SI: Bucs Are A Must-Win For Browns
November 21st, 2022
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
It seems the Browns are on death watch. Will the Bucs apply the final shovel of dirt?
Over at SI.com, veteran NFL columnist Albert Breer notes there is still a glimmer of hope in the Factory of Sadness that the Browns might be a wild card team.
Hey, if you are a Browns fan, that’s all you’ve got: Hope.
So why are Browns fans, with the team clinging to a 3-7 record, still grasping at straws for a wild card? Because their savior is on the way.
Disgraced Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has returned to practice for Cleveland and he can be eligible to play as early as Dec. 4 in a home game against the Texans.
If the Browns can get to 4-7 for Watson to pick up the baton, hey, who knows?
Of course, one team stands in the way. That’s the Bucs, who play at Cleveland on Sunday. And per Breer, the Browns ought to be playing for their playoff lives.
Sunday’s game against the red-hot Buccaneers coming off their bye is shaping up as a must-win for the Browns, a week before Deshaun Watson is eligible to return in Houston against the Texans on Dec. 4.
Watson is finishing up his 11-game NFL suspension for his serial hassles with masseuses.
Joe believes if the Bucs treat the Browns like the Seahawks, this game should be over by halftime. Just punch these guys in the mouth, play smart, physical football and the Bucs should win.
Oh no, Joe’s not overlooking the Browns. This always feels like a trap game. And yes, the Browns have talent. But if the same Bucs team that showed up to Munich shows up in Cleveland, the Bucs should be 6-5 by late afternoon Sunday.
November 21st, 2022 at 1:53 pm
The Browns are just as good as the Bucs, they don’t suck, they just played 6 teams in a row that most would say are better than the Bucs, don’t be surprised if they punch us in the mouth
November 21st, 2022 at 2:00 pm
Tell you what. That Pitt game and panthers game still bothers me soooo much!
Could almost have this division locked up at 7 wins
November 21st, 2022 at 2:00 pm
we have come out smokin from the get-go !! no let up .. start where we left off in Munich & finish even stronger .
Please don’t start licht’s pet , goedeke ….
November 21st, 2022 at 2:13 pm
Off subject Joe, but that picture of Brady resigning the Flag, I see he has the ring finger on his throwing hand taped up..Did he have something done with it during bye week?
November 21st, 2022 at 2:16 pm
If the same team shows up that lost to the hapless coachless hopeless purposefully tanking Panthies, Bucs lose 31-3.
What team will show up in pewter and white?
Hapless Tom needs to get in everyone’s head and raise their energy level and effort level again.
Go Bucs.
November 21st, 2022 at 2:16 pm
Not hapless Tom – good God. HAGless Tom. Sorry.
November 21st, 2022 at 2:29 pm
Joe … ‘But if the same Bucs team that showed up to Munich shows up to Cleveland, the Bucs should be 6-5 by late afternoon Sunday.’
THAT TEAM … the one that showed up in Germany … has only shown up TWICE this season Joe, its 1st game (Dallas) & its last game (Seattle). The 8 games in-between were muddle-fests. We won 3 of those 8, but they weren’t exactly crushing victories.
The 3-7 Browns have only played 3 teams with losing records, and they’ve beaten 2 of them (Panthers & Steelers … BOTH teams who we lost to). They’re a dangerous team, but prone to self-destruction. For instance, they were beating the NY Jets 30-17 deep in the 4th qtr but let the Jets score 1 TD with 1:22 left, then another TD with 0:16 left to win the game (after an onside kick recovery) . Lost a couple other games after leading in the 4th qtr also. With a little better 4th qtr defense, Browns could easily be 6-4 or better right now, playing a very tough schedule.
Good news for the Bucs though is that the temperature in Cleveland on Sunday is supposed to be in the 70s (northern outdoor stadiums in winter never suited us very well). Also good news that we’re coming off a BYE while they’re on a short week after playing Monday night. Hopefully that’s enough time for us to develop a true game plan that extends beyond the first few scripted plays.
November 21st, 2022 at 2:58 pm
No excuse for losing to the browns. They’ve had an extra week to prep and rest. As long as they execute, they should be fine. I think Cleveland comes out throwing. They have nothing to lose.
November 21st, 2022 at 3:11 pm
Only one more loss in the regular season
November 21st, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Only game this year that was over by halftime was the Chiefs
November 21st, 2022 at 3:26 pm
“Serial Hassles”???
Dude is a downright sexual assaulter!
C’mon Joe. You are better than that.
