BSPN: Bucs Are Not NFC Title Contenders
January 19th, 2024
“Can’t win, huh?”
It was a fun win Monday night before a national TV audience in prime time. Especially when it triggered the city of Philadelphia to become completely unhinged.
Peter King told Chris “Mad Dog” Russo “The city is on fire” because Eagles fans are so bent. Sal Paolantonio of BSPN also told Russo this week that this is one of the greatest meltdowns by Eagles fans he has seen.
Joe read a story where an Eagles fan called a Philadelphia sports radio show a day or two after losing to the Bucs and ranted so out of control the host tried to calm him down. This kind gesture was met with the caller yelling at the host to “SHUT THE F@CK UP!” so the caller could continue his diatribe unabated.
Well, all this good fun ends in two days, says Dan Graziano of BSPN. Graziano loves how the Bucs turned around their season and it has been fun. But, Graziano said, it is an “overreaction” to think the Bucs will beat the Lions on Sunday and a week later take the NFC Championship and head to Vegas.
[The Lions’] personnel are drastically superior to Tampa Bay’s group. With an extra day of rest and without the pressure of having not won a playoff game in the 21-year history of their own stadium, the Lions have more than enough to beat the Bucs. Tampa Bay deserves a ton of credit for the season it had, and Mayfield deserves a contract extension. But I don’t see how this team belongs in the same conversation as the 49ers and Lions at this point.
Joe doesn’t believe Graziano is off base saying the Lions on paper have a better team, but let’s think about this.
In Week 3 the Bucs got clobbered by Philadelphia by 14 points at home in The Licht House. Three weeks later at home, the Bucs lost to Detroit by — take a guess — 14 points.
We heard all last week that the Bucs were a different team now than they were in September. Well, are they not also a different team than they were in October?
No, the Bucs aren’t the favorite. Neither were the Packers last week when they played the Cowboys. How did that turn out?
Favre is the most shocking part of this graphic, right? 😅 pic.twitter.com/Q5hwG7YThF
— Salty Buccaneer🧂🏴☠️🟥🟧⬜️ (@SaltyBuc91) January 19, 2024
January 19th, 2024 at 9:05 am
I think a lot of people have thought the Bucs aren’t contenders since the beginning of the year.
That being said they are 1 win away from an NFC Championship game and 2 wins away from a Superbowl. They are most definitely contenders and with how hot they are are certainly dangerous.
Any given Sunday. Lets Go Bucs!
January 19th, 2024 at 9:06 am
Lions 31
Bucs 3
January 19th, 2024 at 9:07 am
While I have to agree the Bucs are underdogs…..anything can happen on any Sunday….even in the playoffs.
All it takes is a very good defensive effort…..no turnovers, and we can make a game out of this.
We are not getting the credit we deserve for the Eagles victory…..all the focus is on how bad the Eagles were….not how GOOD we were.
January 19th, 2024 at 9:08 am
Yeah. People are making narratives to fit their beliefs. They want lions to have a “Cinderella magical team of destiny wins SB.” Lions are a good team that has been in rebuild mode last two years and is in playoff mode while Bucs are in year one of rebuild. We are far ahead of where many thought us to be so they double down on the two narratives: Lions are great and Bucs are bad. Lions will be cocky and as Joe has pointed out, we have rookies and SB veterans. That means something to have those veterans who went through Saints in playoffs and won. I believe we can win if we have the right plan on offense/defense, execute and be physical. Three things we did not do the first game.
January 19th, 2024 at 9:10 am
can we win on moxie alone…?
just maybe…just maybe…
#BakerMaybeField
January 19th, 2024 at 9:13 am
Boss you and David must be brothers and NE fan must be your sister, You are the biggest bunch of trolls I have ever seen. And when the bucs win you will make some lame excuse why the lions lost.
January 19th, 2024 at 9:14 am
bucs are gonna have to hang tough in the first quarter…
none of this down 13-3 at the end of the first quarter type ish…
i think a dogfight in the first quarter equals a dogfight throughout…
and i think our dog will bite bigger as the game wears on, if we are in the ball game…
detroit has layed a few eggs this year, and we’ve had our share of “clunkers”
January 19th, 2024 at 9:20 am
Paratròoper said, ” I believe we can win if we have the right plan on offense/defense, execute and be physical. Three things we did not do the first game.” reffering to the first game against Detoit.
