Must-Win?
October 20th, 2023
Critical game.
The more Joe studies this Sunday’s Dixie Chicks-Bucs game, the more Joe thinks it will either be a springboard to really good things or the crack in the damn that no fan wants to think about.
The Bucs are coming off their most putrid offensive game of the season against Detroit. Yet they will be playing a team that consistently has stunk up the joint on offense.
Sure, the Dixie Chicks run the ball. They sure as hell aren’t a good passing team with Desmond Ridder. He’s thrown six interceptions and Atlanta ranks 20th in the NFL in yards per attempt.
What do fans hear defensive coordinators say all the time (Joe means all the friggin’ time)? They want to make an opposing offense one-dimensional. Well, when the Dixie Chicks walk out of the locker room, they are already one-dimensional.
How bad is the Dixie Chicks offense when it comes to scoring? Pretty sorry, as documented by Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis.
Atlanta has led for 12.7% of their offensive plays, ahead of only the Jets (8.9%) and Giants (7.9%).
With all the Bucs weapons, and how rancid their run game is, if the Bucs lose this game trying to ram the ball down the Dixie Chicks’ throats without any success, Joe is going to need to be tied down.
Yes, yes, yes, Joe know what Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales said. The run game will break out. It’s just a matter of time.
But you have to balance what is good now against what may happen in a month or two. Joe maintains this game it too important to chase running-game ghosts. The Bucs need a win Sunday. The future is now.
Lose to the Dixie Chicks and Joe has a bad feeling things might circle the drain in a hurry.
Beat the Dixie Chicks and you’ve got a chokehold on the division.
Ira Kaufman Talks Thinning Patience, Most Improved Buccaneer, One Perplexing Element Of The Run Game, Two Troubling Coach Quotes, And More
October 20th, 2023 at 8:39 am
Yes it is a must win game. It is not just because of the chokehold on the Division, it i must be a turning point for this team.
If they lose this the fans will really dump on the Bucs.
October 20th, 2023 at 8:48 am
As I was reading this it triggered a memory of a dream that I’m pretty sure I had where we were running for huge plays in this game lol. I don’t remember my dreams typically – so weird lol. I don’t see that in reality or anything but man imagine if this team did have a good run game and RB
October 20th, 2023 at 8:48 am
If Falcons run game is rancid, what the Hell do you call the Bucs run game….
rancider?
October 20th, 2023 at 8:52 am
I say must win. Lose at home to this falcon team and know you go to Buffalo on a short week… a loss means you are a bad football team and you start planning for 2024, so you sell at the trade deadline and look at trask.
October 20th, 2023 at 8:55 am
The Bucs are -2.5 spread against the Falcons. As a former gambler that is a very weird line. Should be minimum 3-5 points especially at home. Vegas is very seldom far off not sure why unless big money is on Atlanta but I highly doubt it.
October 20th, 2023 at 8:57 am
Falcons average 4 yards/attempt, a goal we can only dream of at this point. Bigger picture: We aren’t gonna beat Niners or Bills, probably not JAX either. (Starting to worry about Houston too)If we can’t beat the putrid Falcons, then who CAN we beat?
October 20th, 2023 at 9:11 am
I totally agree!
LOL on If they lose trying to run the ball!
Same!
October 20th, 2023 at 9:11 am
Well, they couldn’t run OR pass on Sunday, so I’m not optimistic about this week. However, I will still be rooting hard for them.
October 20th, 2023 at 9:14 am
Atlanta 24 Bucs 10
October 20th, 2023 at 9:16 am
If this team is going to struggle against the truly good teams, they’re going to have to beat the not so good ones. Both for playoff positioning and morale. So yeah, this is a must-win.
October 20th, 2023 at 9:19 am
Yes it’s a must win for Bowles and for Baker.
October 20th, 2023 at 9:20 am
this run game will “break out” when a bulldozer gets in front of White and behind the O line !
October 20th, 2023 at 9:26 am
@ Joe dare to say this could be the biggest game in Todd Bowles TB head coaching career ? Fork in the road this week, let’s see if the team captains step up and bring the heat !
October 20th, 2023 at 9:30 am
Good running game. It’s just a matter of time when… Rachad White and Ke’ are not our backs. Even though people think he’s crap, I will take Vaughn running the football all day over White.
October 20th, 2023 at 9:32 am
This article= FACTS
October 20th, 2023 at 9:35 am
I thought this was gonna be Rachaad’s breakout season. Boy was I wrong. I blame mngmnt. They couldn’t recognize this running game was garbage all off-season, trying camp or preseason?
October 20th, 2023 at 9:36 am
Must win. Just win!!!
