Navigating The Schedule
October 1st, 2024
Path forward.
Today is Oct. 1. Six weeks from now Joe and fellow Bucs fans will have a great sense of whether the playoffs and/or an NFC South division title is within reach.
The toughest part of the Bucs schedule, now that Tampa Bay took care of the Eagles on Sunday, starts now and lasts six weeks. The Bucs have two division road games including Thursday night, and a home division game plus games against teams expected to be in the hunt for a Super Bowl, the Crows, the Chiefs and the 49ers.
Then the Bucs enjoy a mid-November bye.
Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com wants to believe the Bucs are one of the best teams in the NFL. but he still needs to see more. Chadiha types that the next six weeks will either prove the Bucs are a contender or a pretender.
… the encouraging part is the Bucs already have shown plenty. They have wins over Detroit and Philadelphia (a 33-16 win on Sunday), both of whom have the potential to win the NFC. Their 37-20 victory over Washington in Week 1 looks pretty good, as well, considering how impressively the Commanders have played lately. …
It’s likely that the winner of this year’s crown will need to hit double-digit victories. The Bucs would significantly help their cause by finding some big wins over the next month and a half.
Fortunately, many Bucs opponents before the bye don’t look like the world-beaters they were last year. The Dixie Chicks and the slimy Saints? Joe isn’t losing any sleep over them.
The Chiefs and 49ers? They’ve been ravaged by injuries to key players. The Chiefs are rumored to be shopping for a receiver because of injuries. Christian McCaffery likely won’t be able to play for the 49ers when they come to town; he’s rumored to have two Achilles injuries.
Only the Crows scare Joe not because they are playing so well, but because runaround quarterback Lamar Jackson is so dangerous.
Before the season, if Joe were to inform you the Bucs would be 3-1 after the first four games, you’d likely be happy with that, right?
And so here we are. The Bucs are 3-1.
October 1st, 2024 at 7:08 am
Well said, it’s going to be a VERY interesting run through those teams. Bucs need to be healthy and have everyone available — but that’s the toughest part of this.
October 1st, 2024 at 7:12 am
See ya at the creamsicle game!
You should hear the sports talk radio up here in the south jersey Philadelphia market. Man it’s glorious. Today is victory Tuesday too!
October 1st, 2024 at 7:15 am
Its a long season we need to continue to rotate players and train and develope our backups . Injuries are part of the game . Teams with depth will be in the playoffs.
October 1st, 2024 at 7:23 am
I’ll be in the ATL Dome Thursday hoping to see Tampa fans invade like other team fanbases have been doing to us for decades
October 1st, 2024 at 7:29 am
Thank you, Tampa2ATL! We need a good showing. It warms my heart to see Bucs fans in the stadiums of opposing teams!
October 1st, 2024 at 7:31 am
You can bet that scum bag Sean Payton will be in Dennis Allen’s ear about how to beat the Bucs. Todd needs to make sure there’s no comparison between the Broncos debacle and the slimy Saints game. Of course, after they pummel Atlanta.
October 1st, 2024 at 7:43 am
It starts with Thursday. Whether the Bucs go .500 or better in these next six weeks starts in two days.
Go Bucs!
October 1st, 2024 at 7:48 am
If we can go 5-1 in the NFC South, then we’re home free
The schedule is tough for every NFL team
October 1st, 2024 at 8:12 am
Bucs never play great in those creamsicle jerseys. Hope they break the trend and whoop on the falcons.
My biggest concern is the loss of Sirvocea and how the defense compensates.
October 1st, 2024 at 8:16 am
I gotta admit. They looked good on Sunday.
October 1st, 2024 at 8:49 am
If you would’ve told me before the season that we would start three and one, I’d be stoked. But it would also have taken me four guesses to figure out who the loss would be to.
October 1st, 2024 at 8:50 am
Biggest concern is how Coen game plans for these elite teams. Hope he has learned that a fast start is the only way to beat these teams. Bucs don’t have the defense to stop these teams, so they need to score early and often.
Oh and yeah Lamar is dangerous and hard to bring down, hope Winfield is back by this game. Otherwise think the Bucs match up well with everyone else on the 6 game schedule.
