Gameday (Outside) Tampa Bay
October 8th, 2023
Joe’s popcorn, Big Storm beer and Hooters buffalo shrimp will be on a glorious coffee table at 1 o’clock today for a feast of NFC South games.
The upstart Texans (2-2) with thriving rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and quality defensive talent roll into Atlanta (2-2) to face the quarterback-challenged Falcons. The winless Panthers are in Detroit, where they’ll be lucky not to lose by 14 or more points. And the slimy Saints (2-2) cruise into New England, where Bill Belicheat might be fighting for his New England coaching life with the 1-3 Patriots.
Again, all three games kick off at 1 p.m. So the division will have a very different look in a hurry.
Joe’s money here would go on the Falcons to win and the Saints and Panthers to lose. Atlanta is a rough, loud venue for a rookie QB, and the Falcons have a load of playmakers. Do-it-all weapon Cordarrelle Patterson returns at full strength today after nursing a thigh injury.
Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments below.
Joe is looking forward to being so damn satisfied if the Saints lose, although that would lead various clowns to bark about how the Bucs haven’t beaten a winning team this season.
October 8th, 2023 at 10:38 am
The winless Panthers are in Detroit, where they’ll be lucky not to lose by 14 or more points. –
The winless Bears dominated Washington Thursday night- any given Sunday
October 8th, 2023 at 10:44 am
I’ll be watching the Detroit game to get a wiff if what we will be facing next Sunday,
October 8th, 2023 at 10:46 am
Haters will always hate joe. It’s like them saying Jason isn’t a good GM. Haha these clowns 🤡. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how we win or who we won against. A win is a win
October 8th, 2023 at 10:58 am
I’m predicting all three will lose today. Stroud seemed to be getting his feet under him last week, so I’m not so sure Atlanta will win. I think the other two are locks.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:09 am
Lions better not come into their crib, over-confident. If they do, guess what? If that happens, fine with me. It ‘ll make the Bucs beating them even better. Why? Cos the craporate sports bloviators nationwide will look and sound worse than they already do. I’ll be watching scores on the NFL site.
October 8th, 2023 at 11:56 am
PSL Bob Says:
I’m predicting all three will lose today.
^^^^
I tend to agree. Saints 50/50.
October 8th, 2023 at 12:01 pm
The Lions are a good team because they are capable of beating a great team (Chiefs). If we can beat the Lions next week then that proves we are a good team too. Good teams make the playoffs and great teams play in the conference championships btw
October 8th, 2023 at 12:57 pm
I’m being forced to root for the Devil. Pass the hot sauce.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:03 pm
Did you see Allen throw that costly INT in that 11-7 game?
Except it was 3rd and 15 from the 50, and was downed at the 7, so it was literally like a good punt.
Yet on RedZone they just pretended like that INT swung the momentum of the game.
That’s what happens when idiots just look at box scores, and how you come up with fake narratives.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
Based on what Jax is doing to the Bills I don’t think any team would want to play them twice in a season. Shroud has Texans looking pretty good also. Only thing keeping AFC South from a possible sweep today is the Colts play the Titans. There is always a Division that surprises the critics. Find out which Division from the South it is soon enough.
Panthers are going to get a big dose of the run game, soft coverage, and a lot of pressure from the defensive front. This game will be closer than most would think as Lions will be less concerned about points than they are about getting through the game injury free.
Look for the Saints to get after Jones. Unfortunately Saints Offense has only one decent half of football under their belt. Wondering if Bill is regretting taking his Buddy’s advice and not jumping over Mac to take the next available QB in the draft.
Looking forward to seeing the Cowboys and 49er’s play tonight and the Packers on Monday night.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:15 pm
Saints opening drive – 8 plays, 19 yards. LOL!
October 8th, 2023 at 1:22 pm
Saints second drive – Got the ball at the NE 40, and went 3 plays, 1 yard, and punted. LOL!
October 8th, 2023 at 1:27 pm
Jax beat the Bills in London. 7-0 Detroit.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:27 pm
wow. Jones is really, really bad.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Uh oh, the Saints got a TD on an INT return, that’s probably the game. I can’t imagine either team scores from here on out. These are some awful offenses.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:28 pm
I’m obviously rooting against the Saints in this game…but if Jones is that bad…the Saints might be in for a good day.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:29 pm
I’ve been out of touch…is Carr healed up completely or playing injured?