October 20th, 2023 at 10:01 am
Unless you are leading the division by 3+ games late in the season, every game is must win. Especially against a division opponent and hated rival.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:11 am
Prior to the start of the season, the Buccaneers were projected to be underdogs in every game this season except at home vs. Carolina. They have greatly exceeded expectations. Let’s face it, if any idiot could jus lead through the schedule and say “that’s a win, that’s a loss, etc.” we could all move to Las Vegas and be rich. Trouble is, Arizona slaughters Dallas, Jets beat Eagles; Browns beat 49ers; Colts beat Ravens; Jaguars beat Bills; Texans beat Jaguars. And on and on it goes. Have you forgotten already that in 2020, the Buccaneers lost to the Bears in a game in which Tom Brady forgot what down it was and the team was 7-6 going into game 14 with only a 15 per cent chance of making the playoffs. The Buccaneers have a much tougher schedule than the Falcons who don’t play the Bills, the 49ers, or the Eagles. That is because they won the division last year. Atlanta has a much improved roster and an excellent coaching staff. Both teams are capable of making the playoffs. What counts most is how the team is playing in December. Teams get better and teams get worse.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:11 am
Understand what you are suggesting. Not ready to go there (yet). A loss Sunday and the wolves will begin to gather, fair or not.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:15 am
If the Bucs handle their business in the NFC South, that puts them at 8 wins, with three other games that are winnable (Titans, Colts, Texans)
Should be good enough to win the NFC South (And I will cash all my Futures Bets)
October 20th, 2023 at 10:25 am
If the Bucs handle their business in the NFC South, that puts them at 8 wins, with three other games that are winnable (Titans, Colts, Texans)…ridler
Good idea, bad math. Three division rivals = 6 games.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:27 am
Definitely a must win game with going to Buffalo Thursday night
October 20th, 2023 at 10:32 am
Game under .500 won the Division last year. Game over was good enough for a playoff spot. Saints were down two starting tackles, a guard, and were in it yesterday. If the Bucs allow Ridder to get any confidence Falcons might become the team to beat.
Definitely a must win. Lose and you l leave the door open for the Saints. Not to mention you have just given the edge to the Falcons and are about to play the Bills.
If Bucs stuff the run again and give up 30 completions @ an 11.6 yard average it could be another L.
Mayfield has been playing close to his ceiling and needs to get back up there this week. Ridder keeps improving but is still making bad decisions. Getting more comfortable with his weapons each week and is starting to get Pitts involved. Just added Van Jefferson as an over the top threat.
Could come down to a turnover by either one of them. I’m not feeling real confident on this one at all.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:34 am
BucsfaninOregon, We already played and beat the Saints, Five division games remain.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:34 am
Any game we should win is a must win….especially a division win at home. A loss would put Atlanta in a position to win the division.
I don’t take this team lightly……we need to come out passing until we have a comfortable lead and then we need to continue an aggressive passing attack.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:35 am
“The Bucs are coming off their most putrid offensive game of the season against Detroit.”
Let’s look at Dave Canalas NFL offense stats rankings:
29th in total passing yards
32th in total rushing yards
26th in total touchdowns scored
18th in total passing touchdowns scored
27th in total rushing touchdowns scored
18th in total 3rd down conversations
Now if that was Super Bowl winning offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich stats Joe would be screaming for him to be fired and not accepting the “it takes time for players to learn thee system” excuse coaches say all the time (I mean all the friggin’ time). Jesus Christ, 29th in passing yards, 32nd in rushing yards, and 26th in total touchdowns scored??? No wonder the Bucs fans aren’t spending their hard earned cash to watch Canales “putrid” offense. Todd Bowles defense is at least sniffing the Top 10 ranked defenses, but he is just not cut out to be a head coach because he can NEVER fix the offense. Matter of fact, offenses get WORSE when he takes over as head coach. Todd Bowles just needs to stick to being a defensive coordinator and leave the head coaching gigs to offensive minded coaches.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:39 am
It might not be a “must win” but it is a “you damn sure better win” game.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:40 am
Joe: “Atlanta ranks 20th in the NFL in yards per attempt.”
Actually the NFL website has the Falcons at 19th with 6.9 yards per attempt and the Bucs WORSE at 21st with 6.7 yards per attempt. Great job by Baker.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:51 am
@ Jack Clark….
You nailed it dude.
October 20th, 2023 at 10:54 am
Todd Bowles has been here how long? How many decades has he been a defensive coordinator?
Canales has been on the job in the regular season five games. Bowles has ordered him to run (even though they don’t have a running back).
