Playoffs Begin Sunday
December 29th, 2022
Chris Godwin explains.
Cruising through the Bucs’ locker room talking to players yesterday, Joe heard over and over the same thing. (Coached up to say this, perhaps?)
This Sunday’s game against the Stinking Panthers is a playoff game. Make no mistakes about it.
Joe believes that’s absolutely correct. The Bucs are playing lousy football. Most of their wins came because Superman Tom Brady flew in to save the day in the final seconds against trash teams.
In many respects, it is outrageous how badly the Bucs have played and have been coached.
Chris Godwin spoke about the urgency of Sunday’s 1 o’clock kickoff.
“You know, we understand what’s at stake here,” Godwin said when asked about Sunday being a playoff-like game. “We’ve been pretty up and down all season, but it’s time for us to turn it on.
“If we want to make it to the postseason, we control our own destiny right now, so we’ve got to go and take advantage of it.
“This is a team that has beaten us already and they play really hard, so we’ve got to go out there and bring it.”
Can the Bucs just “turn it on?” Well, Joe has to wonder if the Bucs can just flip the switch, then whey did they decide to wait until Week 17? Why not much earlier?
If Joe didn’t know better, it’s as if someone on the coaching staff (Todd Bowles? Failing offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich?) actually wants to just keep the game close and drum up drama by winning with the clock counting down the final seconds.
December 29th, 2022 at 11:51 am
Win – in any scenario.
December 29th, 2022 at 11:56 am
EVERYONE in the media and fans alike have this crazy notion that somehow this Bucs team will “just suddenly play good” come this Sunday and the playoffs??????
How is that even possible when they haven’t demonstrated consistently a good full 4 quarters of play all season long???
I can only think of two games they did this in:
The Dallas & Seahawks game…..that’s it.
Are people like praying to like The Football Gods or some voodoo statue out in woods near Lake Okeechobee for help?????
December 29th, 2022 at 12:02 pm
Coaching will prevent the offense from playing smart. Count on it. None of the fans have confidence in the coaching, just think how the players feel. There is nothing to turn around the offense when Leftwurst is in control. I am not looking forward to the game this Sunday, likely the end of the road for the Bucs….
December 29th, 2022 at 12:07 pm
Whitehead, JPP, Suh, thrown out like trash, Jensen hurt, Playoff/Lombardi Lenny forced to be second string behind some ridiculous rookie. Forced to take on BA’s legacy plan.
This is why I predicted 6-11
I’m glad they have won 7 so far, would love to see 9 but not holding my breath.
December 29th, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Crazy 3 QB changes fired head coach bounced a really good back n yet here they are breathing down our necks! Unreal it just really is this division should have been locked up. Clown ass staff man
December 29th, 2022 at 12:11 pm
@ Buc4evr
I am looking forward the game this sunday……atleast it’ll put an end to this putrid season and start the rebuilding of this team.
December 29th, 2022 at 12:12 pm
3 QB changes bounced a head coached traded mccaffrey n yet here they are breathing down our necks. Please make a change after this year no matter what! This staff is terrible
December 29th, 2022 at 12:13 pm
If you’ve been a Buc fan for long, you come to expect every game to be close…..we always seem to make it close……rarely putting our foot on their throats……playing not to lose……..
I despise that kind of football.
December 29th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
just how far will Bowles go to show that he is the Boss? EVERYBODY is bragging on Lenny’s 160 yds from scrimmage. I think it’s his career best. What does Ben Stein do? Benches him for WHO?????
December 29th, 2022 at 12:23 pm
I’m reminded of what Vince Lombardi said. “winning isn’t the most important thing, it’s the ONLY thing” somebody ask Todd if he’s heard that
December 29th, 2022 at 12:33 pm
How about BAKER MAYFIELD?? if brady leaves. He looked great against Denver. He also had a great play caller, Depends on if the Bucs still want to win now or if they want to blow it up rebuild after Brady. Can’t see the Glazers doing tha.
December 29th, 2022 at 12:37 pm
Yes, for the Bucs, this is a playoff game. For the Panthers, this is the Super Bowl. Let’s put the Stinkin’ Panthers out of their misery! LFG!
December 29th, 2022 at 12:54 pm
Omg
Baker Mayfield…..just say no
But
Derrick Carr…..hells yes!!!
December 29th, 2022 at 12:55 pm
Hey Anthem don’t knock voodoo till you try it maybe it will work on you
December 29th, 2022 at 12:58 pm
I want to say that the bucs play up/down to the competition. Seems big games, under the lights, they have shown up to some extent (seatte, Dallas, first half of bengals game, chiefs game wasn’t a complete disaster, SF was disaster but they had one of these stinkers every year with brady). That tells me they have the potential to blow out the panthers, who aren’t that good, but it will probably be close. But once the panthers go over 17 points (our cap), it’s unlikely we winning.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:01 pm
Bucs re-sign Brady in 2023, Gronk unretires, Jensen is back, Bucs draft a Guard in 1st round- all is well on offense. Now, about that D Line….
