CBS: Bucs May Challenge The Eagles
March 26th, 2025
“Tenth in the NFC?”
The Bucs have been to the playoffs five straight seasons. That’s four consecutive NFC South titles after winning a Super Bowl.
Additionally, the Bucs are 6-1 against the reigning Super Bowl champs in their last seven meetings. And the Bucs are one of the few teams that can stop the dreaded Philly tush-push.
Yet the Bucs are down the totem pole of teams that may challenge the Eagles as kings of the NFC? Well, that is the way Cody Benjamin of CBS sees it. Benjamin works for the same outfit that thinks the Bucs are the 10th-best team in the NFC, behind the hemorrhaging-talent 49ers and the bungling Bears.
Can you imagine?
Benjamin ranked teams that can beat the Eagles in tiers and put the Bucs in the second tier he calls “honorable mention.”
… Maybe it’s time we start giving Baker Mayfield some legitimate respect, now that he’s thrown a combined 69 (!) touchdowns in two seasons with the Bucs. Yes, he’s also gutsy in a dangerous way, with 26 picks over that same span. But he elevated an injury-riddled lineup in 2024, and if Chris Godwin can stay on the field this time, maybe they can steal the NFC South yet again.
Yeah, sure, why not? A four-peat NFC South winner with an NFL record-setting offense that won 10 games returns everyone on that side of the ball and added a stud pass rusher — yeah, maybe the Bucs could “steal” the division.
Man, if the Giants or Commandos pulled off what the Bucs have done this decade, we’d never hear the end of it.
The Bucs? Yick! They’re from Florida. In the NASCAR division. Ew, it’s humid.
(Joe has never heard people whine about humidity like folks from the northeast. Not only is it good for the skin, it’s good beer-drinkin’ weather!)
March 26th, 2025 at 10:34 am
We are going to need more depth to challenge and will need everyone from last 2 years draft classes to take another big step up.. Sometimes i feel like our attitude is, we won the south again so we are so close and I’m not sure we are close, just the best of the south.
March 26th, 2025 at 10:42 am
(Joe has never heard people whine about humidity like folks from the northeast. Not only is it good for the skin, it’s good beer-drinkin’ weather!)
Wait till you get older. You’ll hate it.
March 26th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Depending on the draft and the signings…we might make a superbowl run.
March 26th, 2025 at 10:44 am
@mike Ok well we own the eagles also beat the lions and a few other top teams outside of the division also played KC and SF down to the wire games where we pretty much beat ourselves and should have won sooo….
March 26th, 2025 at 10:51 am
Fix the defense “by whatever means necessary.” That’s it, that’s all.
March 26th, 2025 at 10:57 am
25 years in Dunedin. I loved Florida weather on the cost. NO mosquitos!! Not so sure in middle of state.
March 26th, 2025 at 10:58 am
errr…COAST
March 26th, 2025 at 10:58 am
The headline says one thing, the content isn’t really saying the same thing.
March 26th, 2025 at 11:01 am
Joe has never heard people whine about humidity like folks from the northeast. Not only is it good for the skin, it’s good beer-drinkin’ weather!
I mean, if you like sweating when you go outside for 5 minutes… I’ll take the PNW climate every damn day over the heat and humidity.
As for beer drinking weather, maybe p!sswater beers.
March 26th, 2025 at 11:05 am
Why steal the worst division in football when you should be putting miles of distance between you and the first loser in second place?
The first step in recovery is recognizing the problem.
Bowles is just failing upwards. Any other division would eat his lunch.
He’s the Kamala Harris of head coaching. Just installed to the position instead of earning it.
Beating the Eagles only when their best receivers are out means absolute zero.
This team is middle tier at best until the HC goes elsewhere.
March 26th, 2025 at 11:25 am
Benjamin hates the Bucs, always discounting them. I remember his name from non sense articles last offseason.
Steal the division! Hilarious, steal from who? I imagine he didn’t say.