I couldn’t agree more!!!! Seemed to work out well last Monday!!!! LFG!!
January 19th, 2024 at 9:23 am
What does BSPN stand for. Never heard of it. EsPN yes but not that.
January 19th, 2024 at 9:24 am
BS pn
January 19th, 2024 at 9:25 am
Bigger chip on Bakers shoulder. Keep the trash talk coming.
January 19th, 2024 at 9:25 am
Its a nickname for the same
January 19th, 2024 at 9:25 am
The Lions have been in rebuild mode for 30 years with I believe their last division title being in 1993. We think the lost decade was hard for us how’d you like to have survived being a Lions fan for almost a generation? We’re gonna win this sucker!
January 19th, 2024 at 9:30 am
The match up everywhere with Detroit. With one exception. Quarterback……Goff is more consistent. The bucks don’t really know if the under 50yds in the first half Mayfield shows up…..or the Mayfield that played against the eagles shows up. I personally have no clue why he disappears in half’s and games. I think the bucs defense is playing championship ball right now. The o line is respectable….and the receivers are the best in the league. White is top notch receiver out of the back field. The only baffling question is the totally unpredictable play of Mayfield. Go bucs!!!!!!!
January 19th, 2024 at 9:33 am
ESPN has the same agenda they always do: drive eyeballs by pumping up the popular franchises. The Lions are the flavor-of-the-month only because the Cowboys and Eagles spat the bit. If this was Lions vs. Cowboys, they would be all over Dallas.
The Lions will likely win due to home field and a (slightly) superior roster, but a motivated, focused Bucs team has a puncher’s chance.
January 19th, 2024 at 9:40 am
Mark
Agree with your post and would add that market size impacts some of this as well.
Philly and Detroit both have much larger markets, eyeballs for games, than Tampa.
And you know what. I’m going to dump my sunny persona and go all grumpy old man. I’ve had enough. I like our growth for guys earning a living, for everybody else it’s starting to suck. Am I the only one here is very happy with the size of our market as it is or do we long to be “large” like Philly or Chicago or NYC. I love all of those cities…to visit…NEVER to live in that crush of humanity.
OK perhaps I should change my moniker to grumpy ole man. LOL
January 19th, 2024 at 9:42 am
So Baker had a great game against GB then Jax and finished with those two dismal performances against NO and Carolina. Is it possible that he was playing hurt in those games? Is it possible that the ribs impacted his throwing especially on deep balls? Just askin’.
January 19th, 2024 at 9:42 am
there was a study done on men who qualify as trolls on sports boards…and the study showed that 70% of them had a micro-penis…and 38% live in a basement dwelling of some type…while 16% sleep in a molded area
January 19th, 2024 at 9:46 am
Campbell’s passion is second to none. This passion is transferred to the players. Can’t remotely say the same about Bowles. Your only hope is their adrenaline is so high they make mistakes and big.ones. Remember the 2020 Bucs PO’s and SB how motivated the team was? That’s what Bucs will be facing with the Lions. Their DB’s aren’t great but neither are yours and their QB is better and far more experienced at winning. Goff winning percentage 57% Mayfield 47%. I like the Lions chances.
January 19th, 2024 at 9:46 am
If you are in the playoffs, you are a contender.
January 19th, 2024 at 9:54 am
This is good, Bucs usually show up and play well as underdogs in the playoffs. It’s when everybody jumps on their nutz that they choke.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:07 am
I watched a PFF video last week, both guys said the Eagles had superior talent and would smoke the Bucs…This week they’re saying the Bucs didn’t do anything by beating a garbage team in the Eagles, and will get throttled by the Lions. Okay. We’ll see.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:10 am
TBH, I am not too in awe over the Lions and their extreme greatness. Can’t wait until victory Monday in a couple days.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:13 am
Bucs are undefeated against the Lions in head-to-head playoff games.
They even beat Barry Sanders team during his MVP season.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:17 am
Maybe, maybe not
I feel better about the Buc’s chances than I did during that 7-game swoon…which included eggs against the Iggles, Lions, and 9ers.