Takes time to bake a cake. Hell, Bowles’ defense didn’t click until at least halfway through the 2019 season (Daniel Jones, anyone?). Brady didn’t learn Arians’ offense until after Thanksgiving.
The Bucs are still in first place. Ease up!
October 20th, 2023 at 11:00 am
I get it you think they should throw more. Mayfield isn’t getting it done in the passing game. So what do you do. Mayfield is getting happy feet even when there is no pressure. Guess they figure that the running game is easier to fix than Mayfield. I don’t know which is easier to fix. Their jobs rely on it tho.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:06 am
If the Bucs don’t win the division, Bowles will be fired. It’s a must win for him.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:14 am
I’d rather see someone off the street than a back on this roster. It’s literally the worst in the league . What’s even worse is not even attempting to improve any of it
October 20th, 2023 at 11:20 am
We are the best of the worst division…woopy.
3-2 is only 1 game from .500
In the worst division in football this year. If Baker loses this game, against the Dirty Birds…well…we may as well play Trask.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:22 am
Bucs fans wanted a mobile quarterback. It’s ironic that now they are complaining that we don’t throw enough.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:24 am
Statguy Says
“I’d rather see someone off the street than a back on this roster. It’s literally the worst in the league . What’s even worse is not even attempting to improve any of it”
Are you talking about a certain position, or the entire roster? Because I love most of our roster, with the exception of our RBs and a couple OL guys.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:25 am
Joe Says:
October 20th, 2023 at 10:54 am
Canales has been on the job in the regular season five games. Bowles has ordered him to run (even though they don’t have a running back). Takes time to bake a cake. Hell, Bowles’ defense didn’t click until at least halfway through the 2019 season (Daniel Jones, anyone?). Brady didn’t learn Arians’ offense until after Thanksgiving. The Bucs are still in first place. Ease up!
I hear yah Joe and I agree with you. All I’m just saying is that I’m starting to lose faith in Dave Canales offense.
October 20th, 2023 at 11:30 am
Understandable.
Joe saw enough plays that were there against Detroit — just not executed well enough — that Joe has some faith in Canales. He didn’t call an awful game last Sunday. His players were awful executing the plays that were available.
And yeah, that comes back to Canales.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:17 pm
Every division game comes at a premium this season, so it is a must win game. Fortunately, its the dirty birds. We got this. No need to overthink it. Every division team has bigger questions and issues to solve than this one does. That being said, Todd Bowles job is on the line every time his team takes the field against a division opponent. He goes 3-3 and I dont think he makes it back next season. He has the better team, and more established staff. No excuses.
October 20th, 2023 at 12:56 pm
Jack Clark Baker was fast tracked by Bowles and this coaching staff has belligerently pinned themselves to him – a QB worth 4M on the FA market. Trask never had a real shot at the job.
Its madness. I don’t know what they have against Kyle it doesn’t make any sense to me.
This is not exactly a juggernaut offense and not a reason to hold back the in-house drafted guy.
If Bowles can pivot to Trask and he plays well that will be a sign of a coach who can make the tough decision.
We’ll see what happens.
October 20th, 2023 at 1:30 pm
I think if Mayfield has another bad game against the Falcons, we may see Trask being prepped for the next 10 days to start against Buffalo.
October 20th, 2023 at 1:51 pm
Joe, I’m still stuck on the fact that before the game last week, someone from One Buc Place, said the offense was better without Brady and then they went out and scored six points! They average fewer points than last year. This team is insecure and arrogant. Brady is living rent free in their head. It’s time to just move on. The Patriots weren’t this insecure when he left. My guess is that Licht or Bowles leaked to Darlington. Brady is some zen master, so I doubt he cares about those commentators. Darlington has been cut off from his tight media circle.
October 20th, 2023 at 3:33 pm
Lets be honest here. The Bucs are not winning in Buffalo, a place they’ve never won, on a short week.
This is as much of a must win game as the Bucs will have this year. Win it, and you’re still 4-3 after the Buffalo game, still in 1st place.
Lose this game, and suddenly after the Bills game you’re 3-4, having lost 4 of your 5 and you’re sinking fast.
October 20th, 2023 at 4:27 pm
Thank you BucU! 👍
October 20th, 2023 at 10:50 pm
Takes time to bake a cake, but you better have the right ingredients or it comes out looking and tasting like a loaf of bread.
October 21st, 2023 at 1:31 am
Let’s make the Falcons no demensional!
Can I place my order for six sacks here?
Go Bucs!
October 21st, 2023 at 12:16 pm
Longtime Buc fans who have witnessed all the games in the past see that the Bucs are in a rebuilding mode. Been there done that. No reason to get excited.