Mirroring 2020
December 29th, 2021
Is it bad for our beloved Buccaneers to close this season against three weak football teams?
Joe was hit with that question by a fan last night and on Sunday. Joe’s reply both times was, ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
Last year Tampa Bay closed the season with two games against the miserable Falcons and their interim head coach, with the lousy Lions sandwiched in between. The Bucs were tested big-time in the first matchup with the Falcons and trailed 17-0 at halftime, but that doesn’t mean the Falcons were any good. They finished 4-12, so don’t start cheerleading Matt Ryan.
Finishing against NFC weaklings did not soften the Bucs for the playoffs. In fact, it probably helped them fine tune their game without getting the crap beaten out of them by more physical opponents and (to borrow the baseball term) high-leverage situations.
The Bucs don’t need stud opponents to get sharp for the playoffs. It just doesn’t work that way. Let Dallas be in a dogfight with the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon before they take on red hot Philadelphia in their season finale.
Joe’s all good with having the beasts of the Bucs’ schedule in their rearview mirror and getting right against the likes of the Jets and Panthers (again). It worked just fine in 2020.
December 29th, 2021 at 12:29 pm
Well it looks like we’re putting 9,10 or 11 backups on the field out of 22 so that should at least make it sporting
December 29th, 2021 at 12:33 pm
In general, teams with strong schedules benefit from them, it’s just what the data says. It makes sense. Teams need to struggle, because it builds character and resiliency. Take the 07 Patriots, the biggest regular season test they passed was the last week of the season against the Giants. They thought they could show up and teams would lay down. For the most part, they were right. They should’ve lost to the chargers in the AFC title game, and Ben knew they were cooked against the Giants. A combination of overconfidence and untested players got them in the end. That being said, in the bucs situation, it may help down the stretch, just in terms of health
December 29th, 2021 at 12:43 pm
BEN, GO TALK ABOUT THE PATS ON THE PAT SITE!
December 29th, 2021 at 12:54 pm
@Ben now instead of quoting made up sources, its made-up data. Lets see this data. Or actually dont. Mike C is right.
December 29th, 2021 at 1:18 pm
No it may give us time to heal more and hopefully a good positive workout for both sides of our offense and defense
December 29th, 2021 at 2:34 pm
I always think of the cupcake 1999 Rams, the greatest frauds on earth. They play a cupcake schedule, prance in the playoffs, then after given all the hype in the world they play the Bucs in the NFC Championship game, are about to lose, and the NFL calls down to the refs and tells them to throw the game.
Ricky Proehl didn’t catch that TD, and Bert Emanuel DID catch the ball.
F— Kurt Warner. The only thing he’s the champion of is worlds richest bag boy.
December 29th, 2021 at 2:46 pm
Mike. Thank you for that. Ben needed the redirect.
Go Bucs!
December 29th, 2021 at 2:52 pm
we need to take advantage of this soft spot in our schedule; fine tune vets/ rest injured guys/ give the back-ups some game experience–all to be our best when playoffs begin..
last yr we had a late bye wk -but this yr it was mid season;; so our starters could really benefit from a bit of a rest. they don’t have to sit out entire game–just 3rd &/or 4th qtr
December 29th, 2021 at 2:53 pm
I’ve always felt like Matt Ryan was similar to Matthew Stafford. Talented but stuck in a losing franchise. I think he could definitely do better with a better team around him.
December 29th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
The playoffs are a different season, I don’t think it matters once they start playoff games. The players and coaches are all at a different level at that point vs regular season. Its win or go home. Usually this is when you see the most intense games of the season. Its only the SuperBowl where the atmosphere drops with all of the glitzy corporate crap.
NFC championship games are so competitive. Super Bowls, not usually.
December 29th, 2021 at 3:24 pm
Haven’t heard from Ben in a while, must still be in shock from the arse whipping Pat’s took from the Bill’s last Sunday. That game just shut up all those comparing Jones to Brady. Brady wins in big games.
December 29th, 2021 at 3:45 pm
The Bucs had a tough schedule. These last three games come at a perfect time. They’re winnable and they can still get healthy. GOBUCS!
December 30th, 2021 at 2:31 am
We had a very tough schedule, we need these ganes to have our starters rested and have our backups come through like against carolina, we have depth!!! We need to focus on hetting #1 seed still!! Greenbay can very well lose last two games and yes let dallas get banged up with the others bc they have tough games!! Homefield will have huge advatages, lets play our asss off in playoffs the defense is doing great hit them hard!!!! Take away thier strengths, exploit thier weaknesses, LFGO!!! Nothing less than a superbowl!!
December 30th, 2021 at 2:39 am
Also our defense is doing great keep it up hit them hard!! Offense we need some creativity, i like using recivers as rbs , like 48ers do also throw some trickery in there as well, indy had some great plays aginst the cardinals, also miami had great plays agains NO which NO had no amswer for,