Key Game Before Bucs-Panthers Kickoff
January 4th, 2022
Tanking back in style in Tampa?
Most Bucs fans don’t realize it, but the Giants-Washington game scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday likely will affect the Bucs-Panthers game at 4:25 p.m.
Joe shall explain.
The Panthers (5-11) can draft as high as No. 5 overall in April with a loss to Tampa Bay and a Giants (4-12) loss to Washington. The Giants have a better strength of schedule, so Carolina would win the draft tiebreaker and get an earlier pick if the teams tie.
If the Panthers beat the Bucs, they could fall to the No 9 overall pick, but No. 7 or No. 8 would be more likely in that scenario.
So, the bottom line is that if the Giants beat the Washington Heinickes on Sunday (the game is in Jersey), then Joe suspects the Panthers will completely tank against the Bucs so they can lock up the No. 5 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
With the No. 5 overall pick, quarterback-needy Carolina potentially could pick the first QB off the board. The Lions, Jaguars, Texans and Jets may already have starting QBs they want to keep.
And before you say, “Joe, of course the Texans will draft a quarterback,” Joe will remind you that Houston chose Lovie Smith to run its defense.
January 4th, 2022 at 3:01 pm
The only thing lovie ever did right was drafting Mike Evans
January 4th, 2022 at 3:04 pm
Both teams trying to lose. OK. This season has really lit me up on NFL again after getting over the kneeling and politibabble of last year. Maybe the rest of the USA will follow on and stop with the political correctness and wokeness that has been a worse plague than the germ attack.
Are you ready for some FOOTBALL…well I am.
January 4th, 2022 at 3:10 pm
This is really a stretch……many players are playing for their jobs & contracts……and teams can move up to positions 1-4……the draft is a crap shoot at #5……..
January 4th, 2022 at 3:12 pm
The snark is extra thick Joe.
I like it.
January 4th, 2022 at 3:14 pm
Looking like a Poor QB class this year!
January 4th, 2022 at 3:18 pm
Joe, LOL!
I live in Houston and the Texans are managed terribly. Joe Culley has them playing hard, like Dan Campbell has the Lions playing hard. But the GM and owner are both complete mentally defective buffoons.
So, yeah, the Texans probably think they’re good to go with Davis Mills.
January 4th, 2022 at 3:22 pm
THIS COULD BE THE MOST EPIC TANK BATTLE SINCE KURSK!!!
January 4th, 2022 at 3:22 pm
Nothing like tanking to build comradery and a winning culture for a franchise.
Is that snarky enough, Doosh?
January 4th, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Must be a slow news day….
January 4th, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Yeah I’m a rank denier personally. I think teams in situations like the Panthers sometimes play backups and guys to see how they perform in live action, but I think the guys in the field are all still trying to win every game and I think the coordinators are still calling their best plays. If giving guys opportunities to pay that normally wouldn’t is tanking ok
January 4th, 2022 at 3:26 pm
I’m quite sure the coach on the hot seat wants to lose…..
The order will come from the top (above the coach) as it should.–Joe
January 4th, 2022 at 3:35 pm
I don’t think it matters one bit. The Buccaneers just removed a scab that was festering the last few weeks.
They need to come together and show a solid consistent outing on offense with good tempo and rhythm.
It doesn’t matter what the Panthers applying for, they should beat their assszsz
January 4th, 2022 at 3:43 pm
Even if the PAnthers decides to tank their game, the way the Bucs played against the JETS last week, this sunday’s game will still be a nailbiter for the Bucs…. LOL!!! smh!!!
January 4th, 2022 at 4:11 pm
Only 2 games matter, Panthers Bucs and 49ers vs. Rams.
January 4th, 2022 at 4:14 pm
Mike Evans needs 54 yards to hit 1000
TB12 needs 246 yards to record his best regular season of his career and only his 2nd 5K season.
January 4th, 2022 at 4:44 pm
Lovie Smith sucks!
January 4th, 2022 at 4:51 pm
Quite sure Evans and Brady want those records SlyPirate stated – and the cohesiveness that Anonymous stated. Let’s get all that wrapped up by Q4 then rest all starters. I am all for the Panthers tanking.
January 4th, 2022 at 4:59 pm
HAhaha Joe. Only you would come up with this angle.
I dont think the Pathers will tell Rhule to lose on purpose but just in case I guess Im rooting for Washington. I will like to see a football game Sunday and not a glorified preseason tryout game.
January 4th, 2022 at 5:44 pm
I think this tanking thing, is nonsense.
Every game is like an audition, for players and coaches.
Or they won’t be employed very long in the future, for team.
January 4th, 2022 at 5:45 pm
The Titans just released Golden Tate from their practice squad. What’s up with him? Is he washed up? He used to be pretty good until Giants coaching staff changed. If Carolina drops their coach, it only makes sense to draft as high as possible with a new coach coming in.