March 26th, 2025 at 11:47 am
BucHawk. You do know saying “Beating the Eagles only when their best receivers are out” means that last year when our 2 best receivers were out for 4 games means nothing so we should have been 14-3. And not earning it? He’s coached over a long career with some of the best coaches in the game. And why would Bowles want to “recover” from anything? His goals are right in front of him. “Falling Upwards”. What are you talking about? “ Steal the Division”. We won the Division going away! By 2 games! You’ve got an agenda BucHawk. What could that be?
March 26th, 2025 at 11:57 am
Eagles will fall this year. May finish in 3rd place in East.
March 26th, 2025 at 11:58 am
These sports analysts willingly aren’t going to admit their true lack of research and analysis of the Bucs. The Bucs could win the next couple of Super Bowls and they still would downplay the Bucs.
These egotistical frauds will never admit to their laziness. They are representative of the industry. If you keep doing it all the time the lie becomes believable.
March 26th, 2025 at 11:59 am
Regardless of how you feel about it, humidity IS good for the skin and your mucus membranes. It also helps decrease the chance of dry conditions leading to wildfires, to some degree.
March 26th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
The top NFC teams are:
1. Philly
2. Washington
3. Detroit
4. Tampa
March 26th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
Who is Cody Benjamin? just a never was and never will be. “Time to give Mayfield some respect?” Mayfield has always been respected except by the fools who paid $235Million guaranteed for a never do well, sexual predator. How has that worked out for the Browns? How has Baker worked out for Tampa? The interception thing is a joke. Baker has such confidence in his arm that he attempts passes most QB’s would never try. Moreover, when did Baker’s INT’s last year cost the Bucs a game. My favorite is the 3INT game with NO that Bucs won 51-27. Again, I repeat that Tom Brady had 78 INT’s in his first 7 NFL season while baker has had 90. Moreover, Baker has thrown for significantly more TD’s in his first 7 years vs Brady in his first 7. Get over the INT thing. If you are an NFL QB, interceptions will happen. Baker is learning and I believe his INT’s will be down in 2025. That won’t be enough for many. Can hear it now: too short, holds the ball too long, fumbles and so on.
March 26th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
If this defense doesn’t drastically improve from last year, the secondary specifically, there isn’t a chance
March 26th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Bucs are 3-7 in the last 10 years vs the 49ers. looks like they are taking Giant Strides as they have won 30% of the time over that period. Up from the all time of 25% (7-21). If Bucs improve the defense and find a way to do a little better than 18-29 and 116 yards thru the air against them a ‘W’ can be had.
As far as Philly the Bucs match up pretty well @ 13-11 all time vs them. Only 10 teams have won the Super Bowl and came back to miss the Playoffs. They still have a dynamic offense but took some hits in Free Agency on defense. If Philly falters then Washington will be just fine representing the East.
Bucs don’t have to steal the Division but I doubt it will simply be given to them. 3 teams from 2 NFC Divisions making playoffs could leave just two spots left for the NFCS and NFC East.
March 26th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Joe I like your opinion on humidity& your thinking on the BUCS potential in 25. Why not the BUCS , NOO respect but as they have shown before the BUCS will just take their RESPECT.
March 26th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
I was not totally sold on Baker when he got here. I liked him but I thought Trask should have gotten a better shot. I was wrong. I still think Trask may someday be a starter. But not here. This is Bakers team through and through and there is not any doubt about it.
The fact that the league and the media doubt the Bucs…good. Keep doubting. The Bucs thrive on it and tend to stumble when they get noticed in Prime Time.
March 26th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Bottom line, defense still wins championships not offense.
this defense is NOT championship caliber and I challenge you to show me it is…
We signed an over the hill pass rusher HOPING he returns to form from 2 years ago. We also signed a WR with 2 MAJOR injuries.
Love the BUCS but I’m gonna hold off on any super bowl talk till I see Greta defense consistently.
PS WInning that midget division is not the great claim you think it is…come on.
March 26th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
I seem to remember beating Washington, Detriot, Eagles, Chargers and taking KC to OT. Chargers were 11-7 and had the best defense in the league and we were the ONLY team to spank them severely. And let’s think about 2 of those… oh yeah, 2 of them played in the superbowl. I’ve said this before but when the offense is Hummin NO ONE CAN BEAT US. We just have to fix the defense and cut out the mistakes and WE WILL BE READY FOR THE SUPERBOWL.