I don’t know the outcome, but I give them a chance…IF they come out on fire, get to the QB, and don’t drop passes.
This is THE game for the CBs to really step up.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:21 am
It would be a much bigger upset for Houston or Green Bay to win.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:28 am
GO BUCS!
January 19th, 2024 at 10:37 am
I don’t even believe that the Lions have better Talent. What they do have is a hell of a lot better coaching. Todd was gifted the most favorable schedule in the first playoff game imaginable. I also don’t think it’s fair to compare the Eagles in week 3 to the ones we just played in the playoffs. let’s be honest the last 8 weeks the Philadelphia Eagles are absolutely not a playoff team, another gift yet again from the football gods. Sooner or later Todd’s luck has to run out.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:48 am
Go Bucs
January 19th, 2024 at 10:55 am
I think the Lions are better at run game personnel, their QB has played a notch above Baker, and perhaps the O-line is better overall than ours (especially our center and RG).
But I’d say our D is better overall.
This game could go either way. Lions SHOULD win on paper, but the Bucs could win this by ten. We really need to produce a turnover or two.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:57 am
The Key is Goff. He must feel interior pressure. Klancey must have a monster game. Baker excels out of pocket, Goff is sometimes shakery…Win turnover battle , and win the game.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:58 am
Vegas Baby!
January 19th, 2024 at 11:08 am
EVERY team remaining in the playoffs has had some excellent games and some real stinkers. Lions, for instance, have a potent offense, but they only scored 6 points against the Ravens (loss) and 13 points against the Bears (another loss). In the loss to the Ravens their running game stunk. In their loss to the Bears their offense made 3 turnovers that doomed them. It happens.
Yes we lost 20-6 back in October, but our offense stunk it up that game by scoring only 2 FGs. Our running game sucked (16 runs for 46 yards … 2.9 YPC) and our passing game was just as bad (19-for-37 (51.3%) for 206 yards, 0 TDs & 1 INT). Going 3-for-14 on 3rd/4th down conversions didn’t help much. It wasn’t that the Detroit defense was great that day, we just stunk.
Our defense did very well that game shutting down their run game (22 runs for 40 yards … 1.8 YPC) but apparently focused too intently on that because Goff made us pay in the passing game (30-for-44 (68.2%) for 353 yards, 2 TDs & 0 INTs). We let them go 9-for-16 on 3rd down conversions & roll up 36:30 minutes in TOP.
BOTH sides of our team are considerably better than that now. Only question in my mind is ‘Which Bucs team will show up?’
January 19th, 2024 at 11:17 am
Few have been more critical of Bowels and Canales than I have. Especially during the last saints game. The frustrating thing that bothers me is I know that if the Bucs play the lions like they played the packers, they’ll monkey stomp them. Which team shows up? Let’s hope it’s the great version. Anyway, I’m picking the Bucs 30-27. Go Bucs! I’m holding up hope until it’s all over.
January 19th, 2024 at 11:23 am
Bucs are expected to lose, heck they probably will. The best thing they got going is they are riding a high, this Bucs team right now is the best this Bucs team can be. It’s the NFL, anything can happen. I think the Lions are the ones with pressure in their brains. The Bucs are going to be loose for this game, I expect the Lions to be a little tight, especially when the game starts so the Bucs need to give them a nice gut punch in the first couple of series. And lastly, the little QB that Could, always shows up at the end. If the Bucs are within 8-points watch the fireworks. GoBucs!
January 19th, 2024 at 11:26 am
1. THE RAY OF HOPE
In Philly, we saw Bowles and Canales deploy schemes and personnel that was both new and optimized for the opponent. They didn’t do that all season. Those subtle twists can be game altering. Detroit won’t be facing the same Bucs team.
2. DOUBTING THE BUCS
The Lions are “drastically superior” to the Bucs. It’s the exact same thinking as the Bucs will finish last in the division, won’t win 4 games, not favored in a single game.
No one is drastically superior to Vea, LVD, Winfield or Wirfs, Evans, Godwin
January 19th, 2024 at 11:37 am
I think we match up pretty well. They played with a ton more intensity than us in the regular season but if we bring even like 80% of what we did to the Eagles then our defense is easily better than theirs IMO.