October 8th, 2023 at 1:30 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai – Well Carr is vastly overrated and sucks, but he’s not that bad – he’s clearly injured, is just constantly dumping off the ball. Or at least he was last week.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:34 pm
@Rod Munch
Yeah, I don’t think Carr is all that either when healthy…but better than Jones? Probably.
I do think a healthy Carr could be in the running for the best in our conference. At least until I see Baker beat real contenders.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
They said Carr was practicing all week and claims to be 100%.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:42 pm
Well if he’s healthy, then he’s even worse than I imagined. But I think it’s pretty obvious he’s not fully healthy, but I’d love to be wrong, and he’s fully healthy, and he is just this bad and the Saints are stuck with the contract for years.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:42 pm
Wow! Detroit has an awesome D-line! We ain’t running on them.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:42 pm
Anybody seen NE fan? Is he okay? 😂
October 8th, 2023 at 1:44 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai – Well Matt Jones is probably the worst starting QB in the NFL, so that’s not exactly a high bar to hurdle. Yeah, if I had to have one of these two, and you’re not counting salaries, then sure, I’d take Carr. But what I’d probably do is just run a wildcat.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:46 pm
I won’t subject myself to watching a Saints vs Pats game, but I see the highlights on RedZone, and Carr has no velocity on his balls, looks like Trask at UF lofting those balls. I think the issue with him is that he can’t really get a lot of zip on passes, no so much that he can’t get distance, there’s a difference.
But I’m only seeing the alleged highlights, so maybe he’s getting more on other passes I haven’t seen.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:49 pm
Poor Pats defense just quit playing, their offense gives them no hope. Bill is going to be sent into a forced retirement.
October 8th, 2023 at 1:52 pm
Bonzai
“At least until I see Baker beat real contenders.” But yet you say nothing about seeing Carr beat contenders?
October 8th, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Patriots suck on both offense and defense ! Hard to believe how bad they are.
October 8th, 2023 at 2:08 pm
stpetebucfan Says
“But yet you say nothing about seeing Carr beat contenders?”
Because Carr is not our QB. I don’t want him to beat contenders.
October 8th, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Yup…Saints having a good game. I’m out. Don’t want to see more of this game, lol.
October 8th, 2023 at 2:11 pm
Bonzai
“I do think a healthy Carr could be in the running for the best in our conference. At least until I see Baker beat real contenders.”
My point is that you seem to set different standards for one QB and not the other.
What are you basing that assessment on other than perhaps your “feelings”. How is Carr already best in the Conference?
October 8th, 2023 at 2:14 pm
Either the Pats are truly awful on defense as well as offense with helpless Mac Jones at QB on offense, or the Saints played really badly at home last week…OR The Bucs are at minimum pretty decent eh?
I’m not surprised to see the Pats offense struggle the Saints have a pretty good D but I never thought I’d see a Belichik defense play so poorly and without serious effort or heart.
October 8th, 2023 at 2:19 pm
2 completely terrible games from players to announcers to referees.
The referee in the Miami- NY game has got to be the all-time worst.
Great equity hire/promotion NFL.
October 8th, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Stpetebucfan , stop that, we must find every weakness in any victory the Bucs have, we are not allowed to think the bucs will be good, you wouldn’t want to get (gasp!!!) Hope going around here cause…. cause… some team in the 80s fell apart (a team with no championship culture btw)……
October 8th, 2023 at 2:37 pm
Rod Munch: That’s what happens when idiots just look at box scores, and how you come up with fake narratives.
^^^^^^^
This from the same guy who LOVED Jameis because of stats? How many of his interceptions were like punts? 🙄
October 8th, 2023 at 2:41 pm
See my post for today under “I Was Wrong About Baker Mayfield” at 2:31.
October 8th, 2023 at 2:46 pm
F Cam Jordan
October 8th, 2023 at 2:54 pm
Well the Pats and Giants look flat awful. Hate to see the Aints having a day, but hot helps that Belicheat is on the other sideline.
October 8th, 2023 at 2:57 pm
Saints fans don’t leave their seats when they go to the restroom. New Orleans smells like urine, vomit and hot garbage from 30 miles away. Despite all the Buc on Buc violence on here I think we can all agree, Saint fans are scumbags.
