Heavy Hype
October 11th, 2023
The NFL wants big-time ratings for Sunday’s Bucs-Lions clash that was flexed from a 1 o’clock start to the 4:25 p.m. slot on FOX.
That’s prime time for the TV networks, and that means NFL Network hype, in addition to FOX.
The image above is a screen shot from NFL Network this morning, part of a discussion on what team is a bigger story this season. “We can’t get enough of these teams,” said Good Morning Football co-host Colleen Wolfe.
Joe had to laugh at that one, since it’s obvious the loser of this game will be labeled a pretender by Monday morning. Co-host Peter Schrager actually said this game is defining for the Bucs — telling fans the result will reveal if “they’re just a fun story coming off the bye or if they’re the real deal.”
Joe can’t call this a line-in-the-sand game for the Bucs. It’s early October and the team is still coming together — against a Lions club that jelled with a load of talent midway through last season. For Joe, the bigger defining game for the Bucs comes a week later against Atlanta at The Licht House.
If the Bucs aren’t a pretender, they absolutely will take care of business against their division rival.
Regardless, Joe totally will enjoy all the hype leading up to Sunday. It’s good prep for bigger games in December and January.
October 11th, 2023 at 12:59 pm
Some will disagree, but to me the result matters less Sunday than the performance. If they lose they’ll still be legitimate to me if they’re competitive, don’t turn the ball over much or make bad penalties and blatant mental errors, and are simply beaten – closely – by a better team. I could accept that.
If it looks ugly, then there will be cause for concern. Let’s hope it’s a good battle worthy of the hype and that our boys can pull off the W!
October 11th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
This team of ours should come out with guns a blazing right off the bat Sunday. No more lethargic starts on offense AND defense. Every snap is important Sunday especially against the Lions.
Our defense needs to put Goff on his ass at every opportunity. How about another blindside Antoine collision? That might get his attention. Everybody needs to show up big for this one.
October 11th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Ughhhhh I just saw the NFL TV coverage map for this week and about vomited. Eagles Jets gets the majority of eyeballs. Why must football fans suffer the atrocity of NYJ football, let alone NYJ football getting curbstomped by the Eagles? I mean even their own fans would probably rather watch something else. NYC bias is the worst.
Guess I gotta go to a bar this weekend to watch
October 11th, 2023 at 1:14 pm
I agree with Leighroy mostly. I’d like to see a win though… and the pass rush feast with Kancey in the line up…. I’ll have to temper my expectations though since he’s probably not in football shape.
October 11th, 2023 at 1:15 pm
I want to see how the defense responds to a good Qb and play caller.
October 11th, 2023 at 1:23 pm
Something about this iteration of the Bucs is different to me. Through 4 weeks they have been very consistent. Baker, Canales and Bowles seem to be clicking, the team has bought into what they are selling. It appears that over the last 5 years the culture really has changed. They are a respectable, winning ball club and all the doubters after Brady leaving have pissed them off. The only way I see them getting blown out all season is if the coaching fails spectacularly in a week and their scheme/game plan gets destroyed. So far though they have adjusted mid game to solid effect.
I do agree that if they lose to Lions, they will be disregarded again for a bit. Hopefully they keep their chip and their focus week in and week out… will be a special season if they do. Not necessarily a SB season but a 11-12 win season where they are competitive, fun to watch and we are all proud of the process and the product we support. Go Bucs!
October 11th, 2023 at 2:09 pm
They out hyped us.
October 11th, 2023 at 2:21 pm
you must realize these lions were very good, not last year, but 2 years back…
they pulled a 1996 dungy type move…
where the bucs sucked the first half, and finally got their sh!t together in the second half of the season…
does anyone remember?
yeah we came flying out the gate in 1997, beat and injured 49ers, wound up on the cover of sports illustrated, but it really happened in the 2nd half of the 1996 season while wearing creamsicles every game…
as for the lions, they were good last year, but 2 years back they did the same as the bucs, where they got it together in the second half of the 2021 season…
so they were a team that got their sh!t together in 2021…
in 2022 they were a darn good football team…
and in 2023 i’d venture to call them a very good football team…
don’t sleep on these kittens…they’re a top 5 nfl team…
but if we bring our A game sunday…with the infectious orange vibe in the air…i think we take down these b!tch azz kitties
October 11th, 2023 at 2:27 pm
No risk it, no biscuit.
October 11th, 2023 at 3:57 pm
Lions expect our first play from scrimmage to be a run between the tackles.
Sure would be nice to see a long ball to any one of our wide-outs to start the game.
October 11th, 2023 at 4:21 pm
I love that they flexed the game and thought for sure we’d get to see it here on FLorida’s SE coast. But no, they think Philly-Jets is a better sell. Damn! I was looking forward to seeing the team I’ve rooted for since its inception in their creamsicle unis.
October 11th, 2023 at 4:41 pm
The whole country is jets eagles. The joy of living in south jersey !
October 11th, 2023 at 5:39 pm
The Bucs never win this game, just something about playing the stupid Lions in Tampa that doesn’t go well for the Bucs. Meanwhile, on the road, I’d have complete confidence that the Bucs would win the game.
Anywho, like Leighroy said, I’m not so much concerned about if they win or lose (since I already assume they’ll lose), I just want them to look good and show they belong. If this game is like the Eagles game, then you’re really going to have to look at the Bucs record and realize the teams they’ve beat so far this year are 5-11. However, if the Bucs can show they belong, then I’ll feel dramatically better about how the season turns out. But I’d LOVE to be wrong and see the Bucs beat the Lions, that would be huge, and the Bucs bandwagon will start to get extremely full.
October 11th, 2023 at 6:12 pm
KC Buc
” NYC bias is the worst.”
The bias is simply about the $$$. The $$$ are about market size.
NYC’s metro is almost 3 times more populous at 20 million than 14th ranked Detroit 4,300,000 and 17th ranked Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater 3,280,000
combined!!!
Now add Philly’s 7th ranked market with 6 million and you see where the bias is coming from.
It’s just about eyeballs, ratings, and $$$!
NYC/Philly 26 million Detroit/Tampa-St Pete 7,500,000.
That’s a whopping 3 1/2 X larger! The bias that surround $$$ always wins out.
October 11th, 2023 at 7:19 pm
Being realistic I expect the Lions to win. But a bucs upset would be FANTASTIC !!!!
October 11th, 2023 at 8:09 pm
I’m hoping bucs and 9ers gets flexed in November.
October 12th, 2023 at 12:56 am
I think Bowles and company bring Goff back down to earth.
I see us getting lots of pressure and a few sacks on Goff.
If we’re lucky that will lead to TOs.
Last time I watched Goff he got flustered out West and looked awful.
Hopefully we can replicate that.
Go Bucs!
October 12th, 2023 at 3:31 am
Looks like big Jim extraordinaire prediction before the season started of a 7-1 start is coming true, Big Jim sticks to his prediction
October 12th, 2023 at 10:03 am
Hopefully, the Eagles will blow out the Jets and they’ll switch the game over to ours.