Geek Squad: Bucs Are Win-And-In
December 30th, 2022
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
If you believe games are won and lost on a hard drive, this should make your day.
Over at BSPN, this Seth Walder, who never met a number he didn’t like, does not believe in matchups, physical strength, speed, smarts or, God forbid, moxie.
What Walder very much believes in are numbers, percentages and the like. The human element? Trends? Team weaknesses? Injuries? God forbid anyone would use this rubbish as factors in a game!
So Walder ran a variety of “simulated games” — don’t ask Joe — to get an idea of how Sunday’s pre-playoff game between the Buc and the Stinking Panthers plays out.
Based on computer simulations, Walder believes the Bucs win on Tom Brady’s right arm and Ryan Succop’s right leg. Barely.
Buccaneers hang on to NFC South crown: A lot hinges on the Bucs’ Week 17 contest with the Panthers. Win? The Bucs are in. Lose? Things get complicated. But in this case, Tom Brady and the Bucs get it done, snagging a weak divisional crown despite a mostly miserable season. The Panthers give them a run for it, but Brady leads a drive for a game-winning field goal to give Tampa Bay the 24-21 decision.
The strength of the Bucs defense is stopping the pass. The running game is the only thing saving the Stinking Panthers.
If Bucs coach Todd Bowles is as good as we think he is at crafting a gameplan to stop the run, the Bucs should win this if Bowles can get them back to playing better than average against the run.
Then Joe looks down at the end of the sideline and sees failing Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich standing there. Oh no, the Stinkin’ Panthers really do have a chance.
December 30th, 2022 at 12:31 am
The simulations probably believe that the Bucs will make a decent percentage of 3rd and short situations and that Carolina will struggle on 3rd and long be we all know Leftwich will make sure the Bucs have 4t and short after each 3rd and short and Bowels D will do some idiotic stunt or telegraph a blitz package an get smoked on some 3rd and long plays. Thus throw the simulation out the window. Bucs can win but only if Carolina beats itself or Bucs actually show up like they did in Munich. Even if the Bucs played a first half like they did against Cincy, Bowels and Leftwich will go turtle and let the Panthers score. If the Bucs get 100 yards of offense and 3 points in the first half, Carolina will build a lead and then TB12 will score late but will it be enough? I am surprised the Bucs are favored, this game smells like a trap to me like a lot of the other games when the Bucs were simply out coached and many of their key players will have below average days or watch from the sidelines as their back ups get blasted……. I want the Bucs to win but seems like it is easy money to bet against them as long as Bowels and Leftwich craft the game plan and refuse to make adjustments to their game plan.
December 30th, 2022 at 1:31 am
I have no faith in my beloved Bucs, I don’t see us winning another game and we miss the playoffs Bucs 10, Panthers 27,
December 30th, 2022 at 1:48 am
Who thinks Todd B is good at anything?
December 30th, 2022 at 2:11 am
It takes the Bucs 8 quarters to score 24 points. This fantasy ain’t about to happen.
December 30th, 2022 at 2:24 am
I think the numbers say it all. What has Todd done defensively since he started with Tampa? How has the defense looked this year? Yes, the offense is offensive. And he is the head coach so that too is his responsibility. Personally, I believe in Todd. Give him an offensive guy equal to him defensively and we can be great again. Also, a little healthier and more technical oline would be needed as well . That’s was a shot at Donnie boy.
December 30th, 2022 at 2:36 am
“If Bucs coach Todd Bowles is as good as we think he is at crafting a gameplan to stop the run, the Bucs should win this.”
Really? If Todd Bowles is as bad as we know he is at failing to craft a game plan on both sides of the ball, Bucs will struggle just as they have been doing all season.
I struggle with this team. On one hand, I want to see them suddenly wake up collectively and win out, for Tom Brady’s swan song. Peak at the last minute, shock the world.
On the other hand, it is an undeserving, poorly coached team full of jaded, confused veterans who have not earned their salaries, JAGs who are too arrogant, and a team that needs to be blown up and rebuilt, coaches absolutely fired. Winning only delays what needs to be done.
December 30th, 2022 at 2:56 am
If we keep bowles, we better bring in a very…energetic OC.
December 30th, 2022 at 3:25 am
If we lose this game I think next week we should start Kyle Trask against Atlanta.
With the O-line in shambles it has affected Brady’s play mentally, physically, and emotionally. Without taking anything away from the G.O.A.T he just isn’t the right fit right now. He needs a team like the Eagle’s offensive line. Our team would do better with a mobile QB who’s a threat to run. Only a mobile QB can tame the pass rush. Someone young with some mobility like Kyle Trask. Right now defensives fronts are pinning their ears back and are on top of Brady fast knowing he’s not going to scramble.
December 30th, 2022 at 3:28 am
We should kick the bejesus out of the panthers this weekend, but we should have done that the first time around too. Our team is beyond frustrating, but if Brady and Devin bring their A games, no amount of bad coaching from our team is going to help the panthers win.
December 30th, 2022 at 7:29 am
I certainly hope it’s not that close……need to keep the blood pressure down.
December 30th, 2022 at 7:58 am
Lose and pretty much out.
How far the mighty have fallen…
December 30th, 2022 at 7:59 am
Oh god. If the Bucs win in hideous fashion, another 19-16 type game with 80% of total yards coming in last 5 minutes….That, in reality should do nothing to inspire. But it will somehow put delusional thoughts in everyone’s head. Super Bowl winning teams should thrash a middling 6-9 team. If the Bucs are who what some people desperately want to believe, then they will magically turn it on and win 34-13 with about 480 yards of offense. But they won’t. You’ll curse, you’ll scream, you’ll mumble, you’ll angry text the entire game. The panthers have inferior talent (allegedly) and we will surely come out looking like a bunch of jag-offs
December 30th, 2022 at 9:42 am
The injury report tell a different story. The Bucs have 9 starters and 2 rotational players listed on the injury report…
Both starting tackles, both starting CBs, both starting safeties, Vita Vea, 2 pass rushers and Julio (down at the school yard) Jones.
Carolina – 24
Tampa – 17
No way the Bucs score more than their season average against this Panthers defense…
Let the rebuild begin!!!
December 30th, 2022 at 9:58 am
Yup!
December 30th, 2022 at 10:06 am
Bucs Fans Hate for Todd Bowles and Leftwhich is real.
December 30th, 2022 at 10:19 am
Rand, you just incurred the wrath of Joe! He hates the very thought of Trask playing, even though the Bucs have rostered him for two years. I’d like to see the kid play too, see what we’ve got, before we draft, or buy another senior citizen QB.
December 30th, 2022 at 2:20 pm
I hate it when so-called Bucs fans keep prognosticating a loss. Anything can and frequently does happen. The refs could even be on our side for once. As for Trask playing, lol you guys. If we WIN they should put him in for our next game–not if we lose. Geeze
December 30th, 2022 at 3:22 pm
If Walder’s simulations were as accurate as he thinks they are, DraftKings would be bankrupt by now.