January 4th, 2022 at 5:45 pm
*for any team
January 4th, 2022 at 5:58 pm
BuxfaninTX Says:
January 4th, 2022 at 3:01 pm
The only thing lovie ever did right was drafting Mike Evans
_____________________________________
Uh, I think Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith might have something to say about that, good sir or madam.
(Don’t get me wrong, Lovie was awful. Terrible. Pathetic as a head coach.
But the 2015 draft class was better than 2014 if you’re going by the number of starters)
January 4th, 2022 at 6:20 pm
I told my boss, I was tanking this week… he fired me.
January 4th, 2022 at 6:23 pm
Looks like TO wants a ring lol. He said if the Bucs need a wr to call him. Lol. The guy’s 48 years old lol. I think Fitzgerald would have made sense.
January 4th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Tanking is not nonsense. The players don’t tank. The organization tanks by not playing their best players. Putting certain guys on the injured list, resting others by giving unproven weaker players time. The players themselves don’t tank but a team can tank a game in many different ways.GOBUCS!
January 4th, 2022 at 6:43 pm
Good in theory. However it’s quite possible if there are head coaching changes they may not wanna keep the quarterbacks they have in place. For example, Goff isn’t exactly tearing it up in Detroit. IF there is a really hot quarterback in the 1st 4 picks he will be gone before the Panthers turn. If not the panthers themselves another team will see will sell the farm in order to move up and get that quarterback 1st off the board. There are too many players on the Panthers who want to be in the NFL next year. Even if the owner and coaches want to tank the game, the players have a lot to say about it. Is interesting thery… I just don’t buy it. A pro NEVER tries to lose.
January 4th, 2022 at 6:44 pm
Joe you show me a bubble NFL player who is willing to tank on the Panthers on command and I’ll show you a player on his last NFL game. Now you might say the brass plays the end of the bench but those will be playing as hard as they can.
January 4th, 2022 at 6:44 pm
Jets QB sneak on 4th and 2
January 4th, 2022 at 6:56 pm
The results of the last few Buc drafts indicate the best thing they could do is trade down their first 4 picks for decent current players with some experience.
January 4th, 2022 at 7:05 pm
Talk about Lovie all you want but look at the bears record every since he left ?? And he was the one who built the Chicago Bears back than !! It’s funny how every black coach is hated on this site just like to ignore how Dungy was the coach who brought winning to this franchise and still yall don’t give him his credit.
January 4th, 2022 at 7:20 pm
T.O. wants to be a Buccaneer
January 4th, 2022 at 7:22 pm
Here we go again, oneilbucyall pulling the race card. Could it be possible he was just a shatty coach. No one trashes Tomlin a future HOFer. I constantly trash BA, last I checked he is white. This year you have Belichick, Reid, Shanahan, McVay, Reich and Vrabel, sorry the rest all suck. Oneilbucyall, you do know by making a statement like that you’re proving how prejudice you are. Oh by the way Dennis Green was a great coach lot of energy and very fun to watch.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:09 pm
Ok ok those fond of yester year. I offer up 11-27-83 to remind you of how bad it can be. Repus bowl 1. Pretty sure there was a repus 2 out there too.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:13 pm
@ Listnfrmafar …
Agreed… This crap is so beyond tired. It’s almost laughable at this point.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:16 pm
The shot at Lovie was maybe not so fair but it certainly wasn’t racist and wan’t altogether inaccurate. Lovie was brilliant in not wanting to Winston. We have the great Jason Licht to blame for that (and maybe the owners). Lovie was incredibly stupid in giving up Darell Revis (maybe it was because Revis was black?). Hiring his sons on his coaching staff was just plain wrong as it was stupid. Bringing ALL his buddies in to turn in 6 wins in two seasons and then asking the Glazers to let him bring in a friend from Chicago as a consultant the next season? To the curb he went!
I still maintain Dungy was 3rd best HC in Bucs history…McKay was end best. First? Hmmmm.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:21 pm
While I don’t agree with oneillbucs race baiting, Smith did take the Bears to the Super Bowl against Dungy’s colts. Did he have nothing to do with that?
January 4th, 2022 at 8:27 pm
Remember when Joe was so sure the Jets were gonna tank?
BTW
Lovie Smith was the worst coach to ever stand on the Buccaneers sideline.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:30 pm
You are confusing “tanking” with “throwing.” A bubble player generally is a borderline player. He doesn’t purposely have to lay down.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:43 pm
Terrel Owens is offering his services. I just heard he’s been training all season in Tampa, specifically at USF…. maybe we can use him for the rest of the season
January 4th, 2022 at 8:48 pm
Lovie was a pioneer, and the architect of the Cover Who? defense.
January 4th, 2022 at 9:00 pm
@Listn. I have to hand it to you nice and accurate post! As is obvious Tony D is justifiably in the ring of honor and in the HOF @ Oneil.
January 4th, 2022 at 9:19 pm
I don’t think it will matter. The offense got really frustrated before the 4th quarter started in Jetsland. The the 4tn came together.
