Five Reasons The Bucs Can Win
December 3rd, 2017
Ahh, the sweet smell of a bad football team on a Sunday morning.
No, Joe’s not talking about the Buccaneers.
Today in Green Bay marks the last time this year the Bucs will face a team with a losing record on their schedule.
It’s a winnable game against a bad quarterback. Brett Hundley versus America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.
Here are 5 reasons to keep the brown bag off your head at 1 p.m.
*ESPN.com Packers beat writer Rob Demovsky typed up Green Bay’s QB situation well: “The big picture for Hundley, in the six games he’s finished (including five starts) since Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone, looks like this: one win, five touchdowns, seven interceptions and a passer rating (73.2) that ranks 27th among all qualified quarterbacks during that stretch.”
*No Doug Martin. Joe has maintained for well over a year that the Bucs running game would and should be better with Martin out of the lineup. Well, it was last season when Jacquizz Rodgers got his shot. And it was this year against the Bears and Giants before Martin returned. (And before you start howling that Martin was good against the Patriots, consider that New England allows the most yards per carry in the NFL.) Today, Martin is out with a concussion. Look for harder more downhill running by Rodgers and Peyton Barber, coming off the Falcons game in which the run blocking was more consistent.
*It’s a near certainty that Dirk Koetter will dial up a pile of short, safe throws early for Jameis to get back into a rhythm. That’s not typical for Koetter, and Joe suspects that will be a very good thing to help remedy the Bucs’ slow starts.
*Speaking of slow starts, Green Bay is averaging four points in the first quarter through their last six games. In that stretch, the Packers are averaging 14.6 points per game. That’s a great match for your slow-starting Bucs.
*Gerald McCoy. Yes, Joe’s going to call it here, a big game for No. 93. McCoy was playing excellent football before he ran into All-Pro center Alex Mack last Sunday. Today it’s Corey Linsley at center for the Packers. He’s got a bad back and won’t be picking up Pro Bowl votes anytime soon.
December 3rd, 2017 at 4:52 am
I hope fans and media realize packers as all other teams look at us and pin it as winnable game.
We a bad team remember as record shows
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:28 am
NO doug Martin….alll season
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:29 am
That saints panthers game should be good tho
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:29 am
Or Vikings falcons
December 3rd, 2017 at 8:42 am
Football in Florida isn’t easy to watch right now. Where’s Gruden (Bucs) and Johnson (Canes)
December 3rd, 2017 at 8:48 am
Um, MB over in Orlando there is a pretty damn good football team. While my Bucs have been painful to watch, my alma mater has just wrapped up a 12-0 season and on their way to a New Year’s Day bowl, so it is bad for all Florida teams!!!!
December 3rd, 2017 at 8:49 am
Is not
December 3rd, 2017 at 8:54 am
Gerald McCoy should have a great game today…but so should the rest of the defensive line. Who knows? Maybe Gerald McCoy will get 3 sacks. That will put him at 8 and if he manages two more the rest of the season, he’ll finally break 10. IF.
J0E says “No Doug Martin”
Yeah, that might mean something, but probably not. While Hawley is a good run blocker, Kevin is only so-so. Since Marpet was a good run blocker, we have not really improved in that area, so don’t expect a sustained massive change. I believe we might see 100 yards total, which is a slight improvement, but still pretty sad.
The problem is that Licht built the line to protect Jameis. While he still go injured, it was because the line was still developing (and still is).
December 3rd, 2017 at 8:56 am
I can pretty much guarantee that Gruden will not be coaching in the NFL next year. He pulls this every year. He makes it look like he’s willing just to drive up his value and get more money.
December 3rd, 2017 at 9:19 am
Football in florida
Did you watch the ucf game yesterday and last week against usf. 2 most exciting games In years
To bad Scotty frost went bye bye
December 3rd, 2017 at 9:34 am
All apologies was referring to canes bucs not ALL football
December 3rd, 2017 at 10:21 am
Sorry quarterbacks look like all pros against us and koetter isn’t looking like a good playcaller this year and banking on GMC to have a big game while after is out is crazy, they’ll double team him because no one else can get push them GMC will use that as an excuse for being invisible
December 3rd, 2017 at 10:21 am
Bird i was at the USF/UCF game and it was bar far the most exciting game I have ever seen and that stadium was electric. I have always lived and died by the Bucs each and every Sunday. However, I have to say that a college rivalry game with two good teams competing with a lot offense blows away the NFL experience.
December 3rd, 2017 at 10:21 am
@ Bonzai: That may not be true this year.
ESPN is bleeding money very badly and the NFL is a big reason for it. Their MNF gig could be in jeopardy, and if they keep it may need to reduce expenses.
Gruden could be part of the deck shuffle, and he knows it.
December 3rd, 2017 at 10:26 am
Ah, reminiscent of the ole “Bay of Pigs” games. GO BUCS!!
December 3rd, 2017 at 10:49 am
Five reasons G.B. could lose, one reason the Bucs could lose, they suck.
December 3rd, 2017 at 10:51 am
Bonzai…funny….sure…Pittsburgh, with it’s weak D, walked all over Green Bay. Frankly, from an Offensive side, our D should be a huge relief for Hundley. And who is better against the blitz in YAK than Cobb? GB receivers should be open all day long. Now if we sack him six times…yes..we might have a chance. But since when was the Packer D line ever that bad even against a good D? Frankly, I’d be very happy to see us beat GB… makes it easier for me on my Northwoods vacations. But have you seen the Packers play?
December 3rd, 2017 at 12:04 pm
NO CHANCE.
4-12
December 3rd, 2017 at 12:33 pm
Bucs will be down 20-3 by halftime and the human ATM, America’s turnover machine, Jameis Winston, comes back with a vengeance and throws for 350 yards. Unfortunately, he also throws two picks, fumbles, and reinjures his shoulder in a slam to the frozen tundra. Hope I’m wrong, really do. Go Bucs! Bucs 17, Green Bay 38
December 3rd, 2017 at 4:10 pm
The Bucs will not..Beat the Packers in Lambeau. Dspite the packers having a rookie replacement QB. Don’t mean nothin. Because WE..Yes Our Bucs..have no DEFENSE!