October 8th, 2023 at 3:04 pm
RIP NE Fan 😂
October 8th, 2023 at 3:14 pm
Stinkin Stanks winning.
October 8th, 2023 at 3:14 pm
We’re witnessing the end of an epoch in New England
October 8th, 2023 at 3:15 pm
Fish look good.
October 8th, 2023 at 3:15 pm
We’re witnessing the end of an epoch in New England
October 8th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
Just like that, NO is back
in their lane
October 8th, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Maybe the Saints dont suck and the Bucs are just really good?
October 8th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
Give The Fancy Man he’ll Joe in Michigan!
😂
October 8th, 2023 at 3:25 pm
NE might the worst team in football right now. Yikes!
Somewhere, Brady is grinning.
October 8th, 2023 at 3:31 pm
Taking the Big Picture approach to today’s games (since we’re not playing). All those teams with crappy QBs folks keep talking about will most likely end up with mediocre records & end up looking for QBs. They’ll either draft one (good year for QBs?) OR grab one who’s a free agent.
A QB like Baker could very well be in high demand by any number of teams come next year if his rejuvenation streak continues. Jacks up the price if we want to keep him, maybe to the point where we can’t afford to play that game (too many other mouths to feed?). And if we do well this season, we’ll be drafting up in the 20’s (hopefully #32 actually) with all the top QBs gone already. Bummer.
Guess that’s the price you pay for 1-year contracts AND the price you pay for winning. As for me, I prefer to keep winning & worry about next year next year. Bring on the Lions.
October 8th, 2023 at 3:43 pm
I’ve been monitoring the NC-Detroit game score. It’s been a wipeout, 28-10 Lions. However, Detroit has not been able to score in the 3rd quarter. They just scored in the 4th. Detroit is not invincible. Bucs are not cupcakes, and the Lions will underestimate them. Man, is NE still alive? They just up and quit playing, and they’re at home. 31-0 in the 4th against the Aints. Unreal. At least the Panthers haven’t quit. Atlanta is also ahead.
October 8th, 2023 at 4:14 pm
Stroud is a terrible QB, he lost today, and that’s 100% on him.
Who cares that he took his team down the field to score a TD in the last 2 mins, and his defense collapsed, that doesn’t matter, what matters is scoreboard, and Stroud is a loser and a bust.
October 8th, 2023 at 4:17 pm
orlbucfan – The Lions promptly scored 2 TDs right after you wrote that.
The Bucs never beat the Lions at home, I’ve always counted that game as an L, regardless of if the Lions were good or not.
But the Bucs need to at least look competent and not get blown out, that will be huge on figuring out if the Bucs are actually good – or just better than the teams they beat, which were 3-10 coming into the week.
October 8th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
D.R.
I agree with your observation about Baker’s value perhaps being higher than the Bucs wish to pay.
My question is have you written of Trask completely? I thought he looked pretty good in practice according to Joe and in the pre season games.
I’m not against drafting a QB but I can’t help but think the guy we’re really replacing is Brady and he’s a sixth rounder. I can’t help but thinking Brock Purdy is “Mr Irrelevant” as the 262nd and final pick…just one pick away from being a UDFA.
If Baker resigns and somehow Trask still stays I’m happy. If Baker is too expensive I have no problem with giving Trask his shot…he’ll still be relatively cheap and perhaps drafting a QB after round 3.
You are the Defense rules…and I think the Bucs defense is on the cusp of something special and the OL is maybe one guy short of also being dominant.
Great RB’s can be had in the 2nd and 3rd round. Licht has the chance to build something really special.
October 8th, 2023 at 4:29 pm
I watch Detroit almost as much as I watch the bucs, thanks to Mrs UKBuccaneer being a lions fan. They’re the real deal.
October 8th, 2023 at 4:30 pm
I guess I was wrong and Belichick isn’t the devil after all. Perhaps he only sold his soul to the devil. And now Brady and his hot girlfriend have left him, and the devil is coming to collect what’s due.
October 8th, 2023 at 4:40 pm
Rod Munch Says:
October 8th, 2023 at 4:14 pm
Stroud is a terrible QB, he lost today, and that’s 100% on him.
