Dirk Koetter, Rondé Barber, Mike Zimmer & Joe Thomas Pick Bucs To Win NFC South
September 7th, 2022
Dirk Koetter goes with the favorite.
Seventeen big-name former and current NFL guys were asked to pick the NFC South champion of the 2022 season.
Only one clown chose New Orleans over Tampa Bay.
The esteemed panel at The33rdTeam.com included former Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter and Bucs icon Rondé Barber along with legendary left tackle Joe Thomas and former head coaches Mike Zimmer, Wade Phillips, Dave Wannstedt and Marvin Lewis.
Yes, they all picked the Bucs. The only holdout was FOX analyst Charles Davis, who is the Sean Payton camp.
The smart money is on the Bucs. Tom Brady or Jameis Winston to hoist the division crown? Easy pick for the sane and sober, though the Slimy Saints have become a trendy pick in some ways. Over at NFL.com, roughly one-third of their assembled experts rolled with the Saints over the Bucs.
September 7th, 2022 at 5:27 pm
Every team has injuries during the season. But, unless the Bucs’ injuries are devastating, they should win the division. Handily, imo.
September 7th, 2022 at 5:30 pm
It’s going to be a crapshoot. Both teams are capable of winning this division. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Saints win it. Would surprise me if the Bucs win it. To many Bucs fans letting their hatred cloud their judgement. But then again, the Bucs fanbase overall is one of the most uneducated I’ve seen in terms of football knowledge.
September 7th, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Until toe meets leather, all of these predictions are speculation.
Knowing what a player or team or coach did last year gives you a little to go on but there have been changes all over the league.
All I can truly predict is difficulty staying sober before kick-off Sunday night!
September 7th, 2022 at 5:40 pm
I would pick the Saints over the Bucs if it was not for the fact that the Saints our cock sucking posers. Who really like to let down the hardest of core fans.
In fact, the only reason I pick the Bucs over the Panthers is because the Panthers are Pu//ies
I pick the Bucs over the Falcons because they are fowl.
Which leaves the Saints, who are…… Wait for it……
LOOSERS!!!
September 7th, 2022 at 5:52 pm
It’s not a stretch to think the Saints could win the division. They probably would of won the division last year if Winston didn’t get hurt. That defense is really good…If the Bucs oline holds up they should be fine.
September 7th, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Thanks, Joe.–
September 7th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
Winston still throw at least 20 picks, and cost his team at least 2 games. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was 24 picks, and 4 games though.
September 7th, 2022 at 6:16 pm
Willie G Its far more likely he throws 15 or less picks. That 30 was an outline even for him. 15, 18, 14,11,30,3. People act like he threw 30 picks every year. Saints and Panthers are going to give the Bucs a run for their money.
September 7th, 2022 at 6:21 pm
I not only pick the Bucs to win the NFC South, NFC, and Super Bowl, but I pick them to win the Suh sweepstakes also.
September 7th, 2022 at 6:33 pm
Is any of the guy’s playing Sunday night, I guess not, so what they saying means nothing. Leave Winston alone, he is no longer a Buc, Please move own.
September 7th, 2022 at 6:38 pm
The games are played on turf not on the internet.
Our piss poor division record speaks loudly.
September 7th, 2022 at 6:43 pm
Bucs win 12 games (Talent all over)
Panthers win 9 (Some team surprise each year; decent QB, good RB and defense)
Saints 8 (Lose of Sean; reckless QB, injury prone WR, Kamara miss some games)
Falcons 6 (Defense is lackluster)
September 7th, 2022 at 6:50 pm
@Doc, The Jamie’s hate, especially continuing it after he’s gone, is one of the most kind boggling things I’ve seen.
@Tye, if you believe what you said, stop watching football. On no planet is Williams lackluster and Mayfield decent…
September 7th, 2022 at 6:53 pm
*mind boggling
*Janeis, not Williams.
September 7th, 2022 at 7:00 pm
I think the Saints winning the division over the Bucs is about as likely as Tyler Johnson making the team over Scotty Miller.
September 7th, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Who cares? The more they pick against them, the better!!
September 7th, 2022 at 7:31 pm
I think the panthers may be better than the Saints
Jaboo doesn’t scare me nor does Dennis Allen without Sean
Kind of funny how both staffs have been taken over by the DC as HC
With both O minded coaches stepping down
I think we might have a SLIGHT edge at QB LOL
September 7th, 2022 at 7:34 pm
I suspect the Bucs will break the Saints voodoo this year and beat them twice.
September 7th, 2022 at 7:47 pm
Jaywill you think we are worried about Jamis we had him we got rid of him . Nobody wanted him and the saints signed him for 2 mil think about that. And you think he is going to be great we shall see.
September 7th, 2022 at 7:48 pm
Saints invariably control the line of scrimmage against us. That needs to change
September 7th, 2022 at 7:56 pm
I’m with Tye on this one. The aints are a train wreck and it’ll be a battle between them and Carolina with a slight edge to the Panthers. Aints are running on A Lot of hot air and no longer have their best weapon. Simple as that. I just feel like they’ll fall apart by mid season. Bucs will dominate them this year with a likely result of 2 for the Bucs and 0 for the aints. Payton f@@ked up and thought he was getting the Miami gig. COMPLETELY turned his back on the fans and the organization. Looks like he prefers to be a cowgirl.
