Bucs Remain Dangerous Potential Contenders
October 27th, 2024
Joe is only hurling facts here.
First, one of the safest bets in NFL history is wagering on a team that averages 29 or 30 points per game to make the playoffs. They’re going barring an epic disaster.
After today’s gut-punch loss to Atlanta 31-26, the Bucs have played eight games and are averaging 29.3 points per game.
The Bucs have posted big scoring numbers (yardage numbers, too) through various injuries to key offensive players. Now, the offensive line is playing extraordinarily well and is healthy, and the Bucs have a legitimate running game.
Even with injuries to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, the Bucs offense showed no signs of slowing today. Yeah, those losses of Evans (a month) and Godwin (the regular season) might prove devastating, but they did not today. The Bucs still scored, despite three costly turnovers.
Lastly, Joe will point to the Bucs’ schedule. Tampa Bay closes the season after the bye week with seven games against teams with a combined current record of 15-35. That’s right. The combined record is 15-35 as of this evening.
Before the bye, Tampa Bay (4-4) faces the undefeated Chiefs and the sub-.500 49ers.
If the Bucs keep racking up points, Joe is confident the Bucs can still win 10 games without even posting an upset.
That might feel unrealistic tonight, but Joe can’t deny the reality. There are plenty of teams on the Bucs schedule that simply cannot handle playing a powerful offense.
October 27th, 2024 at 7:49 pm
If the Bucs weren’t robbed by the officials in that first Atlanta game, they’d be 5-3 right now, and I think everyone would feel dramatically better about their chances once Evans got back.
But 4-4 is almost certainly about to become 4-6. And this isn’t the same NFC South as previous years when you can win it by going 8-9.
October 27th, 2024 at 7:49 pm
Not with Bowles and his propensity for bad decisions.
October 27th, 2024 at 7:50 pm
It’s the defense…st*pid…(not aimed at Joe)
October 27th, 2024 at 7:52 pm
Washington converted their hail mary.
October 27th, 2024 at 7:52 pm
Not with this crap ass defense.
October 27th, 2024 at 7:53 pm
I believe we can run the table after the bye. Hoping to steal one on KC!!!
October 27th, 2024 at 7:53 pm
Derek Says:
October 27th, 2024 at 7:52 pm
Washington converted their hail mary.
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Amazing things can happen when you keep the ball in the field of play.
October 27th, 2024 at 7:54 pm
got curb stomped and humiliated by the ravens at home, and lost twice to a pretty lousy falcons team
October 27th, 2024 at 7:55 pm
Hold on wait I thought before this game you said the Dixie chicks defense is just not that good so yea we put up points. If Todd Bowles is the head coach this team will never be a contender. Even the three headed monster talk. We thought they’d run the ball more losing Mike and Chris so how dos Tucker only get two carries, what else does this guy have to prove? I’ll start thinking contenders when the Glazers do and go get a real head coach
October 27th, 2024 at 7:55 pm
Bucs moved the ball all over the field today. The interceptions were great defensive plays but not the reason this game was lost. The defense is offensive. Cousins, an immobile QB, feasts on Bucs nonexistent defense. Cousins is like a statue in the pocket and yet Bucs have been unable to generate pressure on him.
October 27th, 2024 at 7:58 pm
Yes, there is some hope if can even play average defense.
October 27th, 2024 at 7:59 pm
HAHA I don’t care if the offense puts up 45 a game. No one is winning 10 games with this soft Bowles defense.
October 27th, 2024 at 8:01 pm
The Bucs are not contending for anything but the worst defense in the league. Don’t care how many points the offense scores, the defense can’t stop a high school team.
Warren Sapp told the offense to just get 16 points and the defense would win the game. The current defense needs 50 points to win the game. 29.3 points won’t win anything. Today was a prime example. Terrible performance by the defense and another coaching turd laid by our defensive genius. The salary cap is finally catching up to this team.
October 27th, 2024 at 8:02 pm
Trying to understand while watching the the Panthers v. Broncos game there was a camera on the goal line on a few plays but no camera in Tampa for the Winfield caused fumble. I know it was a throwback game, does that mean they used the old way of camera usage
October 27th, 2024 at 8:03 pm
I will no longer go see Kirk cousins play. He owns me. I was the at “you lkke that game!” And in Tampa today.