The pass rush and run D has come alive along with a healthy and well-playing tandem of CBs/S in Dean/Davis/Winfield/Zyon. They have a better O-line and RB’s. We have better WRs and they have a better TE.
QB maybe a toss up but Goff does less well under pressure and is less mobile than Shake n Bake.
January 19th, 2024 at 11:38 am
@Defense Rules
I think there were a few missed passes by Baker and a couple drops that by themselves would have been like 100+ yards and 2 TD’s. It’s crazy how a few plays can swing things that hard
January 19th, 2024 at 11:39 am
Everyone talks about how Baker can be up and down, and it is definitely deserved.
But people seem to forget Goff has a stinker of a game in him as well.
January 19th, 2024 at 11:53 am
good offenses have exposed Bowles as outdated in this passing league running up the score on the Bucs and it will show again Sunday…. unfortunately!
Lions 31
Bucs 17
January 19th, 2024 at 12:04 pm
I don’t think the Lions are vastly better on paper. Amon-Ra St. Brown is Chris Godwin with more targets and a fancy name. Jameson Williams had 24 catches.
The 49ers are scary, but the Lions seem to be at about the same level of talent as the Bucs.
January 19th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
LIONS 125 Bucs 3
Heard it here first folks.
January 19th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
It will be hard to beat The Lions at home with what is at stake. We either are going to beat them by eight to twelve points or it will be a three touch-down loss. Stop poking the Buc bear while it is in the cage. Once it gets released it looks for the first sucker to pounce on so anything disguised as a Lion could potentially be mauled. Once again no-one is giving us a shot, I couldn’t care less. Are we capable, absolutely, can we, we will see.
January 19th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
I think counting the Bucs out is a great thing. Makes more bulletin board material for the Bucs to use. The key for the Bucs is to feel like they have nothing to lose and put pressure on the Lions. Just go out and kick ass. Swing for the fences on Sunday. Hope the D steps up!
January 19th, 2024 at 12:21 pm
…,[The Lions] personnel are drastically superior to the Tampa Bay group…..
I disagree “drastically” with this statement !
Even the lowly painters won a couple of games this year.
Much like professional auto racing, where the driver’s skills are more likely to determine the outcome of the race, coaching will be the determinate factor in this game.
Can Bowles and Canales develop a game plan that will match up strengths and weaknesses?
This will determine the outcome far more than any talking head’s opinions about talent.
If Bowles won’t let the offense get out of second gear, we’ll lose the race. If he lets them redline it, we can win running away.
Open the throttle and let’s dust em!
January 19th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
they key is to keep our defense fresh… if i was Detroit i would wear them down and keep them on the field… if we minimize 3 and outs and turnovers, we have a chance
January 19th, 2024 at 12:32 pm
Good. Put Graziano’s statement up on the board right next to the Lions DB statement.
January 19th, 2024 at 12:39 pm
I was nervous Monday night. The Buccaneers laid a few eggs as the national game lately. Philadelphia, well, I hate Philadelphia because… Philadelphia.
And we have a playoff history with them.
But damn, the Buccaneers played well, and it’s almost like Baker saw this coming when he signed on.
Detroit has been a great story all season and they’ve ended better than I thought. I confess I trolled the fans pretty hard after week one. The K.C. victory wasn’t a fluke. I don’t respect that 6.5 line.
Go get ’em Bucs!
January 19th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Lord C … ‘It’s crazy how a few plays can swing things that hard’.
Agree with that 100%. Teams are really quite closely matched at the NFL level. Big plays tend to cascade into more big plays, but the same goes for big plays NOT made. Why I don’t know, but I seem to see it consistently as I look for that more & more.
Monday night’s game against Philly was a good example IMO. In the very 1st drive, Mayfield completed a 15-yard short pass over the middle to Otton for a 1st down. BIG PLAY. What followed? A 21-yard deep pass to Evans for another 1st down. Another BIG PLAY. What followed that ? 3 straight runs by White that gained 19 yards, including another 1st down. We subsequently stalled out with 2 incomplete passes, but were able to salvage a FG on that initial drive.