I love it when the negative folk say oh yeah we won the worst division in the league. It may be but they are pro football teams that on any given Sunday or Monday can beat the best. And we have done it 4 times. That is NOTHING to scoff at.
As far as this team goes, the only thing that is keep us from making a deep run into the playoffs is our mistakes and the only thing keeping us from winning a superbowl is a better defense. Hopefully, both are being taken care of this off-season.
March 26th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
The ‘Skins (that’s right, the Redskins), had way too much good juju/karma on their celestial side last year. If the Bears Hail Mary debacle doesn’t happen, they don’t make the playoffs. Baker/McMillan’s jet sweep fumble NEVER happens, but it did, and that cost us the playoff win and Washington moved on. How many games did they win on the last possession/last minute/seconds of the game? How many did we lose on the last possession/last minute/seconds of the game? Buckey’s fumble against the damn falcons still hurts….There is always a yin and a yang. A balance. A center. Last year the Redskins had their yin. This year will probably be their yang.
The Bucs, on the other hand, keep things centered and grounded and they keep improving and building on their foundation. Trust the process…Superbowl contention is here.
March 26th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Heard it all.
Defense wins championships.
Edge guys with sacks win championships.
Only best QBs win championships.
Need to have a stout running game to win championships.
Need to have the best trenches to win championships.
Great thing about the NFL – there are lots of different ways to win the Super Bowl. They are all hard — but most all of the best teams have a deficiency some where and guess what – many still win championships.
Let’s look at history and not quote old time phrases.
History shows that the Bucs won two Super Bowls with vastly different teams and the year before the Bucs won those Super Bowl and the year after the Bucs won those Super Bowls were won by teams that were put together in wholly different ways than the Bucs.
Lots of ways to win the Super Bowl.
Lots of moving pieces on an NFL team with all the players and coaches, etc.
March 26th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
DEN, BAL, DAL are games that bakers INT cost us games lol….
i remember folks saying the samething about JW..”confidence in his arm that he attempts passes most QB’s would never try.”….
DEN- 1ST QUARTER INT- down 7, baker throws to ME and its picked off in bucs territory then returned to the 9yard line….that set the tone for the rest of the game…we were down 14 in the 1st quarter….
BAL- BUCS leading 10-7 in the 2nd quarter, baker throws INT in the redzone…
3rd quarter, baker tosses another INT at BAL 40yard line…bucs never get
uncle mo back
DAL- MY FAVORITE LOL- yet another 4th quarter INT
you clowns need to wake up and stop blaming the defense lol….bakers INTs and FUMBLES especially in the playoffs have wrecked our SB chances
clock management wont help if Baker leads the NFL in INTs again…..
the #1 defense wont matter if Baker leads the NFL in INTs again….
defense forcing more TOs wont matter if Baker is turning the ball over at a higher rate…..
the entire team needs to continue to get better, but it all starts with baker limiting his TOs…keep the INTs at 12 or less and we’ll see a difference in the offense and defense
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 26th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Someone apparently didn’t read the content.
March 26th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
As long as the defense keeps letting teams match down the field and score more often than not, I’m surprised the Bucs aren’t lower like 12 or 13….
Get a quality HC and current DC and the the Bucs might earn respespect!
March 26th, 2025 at 2:37 pm
Steal the NFC South lol,,, how do you steal something you already own?
March 26th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
If stupid Baker doesn’t fumble and lose the game vs the Redskins, the Bucs are going into Philly the following week and beating them. Bowles has Hurts number – and the Bucs are in the Eagles head. Talking to Eagles fans, they were all relieved when the Bucs lost since that was the only team in the NFC that they worried about because it’s just a bad matchup for them.
March 26th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Joe, as I’ve mentioned before, this is actually a GREAT thing for the team, in my opinion!
Getting no love definitely kicks you in the jewels as a fan, but I guarantee everyone inside that building loves it or doesn’t care. We know Licht loves it. Keeps those receipts. They are used to it by now.
Just won’t ever happen in the market we’re in.
