Playoffs May Hinge On Sunday’s Outcome?

November 7th, 2024

Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

There is a split point of view of the Bucs and the playoffs at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. And it has nothing to do with pineapple on pizza.

One Joe thinks the Bucs schedule after the bye is so cotton soft that double-digit wins for the Bucs isn’t off the table. The other Joe scoffs at this thinking unless something drastic happens with this defense; it’s just a matter of time before this porous defense gives up the farm.

The Bucs have lost four of their last five games. And two were winnable with just a little bit of forward-thinking — and both came in overtime on the road.

If you believe in the calculators owned by the PFF tribe, Sunday’s game against the 49ers could very well be pivotal in the Bucs’ quest for a playoff berth.

The tribe believes the Bucs currently have a 33 percent shot at the playoffs without specifying division title or wild card berth.

If the Bucs beat the 49ers Sunday, that playoff percentage spikes to a 54 percent shot of playing meaningful football in January.

If the Bucs lose? That percentage drops to 22 percent.

So yeah, the season very well could ride of beating the physical and rested 49ers (they are coming off a bye) who might be getting Christian McCaffrey back.

Oh, goody!

21 Responses to “Playoffs May Hinge On Sunday’s Outcome?”

  1. Steven #55 Says:

    If we lose Sunday its all but over – soft schedule after the bye but we’d have to win them all with no margin for error which unfortunately with our defense just doesnt seem possible

  2. Permanently Moderated Says:

    If it comes down to a decision by Todd, they will lose. He’s gutless and has no real faith in his offense and continues to be delusional about his defense.

  3. OHBucFan Says:

    49er fans are in the same boat. Neither fan base can believe that their teams are where they’re at.
    Got to win this week. Cardinals and Green Bay are shams. SMH at the Falcons.

  4. Lt. Dan Says:

    “Forward thinking” is clearly not in Coach Bowles wheelhouse. Nor is “defensive genius.” You’ve got the Chiefs at home on the ropes. Two point conversation probably puts the game away. It’s raining and the field is wet. Advantage offense – no? Toss sweep behind Wirfs to Bucky. He makes people miss on the regular – right? Nah…let’s see what Mahomes can do against this D in OT. Brilliant Coach.

  5. Xristos Says:

    I am less worried about McCaffrey and the really good running game of the 49ers than what Purdy can possibly do to our soft zones in the middle of the field.
    Hope i m wrong but we see this over and over again. Mahomes in the worst form of his life with 8-9 TDs/INTs before us had his best game of the year. Almost every QB does.
    Go Bucs

  6. Allbuccedup Says:

    With an average defense we would smoke the niners unfortunately we have a well below average defense. Offense shows up defense doesn’t!!!!

  7. Gipper Says:

    Playoffs are just something to talk about. With this defense, Bucs are not going anywhere even if they miraculously make playoffs. The entire league has seen how open the middle of the field is. That is not going to change until Licht drafts some defensive help. Would like to see more of Braswell.

  8. gp Says:

    According to that graph, if I’m reading it right, there are currently 4 teams ahead of us in the wildcard chase. One loss might make that 5.
    I don’t think we have room for another loss this season.
    IF we want to sniff the playoffs.

  9. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Soft schedule doesn’t guarantee wins…..TBBF is not optimistic……

  10. First Name Greatest Says:

    Soft schedule with a soft, passive, conservative, sleepy, tired head coach does not guarantee wins.

    Bucs will finish with 7 wins max

  11. Bucsfan Says:

    Bucs have 8 games left and likely need to win 6 of 8 to get 10 wins . 10 wins will get you in the playoffs and anything is possible after that.

  12. Bosch Says:

    Both Joes are wrong. Double digit wins ain’t gonna happen and the defense has already given up the farm. Bowels has lost the defense.. it is 2011 Raheem Morris all aver again.

  13. Pelsbuc61 Says:

    Playoff talk is a fantasy with this HC and his horrible defense. Bucs would be better off playing their young players as an audition for next year and the new HC.

  14. Bobby M. Says:

    Potentially one step closer to dumping Bowles and promoting the OC. Bowles feels it, he knows he’s got deliver at a minimum, a first rd playoff win. Even then I think ownership recognizes he’s hit his ceiling. The game is geared for offense and we clearly got a good OC that we can’t lose.

  15. Bojim Says:

    If they lose Sunday I don’t think they can run the table like last year after the bye.

  16. Bojim Says:

    But I’ll happily be wrong.

  17. Jeff Says:

    Playoffs! lol! Nope. Time to fire clueless Todd.

  18. Ol' Boy Says:

    Stranger things have happened I suppose but It was over after Atlanta x2.. it wasn’t necessarily the score (although..), it was the blunders of bowles which continue and will continue. It was the defense which hasnt changed, at all, with the same personnel after the trade deadline. We might see a second year guy make a showing if he gets up to speed and that’s it, right? During defensive meetings, I can’t help but wonder, who’s the smartest person in the room? Because that mind will need to come up with a new brilliant way to defend to have a chance. Winning 6?… Pass that shiz
    I love our offense though. It feels good watching good offensive football and knowing it’s from the Bucs.

  19. Ds Says:

    Doesn’t matter, no edge rush and soft zone makes a the playoffs a pipe dream

  20. Cobraboy Says:

    It’s a sad day when a game in the first half of the season is do-or-die for the playoffs.

  21. D-Rome Says:

    The season was over when the team lost to the Falcons a second time. This team has the talent to have a winning record, but the coaching decisions are holding the team back.

 

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