What If… ?
February 3rd, 2025
What if… ?
So most of NFL media is descending or has descended on New Orleans today or yesterday. Tonight is Super Bowl Week’s Opening Night.
And thus, Super Bowl Week officially begins. Of course, national sports shows and podcasts will already be set up and airing from New Orleans today. Buckle up.
Over at The Athletic, James Boyd and Austin Mock decided to cobble together a “What if… ?” column. With one of their “What ifs… ?” makes it easy to say Joe already would be in New Orleans because the Bucs would be NFC champions.
What if the Bucs had beaten the Commandos?
The Bucs were “this close” to beating Washington. It took a doink of a field goal for the Commandos to win.
The next week the Commandos thrashed the Lions. The Bucs already had beaten the Lions and you could argue the Lions, due to injuries, had a worse defense than the Bucs’.
Then, the Commandos lost to the Eagles in the NFC title game. The Bucs also beat the Eagles this season. And Bucs coach Todd Bowles and his defense always give Jalen Hurts fits.
So yeah, the “What if… ?” from The Athletic duo is a painful one. The Bucs could have had a glorious postseason if not for that nasty close playoff loss.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:05 am
The Bucs could have had a glorious postseason if not for that nasty Baker Mayfield fumble this year and the season ending interception last year.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:06 am
Played both Super Bowl teams this year, if only we had a competitive football team in Tampa……. Ohhhh wait a minute We do have a team that can compete with superbowl caliber teams….. SMH some blind fans on this site can’t or won’t see that.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:09 am
Guess we should get rid of him then Atlbuc? And Ravens should get rid of Jackson….. gtfoh
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:16 am
Fully agree on the what if.
On Ira’s podcast that was brought up too as wishing we could go back to that game. We should be in the Super Bowl.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:21 am
What if the D was more consistent? The talent is there. There’s no way it should be struggling this much.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:23 am
What if we had Bobby Boucher at LB? Nobody would want to play against us then because he’d take care of everything. Talk bad about his mama or water & he’ll knock you out.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:29 am
What if the BucsD forced a punt in the playoffs?
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:31 am
We wouldn’t beat the Eagles right now.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:34 am
It’s fun to speculate, but just because we beat a team in the regular season doesn’t mean we’d beat them again in the playoffs. Fix the D and we won’t have to speculate in 2025 playoffs.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:36 am
Bucs Pass Defense is this Teams Achilles Heel until proven otherwise we ain’t going to win a SB.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:36 am
gotbbucs – Humbly, I think the Bucs could beat the Eagles right now. And possibly Godwin could by playing too.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:44 am
That loss to the Commando’s hurt and I thought the Bucs were the better team but, just think about the Bills fans. 2 or 3 times losing the conference championship to go to the Super Bowl As we like to say, you think your situation is bad, there’s always someone else’s worst
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:49 am
The loss hurts. We are the better team. But when the Commanders HC goes for it on 4th down and succeeds 3/5 times and our HC goes for it 0/0 then we get what we deserve. Bowles doesn’t take wins. He gives them away. Bowles holds this team back as a HC.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:51 am
I doubt they would’ve have beaten the Lions in the first place.
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:53 am
Then comes WHEN?
In 2025 season your Buccaneers will be NFC Champions!
You can take that to the bank!
LFG
February 3rd, 2025 at 7:58 am
Eagles were diminished when we beat them
February 3rd, 2025 at 8:07 am
What if ifs and buts were candies and nuts? We would all have a merrier Christmas.
February 3rd, 2025 at 8:07 am
I honestly believe we would’ve been in the superbowl. EZ win against philly and detroit
February 3rd, 2025 at 8:09 am
What if Coen was 100% focused on an offensive game plan that included all the Bucs offensive weapons that wear down defenses instead of stupid trick plays? Clearly he was focused on himself and his new HC job while getting paid by the Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m ok with him leaving. I’m not ok with him leaving a week early.
February 3rd, 2025 at 8:09 am
The Bucs would have played Philly after the Commandos calamity ( Rams would have travelled to Detroit. ) Conceivably they could have hosted the Rams the following week for the NFC Championship. But that’s only a fantasy now.