December 29th, 2022 at 1:01 pm
You cannot just turn-off complacency and no discipline. It takes a lot of time to shrug off those negative attitudes that developed overtime with bad coaching. It will be the same undisciplined bucs that will show up this sunday. I guarantee it.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:11 pm
Bucs can and will punch their ticket into the playoffs this Sunday. Falcons game will be another week of rest for injured players. Jensen will be back for playoff game and Oline will look vastly different with Jensen at C Hainsey over one to LG Smitty at LT Mason at RG and Wirfs at RT. Bucs best football is in front of them.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:13 pm
Fire Bowles and Leftwich today!!!! Promote the assistants!!!! The team will rally around them big time!!!
December 29th, 2022 at 1:14 pm
No way because the coaches are going to do what they do the exact as last game and they will loose, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind. Out coached and out played is what is going to happen.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:19 pm
“You know, we understand what’s at stake here,” Godwin said…
Great. The “We understand” mentality has been transferred from Bowles and now even the players are spouting it.
Let’s hope Godwin isn’t near as DULL this Sunday as Bowles shirley will be! (Typo on purpose). Bring the juice and emotion, Mr. Godwin – we need you.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:21 pm
Learn to spell L-O-S-E which is what the Panthers will do Sunday NE FAN
December 29th, 2022 at 1:27 pm
So Bucs fans, not the Bucs but in most cases it is difficult to beat a team twice in one season. That being said your agony may not be over if the Bucs lose. Bucs lose then play the Falcons who have already started shipping their cars. If both the Saints and Carolina win there will be a 3 way tie for the south. That means if the Saints beat Carolina and Bucs beat Atlanta, Bucs win the tie breaker and this dismal season continues. How bad is that?
December 29th, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Bucsfan ever hear of autofill?
December 29th, 2022 at 1:29 pm
Ever heard of attention to detail?
December 29th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
“Todd Bowles? Failing offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich?”
How is Leftwich “Failing” and Bowles is not?
Bowles shouldn’t get a pass, Joe.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Put up or shut up time for this team.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:40 pm
Bucsfan, ever hear the term “I could give a sh#t?”
December 29th, 2022 at 1:43 pm
Blow in up except for some draft pics. Most all coaches too.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:44 pm
Too bad we lost Bruce damnit.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:44 pm
Alabamabuc. So Brady supposed to get better at 46 year old ok lol 🤣🤣🤣. If we are barley winning with Brady this year what makes you think we will win next year with Brady at 46 years old?? Our defense is the main reason we have 7 wins . I do believe we win Sunday and next week so I’m just looking toward the playoffs now. I hope we win the super bowl this year for the team sake and for Brady sake so he go ahead and retire. Because you do know they have been separating Brady from the bucs since he got here. So I can’t wait until we go back to being a team and not a one man show like the media has done as well as Joe bucfan site because he separate Brady from the bucs as well.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:49 pm
When the Bucs are eliminated from the playoffs, and they will be eliminated, GM is 100% to blame. Talk about a do nothing GM, he is a coward for keeping status quo. Had the Bucs had a half way decent coaching staff the team would have at least 11 wins right now.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:51 pm
Oneilsuckyall, are you a broken down old man? You really seem to focus on Brady’s age. There are quite a few younger QB’s in the league that can’t sniff his jock, in fact 90% of them. Dude find another reason to hate him, the age thing is weak.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:56 pm
Oneil…you just want the team to go back to sucking…and you always have.
Soon….pretty soon you’ll get your wish.
December 29th, 2022 at 1:59 pm
The time to flip the switch was thanksgiving. This isn’t the Golden State Warriors that you know can turn it on anytime when they decide to focus when it matters. Most importantly, they have earned that right. The Bucs have not. They’ve been complete clowns, with a clown non innovative coaching staff. Let’s say the Bucs DID do a lot of this on purpose, layyyyy in the weeds come playoff (laughable but a lot of weirdos believe it like they likely believe in Santa Claus) then they literally wasted everyone’s Sunday this whole year. They did a disservice to every fan. The only option for that approach is to win the Super Bowl. Otherwise the whole year was stupid, a waste of time, and mostly infuriating
December 29th, 2022 at 1:59 pm
If Brady doesn’t come back – then 2023 has to be a “Get Your Salary Cap” right year. Start cutting and trading your big contract players…The owners need to figure out if they want to have a defensive team…then stick with T. Bowels or move on to an Offensive minded coach…if that coach is out there you get him in here now to start the rebuild knowing that 2023 will suck…if not, maybe you stick wit T. Bowles for 2023 but you are not drafting a QB. Save that for the new 2024 coaching staff.
If we Brady doesn’t come back – we can’t afford any decent QB. Way to many cap issues.
I don’t think this team deserves to play in the playoffs. Plus, the thought of 50k Dallas fans celebrating in our house makes my stomach turn.
Go Bucs!
December 29th, 2022 at 2:01 pm
Yea !!! Let’s rebuild. That’s worked really well the last 20 years. Obscurity is the word.