September 7th, 2022 at 8:13 pm
If the Saints defense remains stout, and their offense doesn’t fall off a cliff (or possibly improves from having Thomas and their rookie WR), then I can see them pushing us, especially if the injury bug hits us and not them.
But if we assume both teams face similar injury levels, whatever that may be, I like our chances. I also think without Payton, Jameis is going to have some bigger numbers, but also a lot more turnovers. And I expect the Bucs defense to feast on him for at least 1 of the games against them. In fact I’m pretty sure he was quoted today saying something to the effect of “just get him the ball over and over” when talking about Thomas. We can def capitalize on that, the way teams did to him with Evans and Brate at times.
September 7th, 2022 at 8:14 pm
Beej Says:
September 7th, 2022 at 7:48 pm
Saints invariably control the line of scrimmage against us. That needs to change
____________________________________________________
1000%. And our offensive line is not off to a good start in that department with the injuries…
I’m kinda worried that Wirfs is gonna have a nagging abdomen injury all season that will limit his ability. Which would be a huge problem for us, obviously.
September 7th, 2022 at 8:22 pm
MANIAC & DOC
Pointing out that Jameis Winston will probably throw a lot of interceptions and cost his team games is not “hate“. It is simply pointing out facts that have happened throughout his career.
And if there is real hatred, who cares, he plays for the enemy now. Get over him.
September 7th, 2022 at 8:24 pm
#8
SUH sweepstakes? LOL
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the season starts this weekend and no one wants to sign him. He sucked against the run & pass last year.
He could make a good 6th string veteran DT for a cheap price, unfortunately he probably wants too much and thinks he still has value.
September 7th, 2022 at 8:32 pm
Dirk should have punched sean peyton.
Right after sean did his chest push, Dirk should have blasted him on the tip of the nose with an untelegraphed front punch.
Just like Brad Pitts character did do the hippy who slashed his tire in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
September 7th, 2022 at 8:52 pm
The saints have a good defense, but it’s not good enough to cover up for Jameis’s ineptitude. He’ll look like a hall of fame worthy world beater for 3 games, barely average for 7, and a buffoon for the other 7. For 5 years that was the same story over and over again for Jameis while he was with us. If you enjoy giving your money away, by all means make your bet on the saints. I’m steering clear of that Jeff George clone.
September 7th, 2022 at 8:53 pm
lol Howard.
I agree. F@ck Sean Payton.
September 7th, 2022 at 9:05 pm
The O-line is the big ? I hope Wirfs injuries aren’t becausof all that showing off in training. Some of the stuff he tries is not probably safe or good for the body.
September 7th, 2022 at 10:23 pm
How are you gonna call Charles Davis a clown … real fitting name joe
September 7th, 2022 at 11:09 pm
bucs 12-5 (give or take a game)
saints 10-7 (give or take a game)
panthers 8-9
falcons 3-14 (they could even go 2-15)
but i don’t see it being a super tight race throughout the season…i see the bucs having a couple games up on the saints from midseason until the finish…
so it will be close but they won’t be breathing down the bucs’ necks
September 7th, 2022 at 11:12 pm
Too bad Dirk never really embraced the Head Coach role. Instead he left his hands totally off the defensive coaches and let Mikey Smith retire on the job and not care. Sad!
September 7th, 2022 at 11:37 pm
payton had jameis on a tight leash in the short time he played under him…
it will be interesting to see if during a full season, and with a new head coach, if jameis will take a long deep breath at some point and relax enough to become himself again…
and if he becomes himself again, that could be a scary thing for saints management…
because if he begins acting stupid and crazy playful, he will become the old jameis of the bucs…
for the saints to win the division they will need a very serious and ultra hyper focused jameis – sort of like a tom brady…and i can’t see that happening…
payton reigned him in, and he might reel himself back out over time during a full season, without payton in the building…
the funny thing is the saints might be thinking long game and not so much about this season…where once tom brady is gone, most likely after this season, they will grab the division back like a bull by the horns and not let go for like 5 seasons – with a more mature jameis
September 8th, 2022 at 2:34 am
I’ve said all offseason, Bucs 11-6, Saints 10-7. It’s gonna be close and anyone discounting the Saints is literally an idiot. Literally.
Payton leaving is huge, but in cases like that, were the rest of the staff stays in place, there is generally like a 1-year window where things don’t change much. Also Winston was pretty good last year, Payton told him do not turn over the ball, and he didn’t – at the same time he threw a ton of TDs, and was tied with Brady in QBr when he got hurt. Winston, this year, is going to likely be given a bit more freedom, and has real NFL-caliber WRs, unlike last year. The Saints are going to still be a really tough W for the Bucs, although I do think they split. Heck, even Dirk would get splits with the Saints once in awhile, so the Bucs are due.
September 8th, 2022 at 6:12 pm
Let everyone pick the saints…. Brady is more dangerous when people doubt him and his team.