Who cares that he took his team down the field to score a TD in the last 2 mins, and his defense collapsed, that doesn’t matter, what matters is scoreboard, and Stroud is a loser and a bust.
^^^^^^^
CJ Stroud and Jameis Winston are apples and oranges. Stroud hasn’t thrown an interception yet in his pro career.
October 8th, 2023 at 4:46 pm
Belichick being this bad post Brady only makes TB12s greatness even more astonishing.
Brady constantly had to deal with roster changeover on offense and sometimes was throwing to complete no names but the results always stayed the same…..heck, even Tim Wright look awesome for the Pats.
Belichick is running a complete clown show right now. Bucs were lucky to get 2 years of the goat in his prime before father time came along
October 8th, 2023 at 4:50 pm
Belichik is clearly one of the all time great Defensive Coordinators. He established that before he became an HC..just like Bowles…and he reinforced it giving Brady great defenses to help Brady become the GOAT and win his first 6 SB’s. This is why I’m shocked that his D looked so weak today. Slow, no hustle, out of place, just not a BB defense!
But he has been a mediocre, losing HC without Brady. He was 41-55 in his tenure with the Browns (terrible franchise but oh Mayfield managed to get them to the playoffs and a first round victory *snark font off) and his first year with N.E. until Brady got the start as a 6th round pick.
Since Brady he’s now 26-29…scoreboard SAYS….BB is a 67-84 losing HC without Tom Brady carrying him.
Today’s game just illustrates the folly of believing a top draft pick at QB guarantees any success. Jones was selected 15th overall and had a great rookie season. Josh McDanieal leaves as OC and Jones is now exposed! One thing is for sure there is nothing BB can do other than perhaps find a better OC.
October 8th, 2023 at 4:58 pm
Bucs need to get the W next week now that ATL and NO both won today.
October 8th, 2023 at 5:16 pm
No Drew Brees, no Sean Payton, and the Saints still beat the Patriots 34-0 in the Patriots own home stadium 😂😂😂
October 8th, 2023 at 5:28 pm
Belicheat’s problem is he’s old and past his expiration date. That mindset is cosmic, and goes beyond a bunch of Bucs fans commenting on a sports site. Panthers lost but they beat up a few Lions players. You can bet there are been quite a few Bucs players-coaches tuned in and watching. I still can’t get over NE quitting in front of their fans. I would raise h3ll over watching that crap if I paid for a ticket. The fans need to own these teams, not the dimwit bozos who do. Example: the Green Bay Packers.
October 8th, 2023 at 5:29 pm
I honestly don’t think any sane New England fan was expecting much this year. The NY Giants fans, however, were expecting big things. A friend of mine who is a Carolina Panthers fan said he wants to midget toss Bryce Young back to Alabama! 😂
October 8th, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Typo: have been….
October 8th, 2023 at 5:31 pm
Rod Munch Says:
October 8th, 2023 at 4:17 pm
orlbucfan – The Lions promptly scored 2 TDs right after you wrote that.
The Bucs never beat the Lions at home, I’ve always counted that game as an L, regardless of if the Lions were good or not.
But the Bucs need to at least look competent and not get blown out, that will be huge on figuring out if the Bucs are actually good – or just better than the teams they beat, which were 3-10 coming into the week.
_______________
The Bucs have beat the Lions IN TAMPA 15 times.
LITERALLY 15 times you idiot!
😂
October 8th, 2023 at 6:34 pm
@ Rod Munch, you’ve made many comments here, in other threads I agree with some of your takes, in this thread not so much you trash Stroud who is probably in the running for rookie of the year, Stroud is the reason the Texans are competitive. You trash Kyle Trask as a ball lifter or floater, Trask is all over the Gator record books for his passing accomplishments, finished a season in the Heisman voting. Rewatch the Florida / Alabama championship game where Trask kept the outmanned Gators in that game. Lastly, you seem to forget that the Bucs played in the black and blue conference where they face the Lions twice a year and won many of those match-ups.
October 8th, 2023 at 6:35 pm
Orlbucfan
“Example: the Green Bay Packers.”
Exactly Orlando! Here in St. Pete we’ve gone round and round over a new stadium for the Rays. Stu Sternberg is a great businessman and grifter. The guy he brought in to sell the stadium the first go around was named Michael Kalt. He did both the Yankees and the Mets new stadia. Kalt and Sternberg both New Yorkers. The Yankee stadium came in at THIRTY PERCENT OVER BUDGET.