Please fix the D Todd!
October 27th, 2024 at 8:04 pm
The offense also have to quit turning the ball over
October 27th, 2024 at 8:04 pm
I love the optimism
the last 3 weeks have been brutal though
hard to imagine a turnaround on D
October 27th, 2024 at 8:09 pm
Buc4evr Says:
October 27th, 2024 at 8:01 pm
The Bucs are not contending for anything but the worst defense in the league. Don’t care how many points the offense scores, the defense can’t stop a high school team.
==================================
That about says it all. Even if by some miracle the Bucs make it to the playoffs, this team will be non-competitive with a nonexistent defense. You can talk about miscommunication, missed assignments, and all that, but biggest problem is the defense lacks talent.
October 27th, 2024 at 8:15 pm
well we will have to get in as a wildcard cause it looks like the Falcons have this division wrapped up.
October 27th, 2024 at 8:16 pm
BALDERDASH!!!!!!!!!!!
October 27th, 2024 at 8:18 pm
To me Joe, that’s wishful thinking. Sure our offense can score points even with Baker throwing 2 to 3 interceptions per game lately but the problem I see is, when the offense is clicking the defense usually gives the game away or vice versa. When the defense is clicking the offense blow the game with penalties and turnovers. Is this on the head coach, the position coaches or who? I am done hoping been hoping the last 2 years only to be disappointed
October 27th, 2024 at 8:18 pm
Probably be 4-6 at bye get healthy make some adjustments then only loss will probably be to Chargers. I can see 10-7 and still winning division. Really just need to get in playoffs and see what happens.
I don’t know if we can fix he defense with no pass rusher but we need to replace Dean and Britt in this next draft.
Sadly I doubt we resign Godwin maybe use that money to go get some pass rushers I assume we will draft one in first round in fact I’d draft nothing but edge rushers this season.
October 27th, 2024 at 8:26 pm
So Bucs fans, my point is why the hell is our defense so bad now? Plenty of good players but the same out come, blown game and most important games at that. I am looking at Bowles. I maybe wrong but that’s the way I see it right now
October 27th, 2024 at 8:26 pm
As bad as they were, both games against Atlanta should have gone the other way but for bad calls by the zebras.
And I’m not just talking about the game changers that delivered the games to the dirty birds.
We’re good enough to win against any ‘team’ in the NFL, but not good enough to ‘play past the refs’.
Doesn’t anyone wonder why, in both of our super bowls, where we were serious underdogs, that we totally DESTROYED our opponents?
It’s because, under the national spotlight, for the championship, the zebras had to call it clean.
So nice to be playing against only one team at a time.
Gotta get to the super bowl for that to happen.
October 27th, 2024 at 8:28 pm
Can u imagine if we gave the Sapp and Brooks and co. BUCS 30 points a game!? Look out 72 dolphins, this D needs 50, sad
October 27th, 2024 at 8:29 pm
JTS, as visible as air. And less effective.
Britt. Slower than the offspring of a tortoise and a sloth.
Every DB except Winfield, pathetic.
Now go beat KC.
October 27th, 2024 at 8:34 pm
This team is regressing…..
October 27th, 2024 at 8:34 pm
Something being overlooked was the big day by our new punter! A 42 NET average! That is game changing if he can keep it up.
Stats: 1 Punt, 42 yards, No return.
October 27th, 2024 at 8:39 pm
The only danger about us is todd flirting with the male cheerleader….
October 27th, 2024 at 8:43 pm
I feel like each time you make articles like this you jinx our chances
October 27th, 2024 at 8:43 pm
I read the title and literally spewed a mouthful all over the room .
Bwahahahahahaaahahahaaa.
That is a knee slapper, a real whoopee cushion of a headline. Is there intel to suggest the Lovie Smith / Mike Smith clone for running a defense is getting fired before the next Bucs practice? That’s the only way “contender” factors in.
Otherwise a promising season with a better than average roster missing its two most important weapons and still having a chance to win a game the defense once again fecally smeared is over.
October 27th, 2024 at 8:51 pm
9-8. We’ll sneak in… baker 21 tds already. 28 all last year. Cut back the ints, and I like our chances..