December 29th, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Oneilbuc, do you really hope the bucs win? You’ve been spewing nonsense since I got here, claiming your ilk are the real bucs fans. How can you be a real fan, when you’re actively cheering for Brady to fail. Do you want to give the ring back too? You’re as disingenuous as they come here. Somebody who would rather be right, instead of winning, isn’t a real bucs fan. You must really love to lose and be irrelevant. That’s exactly what the bucs will be next year without Brady. I have news for you. The only reason the bucs didn’t win back to back rings, was because of Todd Bowles. His gameplan against the Rams was criminal. You’d rather defend horrible coaching and bad gameplans on Brady. Coaching matters in the NFL
December 29th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
And blame Brady.
December 29th, 2022 at 2:42 pm
Hey Kentucky, so you like being treated like a truck stop hoor? Predictably would be nice. This yr to yr, rent a free agent strategy aint it, and is literally the exact opposite of establishing a CULTURE that everyone “allegedly” wanted to have. The 49ers have an identity. The chiefs have an identity. The bills, hell the eagles with a team of young players. WHAT IS OUR IDENTITY. Do we have one? Our infrastructure is a house of cards. Where are we going, what’re we doing. And we have fans that wanna lose all of their self respect by getting on their knees and giving a handy to a 46yr old to pretty please come back? The Bucs need to be better than that, and they need to have a plan
December 29th, 2022 at 2:45 pm
OnB-is Disgruntled football fan can’t believe an old white guy is the best ever simply can’t believe it. Those seven rings really did happen. You’re salty tears are the best.
December 29th, 2022 at 2:49 pm
Look at the list of free agents on those teams. Free agents who will not come to the Bucs once Brady is gone. Small market teams unless they throw big money out there are not free agent destinations. How has the rebuilding gone the last 20 years.
December 29th, 2022 at 2:53 pm
We had a 3 year window. Unfortunately Bowles closed 2 of those windows.
December 29th, 2022 at 2:55 pm
Oneilbuc Says:
December 29th, 2022 at 1:44 pm
Alabamabuc. So Brady supposed to get better at 46 year old ok lol 🤣🤣🤣. If we are barley winning with Brady this year what makes you think we will win next year with Brady at 46 years old.
___________
Barley winning Oh-Kneelz?
I wasn’t aware of the fact that wins equates to a fairly obscure and under appreciated cereal grain.
If true, how much barley have we accumulated this season and do it be possible to be trading it fo some o dat fancy azz keen-wahz?
December 29th, 2022 at 3:15 pm
Goforthearse@ the Jets, Lions, Indy, Jags have tried your philosophy for years to no avail. Yes the Rams, Bucs & Patriots all won with seasoned veterans.
December 29th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Hey Joe,
I believe the Bucs are playing chess and not checkers! At some point, maybe Sunday, we’ll see the new look offense on display! If they show their hand teams will have tape on them and will be able to defend against it. However, I believe this week the Bucs will give us a little more of what we saw in the first half of the Bengals game. Again, the name of the game is chess not checkers, and I believe the Bucs are going to shock some people real soon. Thank you to both Joe’s and keep doing your thing.
Leroy
December 29th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
I don’t know how the Bucs are going to do it, but they absolutely have to play consistently for four quarters on both sides of the ball.
December 29th, 2022 at 4:12 pm
Carolina 30 Yucs 9. This is looking more and more like a blowout.
December 29th, 2022 at 4:26 pm
Bucs are going to get smoked but at least we have a clueless diversity coach and an offensive coordinator who does not understand the English language,YAY FOR WOKEISM
December 29th, 2022 at 5:07 pm
NEfan – that mentality will keep you at an average salary with an average looking woman for the rest of your life. Clearly the Goal isn’t to be the Jets. That is an extreme “but what about so and so im so scarrrred” example. Loser mentality. Successful start ups that evolve from series A to series B and so on and so forth have a plan. Predictability. Repeatable processes. An infrastructure. An IDENTITY. Please enlighten me what the Bucs identity is.The goal should be to be RELEVANT year in and year out. Not win a superbowl and be hideous for another 15 years. Your Rams example was an exception to the norm, which does not reinforce your point
December 29th, 2022 at 5:09 pm
Kentucky – absolutel clown statement and grossly uninformed. The NFL isnt the NBA. Small market teams thrive in the NFL
December 29th, 2022 at 5:17 pm
gofortheface, not sure with today’s contracts building from the bottom up is attainable. Elite QB’s do not want to start over and risk their reputations, look at R. Wilson. If you go with rookie QB’s, very few pan out right away or at least to the playoff level. Your next issue is retaining a coach that can win with youth. My point it’s not as easy as it sounds. Haven’t the Bucs been trying for like 20 yrs?
December 29th, 2022 at 7:34 pm
Really go go. Which ones? Cinci on their 20 year cycle. Buffalo on their what 30 year cycle. Which small market teams thrive ? Yeah your right . They thrive every 20-30 years.