No one will ever notice if the Panthers tank, the Bucs are going to destroy them, even if they want a fight. They need to get the taste of most of last week out of their mouths.
January 4th, 2022 at 9:29 pm
This is all just speckalation and reckalation.
January 4th, 2022 at 9:44 pm
🙂
January 4th, 2022 at 9:46 pm
To be fair, David Mills has likely shown more promise than Jennifer Lawrence in Jacksonville.
January 4th, 2022 at 9:48 pm
That’s the first Joe has heard of that. In fact, Joe heard the exact opposite from a guy who used to be in meetings with Lovie to go over quarterbacks to draft.
Lovie and Jameis were actually close. Joe has spoken with a lot of Bucs types over the years and never heard Lovie didn’t want Jameis. Actually heard the exact opposite. And Joe has heard a lot of stuff that has never seen the light of day.
You sure you aren’t thinking of Koetter? Fairly confident that Koetter was never fully onboard with Jameis.
January 4th, 2022 at 9:56 pm
Regardless of all of this, I would love to see the Bucs play a solid game with low penalties, efficient offense, getting to see Perriman and Grayson and T.Johnson get some more reps together, would love to see Scooter get in the game. Like to see Mikey get his 1000. No more injuries(hoping for too much perhaps). Love to see Leveon Bell get more reps. So get some more reps for JTS and Cam Gill and Anthony Nelson.
January 4th, 2022 at 10:06 pm
TO looks pretty good on IG. The guy would probably be ok for 3 games playing against the Nickel or Safety with limited snaps. Has been working out all season, we should bring him in and give him a look see.
January 4th, 2022 at 10:43 pm
there is also Dez Bryant and LArry Fiztgerald. Maybe we can sign all of them for 4 games.
January 4th, 2022 at 10:47 pm
Listnfrmafar I know facts hurt but what I said was the truth. Maybe you might don’t feel that way . But when I hear people talking down on Lovie with no real proof. Lovie came to a team that Shaino destroyed by letting the top defensive players go. And what have Chicago done since Lovie left? Lovie took Rex Grossman to the superbowl . And yes Dungy is a hall of fame coach who gets down graded only on this site. Ain’t no race card with me I’m just stating the facts when it comes to some Tampa fans. Gruden gets all this love but he’s proving that it was Dungy team he won with because he ain’t done nothing with the Raiders his last time their , he didn’t even make it to the playoffs. But again the Bears ain’t done nothing since Lovie been gone. That’s why none of these podcasts let people call in because it’s easy to crush all of there narratives that they push on people. It’s just that I think for myself I don’t let media narratives tell me what to think. I go by what my eyes tell me !!
January 4th, 2022 at 11:45 pm
This would be a perfect game for us to play all the backups including the air apparent QB Kyle Trask
January 5th, 2022 at 5:35 am
Oneilbuc: The Bears made the playoffs last year. That’s more than Lovie did in Tampa. As Joe said, the Lovie “Cover Who?” defense doesn’t work, not even in college (Lovie: “Our defense would’ve worked, if they didn’t run 3 receiver sets” at Illinois).
January 5th, 2022 at 8:04 am
No way they tank
January 5th, 2022 at 8:06 am
Oneilbuc:
3 instances of Lovie being a terrible coach for you…
#1 his first choice for a quarterback was Josh (I gotta throw this pass as i am getting tackled) McCown.
#2 In Marcss Mariotta’s very first game he played against Lovie who had been studying for Mariotta for at least a year in making the decision between Winston & Mariotta. Mariotta finished that game with a perfect QB rating and was pulled at the end of the game because Titans were crushing the Bucs.
#3 Devin Hester. How many times did Hester run back balls for Lovie’s Bears? What did Lovie do the first time he faced Hester? He kicked straight to Hester. What did Hester do? He ran it right back for 6.
January 5th, 2022 at 9:28 am
I don’t think any bucs would be willing to lay down at all in this game. That goes for the starters and the subs as well. If anything the guys should want to make a statement in this game and blow out the opposition and have that positive momentum going into the playoffs.
January 5th, 2022 at 10:53 am
Thanks Pops but I think we knew that.
January 5th, 2022 at 12:06 pm
Oneilbucyall, how does dissing Lovie & Dungy by fans on this site who didn’t care for their coaching style turn into a political movement? Gruden won a freaking SB as Bucs coach, if he were black that wouldn’t change their feelings. Some on the site feel sorry for AB and other are upset by his antics, it would be the same if Gronk quit on his team in that fashion. Why do you have to turn everything into a black vs white issue? You do the same in your posts about Brady, you’re not happy Brady took Jamaises job even though the world knows he’s a better QB. You want him to fail because he’s white. Is there any gray in your world? I feel sorry for you man, it must suck to live with hate everyday.
January 5th, 2022 at 12:19 pm
I was wondering just last week when joe was gonna take another stab at ole Lovie . He’s been absent from the columns lately. Besides, we gotta find a few punchin bags limpin into the playoffs.