October 27th, 2024 at 8:54 pm
They could of been a contender! But the other teams scored more points.
October 27th, 2024 at 8:58 pm
Doesn’t matter if the offense scores 25-30 points every game if we are going to be outscored every week due to this defense.
October 27th, 2024 at 9:01 pm
Todd is great. Todd is good. Todd bless the Bucs.
October 27th, 2024 at 9:06 pm
This defense doesn’t have much talent other than Vea, LVD, Winfield, McCollum. Kancy and YaYa may develop more. Otherwise, they are all backups and worse. Like Funderburk or whatever 24’s name is. lol. Secondary is a total mess, no edge rush and slow LBs that can’t tackle or cover. No pressure from Dline. Overall a total disaster. Weak and slow overall, and somewhat stupid players in the secondary. Todd has a bunch of morons running around and his same old defensive schemes are not helping. Stubborn coach never moved on from Hall and JTS. It’s going to cost him his job.
October 27th, 2024 at 9:16 pm
I think we still have a shot at 10 wins, we might even come out of the bye and run the table for the last 7 games. We are currently favored in all of them which would put us at 11 wins. If we can steal win against either the Chiefs or 49ers and then run the table we could be a 12 win team. Big question for the Bucs now is how well do the Falcons play out their season.
October 27th, 2024 at 9:17 pm
Lots to like. Defense gave up 5 points in the second half. 7-2(safety). Both interceptions yielded 0 points. Meaning the defense really getting after it. First interception receiver should catch but he learned a hard lesson it was taken from him by that darn safety. Learning these new receivers not easy. Britt made some good plays. Brewer 2sacks. Otten wow. Erase big plays DR outlined and we are there. We’re getting better but not fast enough to satisfy our fans. And a running game- looking great! Except that same darn safety dislodging that ball from White. Hurry defense I know you got it in you. We’re a team that is very close – let’s see how we close this back half out.
October 27th, 2024 at 10:15 pm
This team with this defense will not make the postseason.
October 27th, 2024 at 10:22 pm
They need to spend a week on tackling
October 27th, 2024 at 10:27 pm
Impossible to win the division now, even if they get to 10 wins. ATL is too far ahead and has a weak schedule.
And I don’t think 10 wins gets into the playoffs this year in the NFC.
Imagine if our offense didn’t have 3 turnovers… pretty sure that would have closed the 5 point gap.
October 27th, 2024 at 10:28 pm
@Nicholas Carleton – how would they do that? Bowles doesn’t let them touch each other.
Coach softer than charmin runs the softest training camp and practices in the league and gives them extra days off after every win.
October 27th, 2024 at 10:28 pm
*Carlson
October 27th, 2024 at 10:51 pm
This team is among the bottom four scoring defenses in the NFL.
The O is not the problem.
I get sick watching teams gash this D bunch.
October 27th, 2024 at 11:41 pm
In all honesty, this is probably a 7 or 8 win team. The Bucs could beat Carolina, the Saints again and possibly Vegas or the Giants but with the state of the D, I do not see this team getting to 10 wins… Probably will pick in the teens in next year’s draft for the new head coach.
October 27th, 2024 at 11:44 pm
Baker is middle of the pack, serviceable but far from elite.
Found a couple young running backs.
Defense is terrible.
That’s it… that’s 2024. Season is going nowhere. They have zero room for error now because the Falcons schedule only has about 4 potential losses on it… so 10-7 without tie breakers, so the Bucs basically have to finish the year at 7-3 to make the playoffs.
October 28th, 2024 at 4:08 am
Every Tampa Bay and NFL fan knows what it takes to win a SB.
It’s not that difficult to understand, football is one of the most exciting team sports there is and may ever be arguably. We still have holes and that’s why Baker and company have struggled by the needle of a threat this year.
I’m not really too surprised because TB Bucs refuse to look for help in areas where we are weak. They have the cap space and don’t wish to sign anyone for depth and help where it’s needed. This is what they have needed. A skilled ILB next to LVD. Someone with size speed and can cover the field as well as tackle. Kj Britt then being pushed back to Special Teams.