October 1st, 2024 at 9:01 am
The big question for me is if Junior & Kancey play!? Do they rush them back for these two Division Games… Do they hold them both out for ATL only, or keep them both out for both the two games!? I say ONLY if they are 💯 FULLY Healthy. If they can just ‘split’ the two without them would be a WIN in my eyes… It’s a loooong season & if they can get past these two games on the road, and on that God-Awful, Dangerous Synthetic-Turf Field at 4-2, I’ll take that. They’ll only have prob 3-games left for the entire season on fake grass playing surfaces after these two!!!! I want them BOTH at 💯 for the stretch run… I’m not taking any chances. I’m sitting them for ATL and then going from there.
October 1st, 2024 at 9:26 am
ESPN has Bucs ranked #5 in their power rankings. Lions and Bills at #4 & #3. Didn’t Bucs beat Lions no more than 2.5 weeks ago??? Keep it churning Bucs, each week is a new challenge but beating division rivals is a must. BTW, the pre season favorite that all the experts have winning the NFC South is ranked #17, your Atlanta Falcons.
October 1st, 2024 at 9:35 am
Mayfield will barely throw for 100 yards in the first half of many of those games, just like he did last year against most teams we played with a winning record, but he’ll be hailed for his incredible MOXIE!
October 1st, 2024 at 9:37 am
NFL is a week-to-week league. I don’t see any game easy.
If Bucs able to beat Atlanta & Saints following weeks that will be huge.
October 1st, 2024 at 9:45 am
“Joe isn’t losing any sleep over them.”
Joe better look again. Bucs ALWAYS have a problem with the Saints. And Falcons this year can be a problem. (Joe didn’t lose any sleep over Denver either!)
October 1st, 2024 at 9:53 am
I don’t want to hear about the schedule. Unless you want to complain about overseas games or Thursday night games. I don’t like those for my team. Otherwise who we play and where is irrelevant because we don’t get to choose. Line em up and knock em down.
October 1st, 2024 at 10:28 am
When the Bucs schedule came out, I had them at 3-1 at this point but this upcoming stretch will be tough.
LVD did a great job firing up the D going into the Philly game. We need ALL the vets to be very vocal to get the Bucs refocused against ATL and avoid a letdown after the Philly win.
Coen and Carberry need another great gameplan for the OL. Gameplan to double Jalen Carter, and chip Matt Judon heavily.
October 1st, 2024 at 10:33 am
Joe,
I agree with you but am still going to hoist the yellow caution flag.
I think you’re right about the Chiefs, 49ers, et al. Given their injuries, we could pick up a couple of extra victories we otherwise might not have.
But, the combo of Lamar and Henry may be more of a force to reckon with than we’re expecting. I know our run defense is top notch, but they don’t call him King Henry for nothing.
As for the Saints and Falcons, I’m not losing any sleep either. But, they are divisional games, and those weigh more heavily in tie breakers at the end of the season. We still need to bring our A-games.
October 1st, 2024 at 10:39 am
That was a good take by Jeffri Chadiha. The next 6 weeks will show us a lot. That said, the health of the team in December and entering the playoffs will be a huge factor in how far the team can go.
@John Sinclear, I 100% agree with you. ALL of our games with the Saints and Falcons are usually very tough. They’re within our division which is extra motivation for them as well. The Saints kicked our tail at the end of last season. Both of these teams are dangerous. The Bucs are more talented but if they don’t play their best they can lose, just like what happened against the Broncos. The worst teams in the league can beat you if you don’t take them seriously. Carolina just beat the Raiders a couple of weeks back!
October 1st, 2024 at 10:42 am
At the end of the day, we HAVE to win the head to head within our division. A “split” may not do it with our schedule. Falcons and Saints do have a couple of sort of tough games (Cowboys,Vikings, Redskins) and maybe we get a gift by either the Chargers or Broncos but then the Saints Falcons still need to split with each other. But Divisional are always the most important and this year is no different.
October 1st, 2024 at 11:10 am
TTTF
How many yards has Trask thrown for in the NFL? What?…he can’t even earn a starting job? And he’s beaten out by a player who SUCKS in your opinion!
You sound like a famous moron who called a debate opponent stupid after she crushed him in the debate!!! You have NOTHING to back up your weakarse opinions!
Two years ago in the playoffs the Bucs hosted a very beatable Cowboys team in the first round. Things were going well and then Tom Brady threw a pick in the freaking end zone…that play SUCKED, and completely turned around the momentum in that game! Tom’s play through most of his last year was distracted and lacking in the courage to hang in the pocket. He did achieve mediocrity but for a GOAT…disappointment. Does that mean he sucked?
