Cynthia Frelund: Bucs Will Win NFC South
November 10th, 2022
Projections on Bucs.
The NFL stat queen has spoken. And it’s good news for Bucs fans.
For those who believe every number that comes out of Cynthia Frelund’s mouth, well, you will rest easy tonight. The NFL Network stat queen believes not only do the Bucs win the NFC South, but her numbers suggest the Bucs win 8.8 games.
In other words, the Bucs will win nine games.
Currently below .500, the Buccaneers haven’t exactly played up to expectations in 2022. That said, they still sit atop the NFC South — sharing the throne with Atlanta at the moment — and improved health in the defensive backfield should make a difference going forward. Fun fact: Tom Brady is the only qualified passer who’s yet to throw an interception against zone coverage this season. The G.O.A.T. actually has just one total pick, which came back in Week 1.
Banking on an NFL team to be healthy in January is a crap shoot. As much as Joe agrees a healthy secondary will help the Bucs, Joe is thinking of another element.
Two guys who are walking injury reports, Julio Jones and Akiem Hicks, need to get healthy. Fans saw Sunday how important it is to have Hicks on the field. And with Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett out for the year, Hicks’ importance is magnified.
And just the threat of Julio on the field does wonders for Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Yeah, a numbers chick like Frelund can predict things that are puked out of her laptop. But not even the smartest hard drive can figure out injuries.
November 9th, 2022 at 8:43 pm
I believe her.
November 10th, 2022 at 8:18 am
Yes, the importance of Hicks can not be underestimated. Everyone saw what happened when the Rams double teamed Hicks. That left Vita Vea one on one. Now Matt Stafford is one of the very few QB’s who does not get rattled when he is blitzed. Probably because he played so long in Detroit behind their crap O Line ?
But Geno Smith is hardly immune to making mistakes, when he is pressured, so we need to bring the heat Sunday Morning.
I also believe that we will win the NFC South. I th6ink the NFC South will come down to either Tampa or Atlanta, and we already own the tie breaker against the Falcons, who got screwed by the NFL Referee’s with that bad call.
I hate to say this, but I am not especially thrilled by the return of Cameron Brate. I think Cade Otten is better, and is the future for us at tight end.
I shook my head in utter disbelief when Licht gave Brate that Huge Contract.
I don;t feel Brate deserved such a big contract that also makes him nearly impossible to trade.
November 10th, 2022 at 8:34 am
Anything less than 9 wins is unfathomable. We need 5 wins out of our last 8 games to keep that from happening.
Even if we lose to Seattle on Sunday, and go to 4-6, we could still make 9 wins. We’d have 7 games left: Browns (3-5), Saints (3-6), 49ers (4-4), Bengals (5-4), Cardinals (3-6), Panthers (2-7) and Falcons (4-5). None of those teams are realistically doing any better than we are.
The BYE is coming at an ideal spot IMO. IF we can get healthy, there’s no reason we couldn’t win 5 out of those last 7 games, and win the NFC South in the process. And going into the playoffs on winning streak is always a good thing. Once in, anything can happen. You never know, we might even score a touchdown instead of endless FGs.
November 10th, 2022 at 8:35 am
Even if we lose to Seattle on Sunday, and go to 4-6, we could still make 9 wins. We’d have 7 games left: Browns (3-5), Saints (3-6), 49ers (4-4), Bengals (5-4), Cardinals (3-6), Panthers (2-7) and Falcons (4-5). None of those teams are realistically doing any better than we are.
The BYE is coming at an ideal spot IMO. IF we can get healthy, there’s no reason we couldn’t win 5 out of those last 7 games, and win the NFC South in the process. And going into the playoffs on winning streak is always a good thing. Once in, anything can happen. You never know, we might even score a touchdown instead of endless FGs.
November 10th, 2022 at 8:39 am
I think it’s a safe bet for the Bucs win the NFC south, and a 9-8 record at this point seems about right. That means they have to win 5 of their next 8 games. They can probably pull that off, but they’d better figure out the offense before the playoffs or they will be one and out.
November 10th, 2022 at 8:43 am
Oh and BTW, Tom Brady has never had a losing season in his 22-year career. My bet is that he’ll do whatsoever it takes to keep from going anything less than 9-8 with the Bucs in 2022.
The one thing that still concerns me about Brady circa 2022 is that he’s on-track to throw 752 passes this year. Last season was his highest ever: 719 passes. His most attempts as a Patriot was 637 in 2012 … 10 years ago. Throwing 752 passes is not a prescription for keeping your QB healthy or for winning the Super Bowl.
November 10th, 2022 at 8:55 am
49ers are getting healthy- that game is a tough one.
If Chase is healthy, Bengals game will be difficult.
If Bucs can avoid further injuries, 6-2 finish is realistic.
November 10th, 2022 at 9:20 am
“Stat Queen”, “numbers chick”. Is that stuff necessary guys..
Cmon, grow up.
November 10th, 2022 at 9:21 am
Winning vs Seahawks is important….gives us a small cushion to work with…..
Falcons have an easier schedule
Panthers, Bears, Commanders, Steelers, Ravens, Cardinals, Bucs
It may all come down to our game with the Falcons…..
November 10th, 2022 at 9:25 am
Now she’s a comedian in addition to being a spreadsheet monkey. At ta girl Cynthia, you’re hilarious.
November 10th, 2022 at 9:26 am
She also said the Chiefs would beat us in the Super Bowl.
November 10th, 2022 at 9:32 am
DR, sorry to step on your post. I was typing before I saw your post. You have a much more thorough analysis, as always!
November 10th, 2022 at 9:32 am
I think Bowles starts letting the offense play from a 4 receiver set as our base offense, sometime in the next couple weeks and our offense is a totally different animal. I think Scotty and Otton start getting involved in the beginning of games and our offense starts to click. I sure hope so as this season will get exciting fast.
November 10th, 2022 at 9:39 am
I can predict injuries. Here’s one for the next game: Mike Evans will be slow to get up and will limp off the field. He will miss one play and then return. Fact.
Here’s another: Bucs players will suffer an oddly high number of hamstring injuries.
November 10th, 2022 at 9:40 am
You mean Cynthia Frelund is a guy???
November 10th, 2022 at 9:46 am
Definitely don’t care what the stat queen has to say although I Wouldn’t mind seeing her teetys 🙂
November 10th, 2022 at 10:33 am
Ko Kiefer…start your own site…..you can write whatever you like on there.
November 10th, 2022 at 10:36 am
Joe Says:
November 10th, 2022 at 9:40 am
“Stat Queen”, “numbers chick”. Is that stuff necessary guys.
“You mean Cynthia Frelund is a guy???”
HILARIOUS!
November 10th, 2022 at 11:43 am
The “nose” “knows”.
November 10th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
Maybe they win the division. I haven’t been so excited over a win last Sunday since we stomped the Packers in the 2021 NFC title game. That said, after losing to two abominable teams this year and playing like crap against 3 others, I’m not sure of anything. Cynthia’s got really high football IQ, but not sure the stats will show up on Sundays.
November 10th, 2022 at 6:51 pm
I get the feeling Joe got a lot of D’s in math class.