They (most national media) keep underestimating us every year and I feel it truly is an advantage for us. We have this way of embracing and channeling it into division title after title.
March 26th, 2025 at 3:48 pm
813BUCBOI Says:,
Now we know you are grasping at straws. Everyone who saw the Dallas game saw a perfectly thrown TD pass to McMillan that was wrestled away from him when he fell into the endzone. Somehow that became an interception? The Denver game; the Bucs never were in control of that game as the defense let a rookie pick them apart all game. You have some kind of agenda with your lover RodMunch. You girls should stick with band camp.
March 26th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
Joe, I’m a Wisconsinite and humidity is the worst. No, I’m not comparing it to Florida humidity (I’ve never experienced it), but midwest humidity is a beast.
March 26th, 2025 at 4:01 pm
gipper
the stats say, baker lead the NFL in INTs….
dispute it chump!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 26th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
813BUCBOI,
Hey your Dimness, the question was name a game that the Bucs lost in 2024 because of a Mayfield INT? You named a first Q INT against Denver as evidence. That’s laughable when there were an entire 3 Q’s to play. You named Dallas when even Munch said at the time that McMillan should have hung on to that pass instead of having it taken from his arms.
Most of the people who comment on these pages are interesting and fair. Then there are people like you who are illiterate.
March 26th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
The Bucs have proven they can beat Detroit and Philly. They should be regarded as top contenders.
March 26th, 2025 at 4:19 pm
813BUCBOI Gipper straightened you out on the Dallas and Denver games and I’ll straighten you out on the Baltimore game. Mayfield came out red hot and we would have gone up 17-0 had Evans caught a ball that hit him right in the hands. Evans was hurt on the play. Baker was visibly shook on the play. Then Lamar Jackson proceeded to light up a record setting night torching our defense. 813BUCBOI, we do want to keep the record straight, right? It’s still a team game.
March 26th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
I’ve never really understood people from the Northeast whining about humidity either, considering it still gets humid as hell during the summer time there too.
Hell, even the West Coast has gotten humid af over the past 5-6 years! Never used to have mosquitos out here until a few years ago! Ugh.
March 26th, 2025 at 4:31 pm
LOL, 813 also thought Byron Leftwich was a great offensive coordinator…
March 26th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Hey good to see you back Rod Munch- I agree with you that we’ve got the Eagles number. If Mayfield hadn’t fumbled and we’d have gone 3 and out with our punt team punting from practically our end zone? They would’ve scored anyway. The fumble was on Baker-the loss was on the team but mostly the defense. Why do you think we are addressing the defense so aggressively, Rod? Lest anyone forget Rod is a genius. Along with bung.ole buddy 813BUCBOI.
March 26th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
10th best in the nfc is absolutely laughable. EVEN IF we made 0 improvements this offseason the absolute worst would be 4th behind Detroit, Philly, and the redskins. I’d be confident putting us at least 2nd given the talent level and ascending youth on this team plus an elite front office.
March 26th, 2025 at 5:23 pm
Joe, keep it to yourself. I’m looking at the Vegas totals coming in at 8.5 or fewer wins. I still have last year’s winnings in the bank.
March 26th, 2025 at 5:33 pm
Yea we lost to the Skins cause of Baker,, the fumble , which is on him,, the play call which is Coen ,,, so yup there it is,,,,,,,
Wait, are we sure it wasn’t the 85 4th down conversions the skins made???
March 26th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Maroons post among us.
March 26th, 2025 at 10:14 pm
Exactly!
March 26th, 2025 at 11:17 pm
The Absolute Clearest Problem is that our secondary is LOUSY. We either need the entire secondary to be All Pro or we Desperately Need a coach that can train them to be at the least, “competent”
It’s as simple as that…… TOO LONG have we been without reliable depth due to a serious lack of proper training.. That is the actual truth of it.
You are welcome to prove me wrong. Good Luck with that…
March 27th, 2025 at 2:02 am
Sly pirate when the Bucs were closer to 100 percent healthy they beat all three of those teams you have ahead of them . If the defense in particular can stay healthy this team could go deep into the playoffs .