February 3rd, 2025 at 8:28 am
Tony Dungy would disagree. Doesn’t matter like when Bucs finally shut the vet down or like say when the Bucs finally beat the saints. It was just Philly time and Bowles trash defense wasn’t going to come up with a miracle game because they have a different and well their two starting receivers were actually playing
February 3rd, 2025 at 8:44 am
Ron potter, Bowles didn’t anything to do with that loss, I understand your dislike for Bowles but, you might need to dial up Mayfield for that loss. No fumble the Bucs win that game
February 3rd, 2025 at 8:46 am
Bowles kept it too close.
February 3rd, 2025 at 8:54 am
We would have played at Philly in that damn snow storm not in Detroit. I don’t see us winning that sorry.
February 3rd, 2025 at 8:59 am
This team didn’t have a good enough defense to win the SB IMO.
The Lions self imploded bad with turnovers in a way they hadn’t all season. They would have lost to anyone playing that way. Eagles were much better later in the season and in the playoffs especially on defense. Not sure we get by them or not. Chiefs are also an elite defense.
2 of the top NFL defenses made the SB. The Chiefs all year were a more defensive team than some elite offense. Defense still wins championships.
February 3rd, 2025 at 9:01 am
What if they had lost to the Panthers twice? What if Evans was out for 6 games? What if they had suffered season ending injuries to Vea and Mayfield and Wirfs?
It’s a waste of energy.
They lost to the Redskins. End of what if.
February 3rd, 2025 at 9:06 am
What if my aunt had nuts, would she have been my uncle?
Our secondary and middle linebacker play was not setup to go the distance this year. Need a CB that can play 20 games a year to complement Zyon. Safety play, too inconsistent and we only have 1 middle LB and he’s due to collect Social security shortly
February 3rd, 2025 at 9:07 am
Pahpahmike
Let it go already and yea Bowles has everything to do with that loss. He kicked a field goal to tie it and leave it up to his trash defense to get a stop instead of going for it and forcing them to go for 7 at the end of the game, do you know how easy it is to get into field goal range with a decent quarterback? If Bucs can’t get a 4th and 3 against a poor run defense then they don’t deserve to because in the nfc championship game
February 3rd, 2025 at 9:09 am
Crappy Coen play call. Good riddance.
February 3rd, 2025 at 9:13 am
I agree the defense was bad but we played with everyone this year. We took KC into overtime. We are good enough to have a tight game with everyone in the playoffs this season.
February 3rd, 2025 at 9:26 am
What if we had a Super Bowl Caliber Defense?
February 3rd, 2025 at 9:53 am
You can’t expect to win a playoff game in the NFL when your offense fumbles twice in the fourth quarter
Simple as that.
February 3rd, 2025 at 10:00 am
Off topic, but the slimy saints should have to answer for the scandal unfolding in the latest ESPN story.
February 3rd, 2025 at 10:11 am
I come here for posts like this…..
“Cardiac kidz Says:
February 3rd, 2025 at 9:06 am
What if my aunt had nuts, would she have been my uncle?”
ps – if your Nutty Aunt can play ILB, please ask her to try out camp.
February 3rd, 2025 at 10:37 am
@ beej
I agree. The Eagles were without both of their starting receivers when we played them…
However we did beat the Lions in Detroit.
The Bucs had a solid roster to start the season but it eroded with injuries but I don’t like to use that excuse as every team in the NFL has to deal with injuries.
February 3rd, 2025 at 10:38 am
The Bucs wouldn’t had played the Lions. They would’ve had to go TO Philly!!!! IF, they had WON there, then they could’ve gotten the RAMS AT HOME for the NFC Championship Game (had the Rams beaten Detroit, and I believe they would’ve).
February 3rd, 2025 at 11:02 am
Loving all the Bucs what ifs.
If there was a magic genie or wand, I really wish we could go back to the Ravens game before Smith gave Godwin the season ending injury.
February 3rd, 2025 at 11:38 am
We couldnt force the Commanders to punt 1 time, but we were going to make a superbowl run? We could have beaten the commanders, but dont think we would have beaten Detroit or Philly or KC afterwards. Our defense wouldnt have created 5 turnovers agains the Lions like the commanders did.
February 3rd, 2025 at 12:13 pm
The pass defense is broken, until it gets fixed the trips to fantasy land instead of the SB will continue.
The bucs were also “this close” to not making the playoffs this year lets not forget. If the falcons hadnt imploded the bucs would have gone home earlier…..