Then after forcing the Eagles to punt, Bucs got another BIG PLAY when Mayfield hit Moore with a 22-yard deep pass for a 1st down, that even included a 15-yard face mask penalty on Cunningham as gravy. Third play after that Mayfield hits Moore with a short pass that Moore took 44 yards (BIG PLAY) and a TD. Bucs ahead 10-0 barely halfway through the 1st quarter.
So just on those 2 initial drives, Bucs had FOUR BIG PLAYS that got them a 10 point lead. Guys fed off each other. Happened several times throughout the game, and we ended up scoring 32 points, more than we did in any of our previous 7 playoff games in 2020, 2021 or 2022. This team seems to feed off BIG PLAYS, on offense AND on defense. IF we can continue that against the Lions, we can beat them.
January 19th, 2024 at 12:48 pm
Biggest thing the Bucs are going to need to do on Sunday is keep Baker upright and give him time. If that means bringing in an extra blocker, do it! Give Baker and these receivers time to shred the defense. Use the pass to try and setup the run (even tho the Lions run d is very good).
And stop dropping the balls!!!
January 19th, 2024 at 1:06 pm
And all this.time I thought BSPN stood for Brooklyn Sports Network.
January 19th, 2024 at 1:13 pm
At this point everything is gravy. Play fast, loose and aggressive. Either win big or lose big. Everybody expects the Bucs to lose to this “vastly superior” team. How do you beat Goliath. By being bold and take risks.
January 19th, 2024 at 1:25 pm
Bucs secret weapon is a lot of veterans who have been to the big dance. Get a lead and watch the Lions panic. In my view they won their Superbowl last week and lose it at the first sign of adversity. Bucs by 10
January 19th, 2024 at 2:09 pm
And to think, the Bucs tried to trade for Favre, had they done so, they’d have owned that chart for sloppy seconds.
January 19th, 2024 at 2:12 pm
I had a ton of fun listening to Eagles podcasts this week. The hole city is such terrible people, it’s fun when bad things happen to them and they have a complete meltdown. However it was disappointing that basically everyone up there had the Eagles losing, so the intense white hot burn down the entire city mentality I was hoping for wasn’t there, but that didn’t take away from it too much.
January 19th, 2024 at 2:33 pm
Boss, tye and ummm how bout you go F—K yourselves nasty trolls
January 19th, 2024 at 3:25 pm
I gotta say…I’m getting a really good feeling about this next game.
January 19th, 2024 at 3:51 pm
@ProudBucFan
Don’t leave out the certified bridge dwelling Troll NE. She’s a sad joke of large proportions.
What a bunch of pathetic people. Wormy and bathing in their own excrement. That group is Truly GROSS! Imagine how they smell! The stink pouring off of them would make big foot throw up!
There is another that you didn’t mention. And I’m glad you didn’t for one good reason. “David”. To me he does troll Baker Mayfield cultists but I believe he’s an Actual Buccaneers fan. That puts him a Clear cut above the others. Dave’s trolling but he’s still a fan. Not that I bother reading much of what he talks about because Dave gets a bit too far, too often, but he’s in an internal fight.
The others, like I said…. GROSS! Those creepy morons swim, eat and Drink Deep …. Excrement!
Man I wish the Joe’s would get rid of them. They shat All Over JBF itself and they let them do it. I Do Not know why. They let us all get away with some not cool stuff from time to time but that group of low lifes…… Uffff!
GO BUCS
January 19th, 2024 at 3:55 pm
I will say this, the Lions and Goff had a couple clunker games over the last six weeks of the season. I don’t think they put together a four game win streak all year.
January 19th, 2024 at 4:01 pm
Agree Bonzai, in fact i have a really good feeling.
The Bucs are playing now with house money and NO real pressure. They have totally obiterated their preseason expectations and have not only made the playoffs but avoided the dreaded “One and done!”.
I’m more concerned that BOTH teams play to their potential and neither team chokes. Like to see the Bucs win it with a last second FG, don’t need to embarrass the Lions or their fans, they’ve suffered enough.
I think kicking could be a true advantage for the Bucs. McGlaughlin has been fire this season and has range. I didn’t know who kicked for Detroit so I looked it up.