That makes the team a syringed unit. As much as I wish ti like Britt he’s not the guy. Then we also have to find CB depth there are vets who can step in right away into that role and lead us. We just ignore the idea of someone else stepping in to be the hero because many feel it’s not worth it.
We then also have the same problem at G which they can solve if they start Robert Hainsey at C and slide Graham Barton at LG. They don’t want to accept we could be a stronger team and unit by improving on just a few petty errors. Whatever keep losing games we could’ve won and accept being a loser all year.
October 28th, 2024 at 4:12 am
@FtMyersDave –
TB will win 8 games very easily I think those 4 teams are obviously being checked down already as wins. We’re good enough to win those right now. It’s the rest of the games we need to start winning. We can’t do it without help and Jason Licht and ownership clearly doesn’t want to help. Well no help no wins. Idiots. Cause now what’s gonna happen is people will slowly quit showing up to games because they didn’t wanna pay to keep fans and stadium full.
October 28th, 2024 at 4:16 am
ViewFrom132 –
Baker honestly isn’t that bad, he has high ceiling and potential. The team surrounding him has to do their part every game. He has a great group of RBs. Solid starting OL. WRs for days when fully healthy. Another pass catching TE would help and also a more well rounded LG, ILB , and CB1 or CB2.
We’re not far from being where we need to be. It’s really a shame because had Tampa tried to fix those problems before the season started we’d have a 10-14 game winning season. Now we’re going to struggle going 0.500 again. Ugh.
October 28th, 2024 at 5:49 am
even though there are more than 2 plays that could have had us win the game the 2 that stand out to me
1. fake punt
2. Curt cousins running for 9 yards-Brady was faster than him
those two stand out to me as they were both critical plays.
October 28th, 2024 at 5:50 am
Right on, Joe!
Let em bake Says: “9-8. We’ll sneak in… baker 21 tds already. 28 all last year. Cut back the ints, and I like our chances..”
^Agreed^ It’s not over yet.
October 28th, 2024 at 5:59 am
This is not a playoff team. This is not a playoff defense. Just stop the 10 win nonsense. We’re not going to win the division, we’re not going to the playoffs, we’re not winning 10 games. Be lucky to win 4 more, and finish 8-9.
October 28th, 2024 at 6:03 am
4-6 at the bye week. Season started out so promising
October 28th, 2024 at 6:20 am
If Tampa averaged 42 points a game our D would average 45 points against.
I tried to get on board with Bowles as he seems like nice dude, but he had lost his defensive guru status and is no way head coach material.
In fact he was foisted on us by BA like Kamala via Democrat party.
October 28th, 2024 at 7:42 am
@viewfrom132 – what are you talking about? BM is 2nd in passing yards, 1st in TDs, 3rd in completion percentage, 6th in rating, and 6th in passes over 20 yards. The only thing he hasn’t been good at is passes over 40+ yards and his recent increase in interceptions. Even with his increase in interceptions recently he is tied with Mahomes and Love and there are a whole bunch of other QBs at 7-8 interceptions.
October 28th, 2024 at 8:48 am
Usfbuc Says:
October 28th, 2024 at 7:42 am
@viewfrom132 – what are you talking about? BM is 2nd in passing yards, 1st in TDs, 3rd in completion percentage, 6th in rating, and 6th in passes over 20 yards.
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Facts don’t interest couch potato fans.
October 28th, 2024 at 9:07 am
Of all the Buc problems, Mayfield ain’t one of them…
October 28th, 2024 at 10:00 am
I’m rooting for Nick Bosa.
🙂
October 28th, 2024 at 11:16 am
Seriously ???
The Offense for the most part is producing and is better that i expected despite a few crucial mistakes.
But this is not Tennis. The Offense does not play alone with the opposing Defense. Our Defense will aslo play in the games.
Come on guys. We can spin it 50 times around but that dont change the fact that this team more often than not will be Outcoached, Outprepared and Outsmarted in crucial ingame situations (clock management, situational football).
Go Bucs
October 28th, 2024 at 12:35 pm
Whomever wrote this is on drugs. Bucs are contenders for the post season couch. You cannot and will not make the playoffs playing defense like we do. I don’t care how good your offense is. Defense still wins championships. You gotta make some stops in the league. And right now, our defense cannot stop a parked car.