February 3rd, 2025 at 12:42 pm
I do agree we would’ve likely beat the Lions but I don’t think our chances were good vs the Eagles. They are playing some good football right now. Next year hopefully, we’ll be the ones playing better.
February 3rd, 2025 at 12:45 pm
Stop talking about Dungy the turncoat please
February 3rd, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Injuries on the defense are used by the Bowles apologists as an excuse to face the fact that CTB .500 is incapable of having his team prepared from one week to the next. It’s shameful charity. Going to any lengths to separate gnat s(p)it from pepper just to criticize Coen regardless of how weak they look in doing it. I’m growing increasingly convinced that JL lobbied the Glazers to allow CTB one more year. I’m a huge JL fan but he’s been peddling a bum steer.
February 3rd, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Bucs had the talent but lacked a detailed and courageous head coach, and instead have a half head coach, half defensive coordinator guy who seemed overwhelmed by both.
February 3rd, 2025 at 1:18 pm
What if…………he trade our #1 pick and two 2’s and Rashad White to Cleveland for Garrett #95
Myles stated he wants out. Imagine Vita, Kancey YaYa and Garett
February 3rd, 2025 at 2:07 pm
What if Joe Tryon Shrink-inya became Lawrence Taylor all of a sudden a Jameal dean became Deion Sanders
February 3rd, 2025 at 2:12 pm
What if?..We seriously went after Myles Garrett? Our whole defensive line changes with this one Aquisition. Don’t tell me it can’t be done. How do contenders always seem to get better free agents yearly? I would go all out for a guy like Garrett. Your pass rush issues are instantly resolved with one Beast. He’s worth every penny.
February 3rd, 2025 at 2:14 pm
We need a linebacker, happy with our pick slot
February 3rd, 2025 at 2:26 pm
The main goal of a what-if analysis is to gain valuable insights that can help inform important business decisions.
As in perhaps “What if” the Bucs got Myles Garrett. Not likely to happen but at least it could and might make sense to “what if”.
“What iffing” a past event is crying over spilt milk and the cow has already left the barn. It’s time to move on from last season!
If wishes and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.
February 3rd, 2025 at 2:27 pm
@ Mike J and Kieran
Re Myles Garrett – I like Garrett, when healthy he can be very disruptive…
However –
– He is 29 soon to be 30 and has had a slew of injuries over the years.
– What will the Bucs need to give up in order to trade for him – a 2nd or 3rd round pick? That would be fine. More than that? No thanks.
– He might need a new deal – how much would the Bucs be able to pay him? $25-$30M per season? No Thanks.
All that glitters is not gold. Especially in the NFL.
February 3rd, 2025 at 2:29 pm
Ball security issues came back and bit the Bucs along with an awful pass defense
FIX the pass defense or retire should be the message to Todd and the defensive coaches
February 3rd, 2025 at 2:42 pm
What if Baker doesn’t choke and turn over the ball … They’d likely, at worst, had been in the NFC Championship game.
But Baker did choke for the 2nd playoff game in a row and lost the game.
February 3rd, 2025 at 3:14 pm
Rodmunch is that the only way you can get attention by daily talking smack about Baker Mayfield. Your absolute obsession with him says alot more about you than it does Baker.
February 3rd, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Or maybe a defense that can stand up and cover a mistake or two from the offense. Like when Brady threw 3ints against the packers. O points scored got back right back every time. This is a team sport. Takes both sides and specials. Go Bowles
February 3rd, 2025 at 3:31 pm
Becky Says:
February 3rd, 2025 at 3:14 pm
Rodmunch is that the only way you can get attention by daily talking smack about Baker Mayfield. Your absolute obsession with him says alot more about you than it does Baker.
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Kewl story bro, thanks for sharing.
February 3rd, 2025 at 5:04 pm
When you don’t play consistently or well enough to put teams away you wind up losing at some point in the playoffs. Usually early. It would have been an injustice for the Bucs to win the Super Bowl this year.
A blockbuster trade could help them earn it next year!
February 3rd, 2025 at 5:38 pm
Take an edge rushing ILB in the first round (Walker or Campbell), take an attacking DL player in the second round, take the best CB and coverage ILB in the third and fourth rounds, and, in 2025, the Bucs … could… go … all … the … way!!!
February 3rd, 2025 at 6:35 pm
What if……we signed Myles Garrett and went all the way next year? Go Bucs!