First thought was uh oh…and then…well check out Michael Badgley’s season.
First he made freaking 100% of his FG attempts, tied for first in the league.
Uh Oh.
But look deeper. In addition to the advantage he has with half his games indoors look at his results..
Yeah 100% on FG’s but he was only good for 86.7% of his Xtra points that’s tied for 34th!!!!
And even though he kicks indoors a lot his longest was 41yards!!! In a dome!
That’s 37th in a 32 team league. He has a noodle leg apparently. In fairness he was a late addition and has only played in five games. In those five games however he only has 3 FG attempts…perhaps the Lions offense scores so many TD’s they don’t need him?
Bottom line for me is I like the Bucs kicking game against the Lions. If the game is close in the 4th Q that could effect even playcalling if Campbell feels he must be well inside the 40 for an attempt.
January 19th, 2024 at 4:45 pm
Boss I will give you 10 to 1 at 100$ that the lions win by 30….. No? You don’t want to back up your BS comment with cash? Then shut your mouth.
January 19th, 2024 at 4:51 pm
So Ne fan old Bill is a firecracker on the sideline, as per normal you have a idiotic view point, be a man of your word and never comment on this site again…… ohhh Wait you can’t do that because you are not a man, just a cry baby, conspiracy theory, little b.
January 19th, 2024 at 5:37 pm
Honestly, this team isn’t good. Tampa has been lucky to play weak and imploding teams. Huge loss coming Sunday.
January 19th, 2024 at 5:41 pm
All those BSPN guys do is talk trash about the Bucs. We ain’t even supposed to be where we are, remember that ?? So you were wrong, could you swallow a little of that courage and admit it ?? Myth talkers. BS runs from their mouths, but where are they on Sunday? Watching the Bucs prove them wrong.. it’s not the dog in the fight but what. Perseverance, Bucs Life can hardly ever hear anything good from them. Even after winning the Superbowl all the Bucs got was a pat and then a kick in the @ss from BSPN… I remember years of if you’re lucky you might see something on ESPN but really probably not. Let the Lions get to this point and break the best of everything this year.
January 19th, 2024 at 7:17 pm
We can do rosters and x’s n o’s and history and all that jazz but who the hell ever knows come game day anymore. We ALL shall see come Sunday! Go Bucs!
January 20th, 2024 at 12:52 am
@Stpetebucsfan Baker got hurt at the end of the New Orleans game …but ill give you the Carolina game…but non baker haters just realists see due to athletic ability he may never be Elite like the greats and thats ok. If he improves he has a shot , 2y deal but until shes the “right one” who brings everything to the table your always lookng for the hotter all around chick.. Excuse the Metaphor but we are in Tampa Bay lol GO BUCS!!!
January 20th, 2024 at 1:40 am
The Lions have not exactly been consistent world beaters either. I do NOT believe they are that much better on paper. They definitely are good though and Bowles needs to bring out a great D plan again to stop Gibbs and Amon.
January 20th, 2024 at 8:51 am
As of Monday night there were four teams in the NFC who are contenders!
I think that is why we play the games?
Graziano needs to find another line of work! That is unfortunately what sports journalism has become. A bunch of cheap shot artists! Anything to get views and clicks….
Go Bucs!
January 20th, 2024 at 10:48 am
Defense wins championships and the Buccs defense can keep up with any team. It’s just a matter if their offense can click! Buccs vs the 9ers is a high possibility.
January 20th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Bucs are my team Defense will keep it close Baker just needs to heat the offense up and do what he does shake and bake us a trip to the division title game and the rest will be history
January 21st, 2024 at 7:41 am
Can’t believe there are actually still people who believe anything the ESPN know -nothing’s have to say. Anybody who knew anything on ESPN was let go long ago. So sad how many know-nothings are on here making ignorant comments. If you have nothing productive to say then piss off. Whether the Bucs win or lose today, Baker took us to a place no Bucs fan expected to be this year, except those of us who have been Baker fans since he walked on at the first college and took the starting job. We know how tough he is. Give the kids some credit and stick your stats and your hate, you know where.We don’t need you losers dragging the team or the fans down today.