The Mets announced CITI field at a 1.1 BILLION COST…but ended up adding another 600 million.
As you suggest however when fans own the teams…only Green Bay pulled that off and is grandfathered in the owners will never let the fans own another team…they were able to totally refurbish Lambeau Field and surprise..it came in on budget.
Before people scream socialism…the city of Green Bay nor any Government owns the Pack…nor does any capitalist corp or owner…the fans or the consumers own the product. And the fans have done a better job than the Government or private owners.
October 8th, 2023 at 8:45 pm
RGA: I think Rod Munch was being sarcastic about CJ Stroud, trying to compare him to Jameis Winston. The problem with his comparison is that Stroud has zero interceptions in his first 5 games, and Winston is still a turnover waiting to happen.
October 8th, 2023 at 8:58 pm
stpete: I know for a fact that the football fans across central FL raised the coin to buy the Bucs franchise when the NFL announced it. Seattle was the other franchise that year. I personally talked to a dude in O-ville who was one of the fundraisers. The NFL ownership panicked, stalled, and found Culverhouse down in So. FL. They cut the franchise price in half and installed him. The rest is history, a lot of it sorry.
October 8th, 2023 at 9:35 pm
Joe in Michigan – SCOREBOARD
October 8th, 2023 at 9:37 pm
RGA – Yeah, I was being sarcastic, mocking the dolts here who, would, after a Bucs loss, after Winston lead the team down to score a TD with 45 seconds left, only to see the defense, lead by Chris Conte and Ryan Smith, give up 60 yards in 3 plays and lose the game. Then the morons here would then spend the next week talking about Winston threw an INT in the 2nd quarter and lost the game.
October 8th, 2023 at 9:55 pm
Wow, those Pats are bad. Brady and Gronk got out of there in time. Back in 2020, I was telling the folks over there that the Pats needed to blow it all up but they all thought they just needed to reload instead of rebuild. Now in 2023, reality has hit them square in the face.
I barely know any of the players with the Pats cause they are just Jags.
After Brady retired, I wasn’t sure if I’d still follow football and wasn’t sure if I’m still interested in the Bucs.
Still following football but not watching as much.
Still following the Bucs cause Evans, Godwin, Wirfs, Winfield, Barrett, David, White, Vea. They are an exciting team.
And Mayfield is an exciting QB that is at the right place and the right time.
October 8th, 2023 at 10:15 pm
The Pats offense were carried by Brady, Gronk, Edelman and their OC McDaniel in their 2nd dynasty. Belichick as GM didn’t bring do much to help the offense since 2014.
Gronk retired in 2019 and the offense struggled. Brady left in 2020 and the offense became a bottom half offense. Then Edelman and McDaniel left and the offense became bottom of the heap.
October 8th, 2023 at 10:24 pm
Pats should have tanked the team in 2020 when Brady left. Still had a good defence but they were old and offense was already bad. The fans didn’t believe me that they’re going to get worse
I still follow the Pats but I barely know anyone on the team as they are a bunch of no talent,… while Bucs have Evans, Godwin, Vea, White, David, Winfield,.. and now Mayfield. Plus some exciting young talents
No wonder I’m still rooting for the Bucs.
October 8th, 2023 at 10:45 pm
Can we just opt out of our 49ers game in San Francisco? It’s probably gonna look the same as last year’s thrashing.
October 9th, 2023 at 10:09 am
Rod Munch: Nice try on the Jameis “second quarter” interception comment, unfortunately for you we watch the games. The last interception Jameis threw for the Bucs was a pick 6 that won the game for Atlanta.
October 9th, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Rod Munch…better to be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt….knee jerk much munch?
October 9th, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Joe in Michigan – oh no, Jameis threw an INT on 3rd and 17 from the 50 yardline and now the other team got it on the 7… or literally the same thing as a good punt.
Then you, for the next 5 years, spread fake news and disinformation claiming it changed the course of the game — completely ignoring the fact he got the team the lead with less than a minute to go, or he took the team down for an easy chipshot field goal just to have the guy miss.
But nah, that’s not what cost the game, it’s the 2nd quarter INT on 3rd and long that went 50 yards down the field that changed the course of the game.