Does Baker’s int in Detroit mean he sucked worse than Brady did against Dallas?
Does ME suck when he drops balls?
October 1st, 2024 at 11:22 am
Chadiah is just saying what we all already know- the next 6 weeks are very tough.
Right… cuz it’s not like division opponents are ever tough, even when they have losing records. I guess Joe has forgotten that the Saints have beat our brains in at least once almost every season, even when we’ve won the division.
And yet, the Chiefs are still 4-0.
Hopefully the Bucs players don’t continue to underestimate our opponents like Joe seems to love to do. 🤪
October 1st, 2024 at 11:26 am
Just ignore the lunatic Traskophile. She now just splurts out things to rile fans up.
Meanwhile, I agree that of the next 6 games, Baltimore is the scariest to me, although as we know, we lost to the worst QB in the NFL who reverted back to his tarded self the following week. So the Bucs are capable of beating anyone, and also losing to anyone.
Welcome to NFL 2024.
October 1st, 2024 at 11:57 am
These division games are always dawg fights. One game at a time. Bucs are the better team, injuries and all, but Atlanta is no cupcake. Go Bucs!!
October 1st, 2024 at 12:00 pm
I think the Saints are on a skid. They are an older team. The season will wear on them. Atlanta is too new. They’ll have a lot of up and downs. Consistency might be the Bucs biggest divisional strength this seasons.
October 1st, 2024 at 12:25 pm
@orlbucfan How can you say “the Bucs are the better team” I mean just looking at position groups our WRs are better but QB is about evenly matched and from a talent standpoint Atl has the edge in all other groups they are a very good and physical team and we better damn well be ready for Thursday night or we will get beat up on.
October 1st, 2024 at 12:47 pm
Atlanta this Thursday is huge. If we can just win that game we have a few extra days of rest before playing NO.
October 1st, 2024 at 1:33 pm
TTTF……Just pull down your bunny shirt, get down to your safe space down in mom’s basement, grab your juice box, wrap up in your Dora The Explorer blankie and chew on the corner, pet your government supplied emotional support puppy, polish your Kyle Trask rookie card, and sleep it off pajama boy. Let the adults handle the comment section. SMH……
October 1st, 2024 at 1:58 pm
Trask To The Future Says:
October 1st, 2024 at 9:35 am
Mayfield will barely throw for 100 yards in the first half of many of those games, just like he did last year against most teams we played with a winning record, but he’ll be hailed for his incredible MOXIE!
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TTTF,
Mayfield was the ProBowl MVP last year after leading his team to a playoff win and a near playoff win vs Detroit. You must not have gotten the news. Your man crush on Trask is pathetic. We don’t blame Kyle for your infatuation. In case you have missed the news, more than one football talking head has talked about Mayfield as a league MVP. If Bucs go to the NFC Championship game, he will be. Get with the Bucs success or find another hobby. Bowling or birdwatching might be good for you,
October 1st, 2024 at 2:14 pm
Not My NFL! Once I got to the part where you said the QBs are evenly matched. One with a new team, coming off an Achilles, and well past his prime? I’ll admit it – that’s where I stopped reading your uninformed drivel. But nice try.
October 1st, 2024 at 2:32 pm
Trask To The Future Says:
October 1st, 2024 at 9:35 am
Mayfield will barely throw for 100 yards in the first half of many of those games, just like he did last year against most teams we played with a winning record, but he’ll be hailed for his incredible MOXIE!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TTTF,
Get over your man crush on Kyle. Baker is Bucs QB and in case you missed it he led the team to a playoff win last year and a near playoff win vs Detroit. Also, his ProBowl performance earned him a game MVP. Mayfield will easily be in the top 6 of all NFL QB’s this year if he can stay healthy. Go find a new hobby. Try bowling or birdwatching.
October 1st, 2024 at 4:09 pm
Believe me when I say, I am definitely NO “Baker Boi” here, 💯. BUT, these 2-3 Trask ASS-lickers almost make me wanna be… Almost. They have become 1000X WORSE, at this point. It’s very sad. Unbelievably, when you really think about it… I mean, trolling the gameday thread, Etc. literally after EVERY play. It is Unreal.