November 21st, 2022 at 3:37 pm
If the Kitties or Ravens Buc team shows up, they could fall to third in the NFC South.
November 21st, 2022 at 3:48 pm
So I guess the Brady finger being taped up on a non-practice day is going to be a big secret like Jensen’s knee. We need TMZ to set up an office at One Bucs Place so we know what’s going on with our players. Florio, you got time to come to Tampa to tell us what is going on?
November 21st, 2022 at 3:52 pm
The Browns are a must-win for the Bucs.
1. Need to build momentum
2. Need to stay 1st in NFCS
November 21st, 2022 at 3:53 pm
Agree, Sly.
November 21st, 2022 at 4:26 pm
I expect these bucs to pick up where we left off in Germany. Tampa has tasted enough failures and defeats to go back to loafing..Maybe it was good thing to start out so bad ? Really looking forward to this game…This will be telling of how the bucs will finish the rest of the year,LFG!
November 21st, 2022 at 4:29 pm
The Bucs have turned things around. Look for that to continue.
This ain’t their 1st rodeo. Maybe the 2nd or 3rd, but that’s good enough.
November 21st, 2022 at 4:41 pm
If the Bucs show up starting their best lawn chair defense, as we’ve seen time and again this season, we will get lit up like a Roman candle. Especially if cleveland starts a no name qb. Like brissett.
November 21st, 2022 at 4:52 pm
Browns are not slouches. Coming off a Bye, we had better be ready. They are battle tested and have played quite a few good teams losing some close games. No excuses. Yes, this is a must win for us.
November 21st, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Well geez whiz, DR, we’re dealing with climate damage/global warming. You sure the game temps will be in the 70s at kickoff? Bucs will be ready for this one even if it was in the 30s. A lot more first teamers are healthy, but the Browns are a pro team, too. They are playing in their crib. Detroit beat the Giants this weekend. What does that tell you?
November 21st, 2022 at 4:58 pm
Nick Chubb is going to be one hell of a test for our suddenly revitalized run defense.
November 21st, 2022 at 5:02 pm
Browns were beating the Bill’s for a LONG time it their game Sunday. Bucs offense isn’t as equipped to comeback like the Bill’s can. YET! Come out firing on all cylinders and they’ll cave, let them hang around and the worst could happen AGAIN!
November 21st, 2022 at 5:19 pm
orlbucfan … Climate change? It always snows in Ohio sometime this time of year. But not Sunday (they are forecasting it to rain that day however, and the Brown’s stadium is not enclosed.
BTW, on looking at our 10 games, the ultimate game winner was ahead at the start of the 4th qtr in 9 of them (we actually came back against the Rams in the 4th qtr to win 16-13). So that might be good news; you only have to watch three quarters of the game to figure out who’s gonna win … probably.
November 21st, 2022 at 5:48 pm
one of you said the game should be over at halftime????????? We are notorious slow starters. On the rare occassion we drive right down the field and get a FG because of penalties.
November 21st, 2022 at 5:50 pm
then it’s popcorn farts the rest of the game
November 21st, 2022 at 5:57 pm
Sure are a bunch of nay sayers clinging on. Doom and gloom sooth saying proves that many prefer the lost decade. SAD, colorless, and VERY BORING. In a word, lillyputions…. Everybody is a giant to you.
Sure we had a rough start. No Shat Shirley! Definitely some sad, supposed, so called fans. NO SPIRIT in some of you and Chicken Littles in a whole lot more!
No wonder the pats fans that followed Tom are reading your dribble with their mouths on the ground in disbelief concerning some of the so called fans.
Well, I’m going to support my team ” The Tampa Bay Buccaneers”! And I DON’T feel sorry for your team! You know, the browns.
My team is GOING TO RIP YOUR FREAKING HEARTS OUT AND LEA E YOU FOR DEAD AND WE WON’T EVEN BOTHER TO LOOK BACK AT YOUR BLOODY CORPES!
Besides that, thank for visiting browns fans. Now SCREW OFF!
GO BUCS!
November 21st, 2022 at 6:09 pm
Not that the Inaccuweather App is any better at weather forecasting than JBF knuckleheads, but the professionals in that world are calling for a high of 50 and partly cloudy on Sunday. In other words, perfect football weather.
Any stadium parked right on a Great Lake is subject to strange phenomena. I hope it doesn’t come down to a Succup 50 yard FG with Lake Erie swirling winds to tie or win by 1 or 2.
November 21st, 2022 at 6:26 pm
I hope the Pittsburgh and Carolina humiliations taught the Bucs to not take any opponent for granted.
