yes regular season 😂 the post season had way too many to choose from.. my favorite was definitely AWJ31 peace sign but it’s hard to put anything above the fireworks and confetti raining down after SB LV
May 20th, 2021 at 5:39 pm
That fly over before the game is my favorite pic of the season. It was I that moment that I realized we made it to a home super bowl and I got the feeling we are about to crush the Cheifs
May 20th, 2021 at 6:04 pm
Funny, as Alvin’s official prediction was, and is, 14-3.
May 20th, 2021 at 8:20 pm
They only accomplishment left for Brady is an undefeated season. He didn’t get that in 2007 and this Bucs 2021 team is much better then the 2007 Patriots.
May 20th, 2021 at 8:44 pm
I agree with you Joe, that guys an idiot. The aren’t planning to focus on the post season. They have to focus on every game. The post season will then take care of itself. 14-3 sounds great to me. GO BUCS!
May 20th, 2021 at 10:04 pm
Right on Jim Hodges…. time to go for 20-0, that would make it 28 in a row, and back to back World Championships. Playing for immortality, undefeated season. And yes is by daily HARD WORK, game by game, but make no mistake, the goal is to win every game period. Like Bill Parcells said “Why do you lift those weights, why do you bust your tal everyday in training camp, and everyday of the season” GO BUCS!!!! 28-0 AND BACK TO BACK WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!
May 21st, 2021 at 6:36 am
I like the old way of taking and focusing on winning one game at a time.
May 22nd, 2021 at 2:43 pm
Gotta focus on taking our division first…. may not be as contentious as it has been in previous years, but Matt Ryan has a shiny new reviving weapon along with Jones and ridley and if Pitts is a good a he was in college they could give our bucs some competition for the top spot