November 21st, 2022 at 6:26 pm
The Browns play hard all the time and
they have a lot of talent. I expect a close game and the Bucs better be ready.
November 21st, 2022 at 7:22 pm
Browns are a must win for Bucs. We are still a bad team that is poorly coached. One loss can break our back and the season.
November 21st, 2022 at 7:28 pm
The Bucs are 0-3 vs the AFC this year.
How about we actually win a game vs that conference before we start dismissing teams as trash and easy W’s.
November 21st, 2022 at 8:14 pm
Browns are giving up 135 ypg on the ground, and 215 ypg through the air. Run the ball, play action, play defense.
November 21st, 2022 at 8:32 pm
Redeemer@ Bowles and BL don’t look at stats, got another option to decide on a O&D plan?
November 21st, 2022 at 9:28 pm
If Watson is supposed to be a savior they’re in trouble. A guy sitting that long is gona come in and win 5 out of 7 games? Maybe a select few and he doesn’t come close to making that list
November 21st, 2022 at 9:56 pm
That Avatar 2 trailer was more douchey than the trailer for Brady’s movie, and that’s saying something.
November 21st, 2022 at 10:34 pm
Rod Munch…
Dismissing? If you’re referring to me, you don’t seem to understand. It’s not about dismissing any one, any game, any way, any time. It’s about LIVING IN CONSTANT FEAR for the repeat parrots. Funny how alot of the commenters believe that they just made an original comment for “one”. And like I said BORING! You people should at least try to change your wording. What are you doing? Copy and paste someone else? Wow…
The CONSTANT living in fear, No hope, DEFEATIST attitude SUCKS! I say screw living in constant fear and I feel a strong move forward. I say my team THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS are going to BEAT THE BRAKES RIGHT OFF OF browns.
And if they don’t, O WELL…. I come to Joe’s sight to enjoy the commentary but man, it’s as if some are DESPERATELY BEGGING FOR A NIGHTMAREISH flashback of the Lovie and Mike Smith days of anti hope glory. And since you’re so in awe of the AFC there Rod, Root for them. But I’m not with you. I’m into rooting for MY TEAM. And I say, My Buccaneers are going to OWN the browns. With a STRONG BELIEF that the Bucs HAVE INDEED figured it out well enough to win this game. Simple as that.
You don’t like my foolish belief in my team and glass half full attitude? Too damn bad! I’m not as TERRIFIED of the killer 3 -7 browns as you guys APPARENTLY are. You and some others can live in depressing fear for me OK. I’m going to go with my NOT SO CHILD LIKE BELIEF that my Bucs HAVE Mr Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Julio Jones, Playoff Lenny, Rookie White, Rookie Otton, Brate, Wires, Smith, Mason, finally a SOLID left guard, and a the offensive line is finally clicking!
Did I mention Vita Vea, Hicks, Devin White, Lavonte, decent DE’s and a SOLID SECONDARY! Also, special teams is looking pretty good now. ALL THREE FAZES OF MY Bucs are in order…. And I BELIEVE in my team!
In fact, I’ll put a number on it 24 Bucs 9 Browns.
For all the Nay Saying Parrots out there, I’m NOT with you. I’m WITH the Buccaneers!
Go Bucs!
November 21st, 2022 at 11:20 pm
If they turned the corner, they better come out and prove it because there is not a team in the NFL that isn’t capable of beating them the way they played most this year.
Good for the Vea & Hicks – the Browns just lost their center
November 21st, 2022 at 11:49 pm
Sparky, I believe the picture you’re referring to of Brady re-signing the flag is actually the original picture of the signing back the early 2000’s. Brady looks 20 years younger with that taped up finger.
November 22nd, 2022 at 1:08 am
Shoot it’s a must win for us!! If we lose half of y’all going to walk half the team/staff off the plank . So it’s a must-win game
November 22nd, 2022 at 1:59 am
Hey trolls, Bucs win easily.
November 22nd, 2022 at 4:14 am
Goatfarmer Says:
November 21st, 2022 at 2:16 pm
Not hapless Tom – good God. HAGless Tom. Sorry.
Thanks anyway Goatfarmer….Best laugh I’ve had today 🙂
November 22nd, 2022 at 4:24 am
Our history with second string QBs?
Anybody?
Our proven Running attack?
Anybody?
Our superior OC?
Anybody?
Our QB?
LET BRADY LIGHT THEM UP!!!
November 22nd, 2022 at 4:31 am
These guys are motivated…We BETTER be!