The Race To 11?
August 26th, 2020
What will it take?
Packers, Vikings, Rams, Seahawks and 49ers, three of those teams are likely strong Wild Card contenders this season (remember, there are 3 Wild Cards per conference now) while two should win their respective divisions.
But wait a minute! The Bucs are a slam dunk Wild Card team.
Coming off a 7-9 record and a 6-2 finish, the Falcons think they’re a Wild Card team, too, after adding Todd Gurley and help on defense. And the Bears, the Bucs’ Week 5 opponent in Chicago, think they’re a lot better than their 8-8 record last season.
(For the purposes of this discussion, Joe’s going to pretend there are no good teams in the NFC East.)
Former Bucs general manager Mark Dominik put his foot down on the 2020 Buccaneers during his recent co-hosting duties on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“I expect them to win double digits,” Dominik said.
“They’re in line to sit there and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to try to get to 10-6 and make a run in the postseason.’”
But Dominik slammed the brakes on 10-6 being good enough, and started barking about the Packers, Vikings, Rams, Seahawks and 49ers. He said the Bucs likely have to go 11-5 and finish second in the NFC South to guarantee their playoff appearance.
“We’re running out of Wild Cards, right?” Dominik said. “Can [Tampa Bay] be better than Atlanta? I think it’ll be a battle every week. I think it’ll be really close,” Dominik said.
Joe agrees that the Bucs have a very tough road with a tough schedule. And Joe prays nightly that the Bucs find their way to a 3-2 record before they head home to face the Packers.
Regardless, Dominik’s logic is flawed because mathematically speaking, 10-6 is virtually a guarantee of making the playoffs this season, when 7 of 16 teams per conference get in. But Joe is cutting Dominik slack. He knows all about finishing 10-6 (2010) and sitting on the couch watching the playoffs.
August 26th, 2020 at 9:07 am
Great article Joe. I agree with you on other teams. It’s not as if other teams see Brady and Gronk on the roster and think their season is already over. If the Falcons aren’t hit with a bunch of injuries I expect them to be in contention for the division along with the Saints and Bucs. I don’t think 10 wins is going to be enough this year.
August 26th, 2020 at 9:29 am
11-5 or 12-4…
GO BUCS!!!!
August 26th, 2020 at 9:38 am
The dixiechicks are suspect on D…the aints are the team to beat. They will snatch defeat out of the hands of victory as usual though.
Their one n only SB win is tainted with bounty gate. Maybe it’s the football Gods taunting them.
August 26th, 2020 at 9:43 am
Anything less than 10 wins is a blow. Will 10-6 get a wild card birth? Probably, but not guaranteed. The Bucs need to set their sights on winning the Division. A tough task, but if they’re going to make it to the SB, winning the division would certainly increase their chances. Huge first game of the season!
August 26th, 2020 at 9:50 am
Please tell me why you’re so high on the Rams. I don’t think their QB is worth near what they’re paying him, and they keep losing pieces from their SB team.
August 26th, 2020 at 10:11 am
Right now, I’d be very happy winning the race to 1.
August 26th, 2020 at 10:19 am
Let the games begin! GO BUCS!
August 26th, 2020 at 10:22 am
The defense is going to be the key to winning the division. The offense is goung to light it up but the biggest factor to me will be how well the secondary improves from last season.
If the defense shines, I predict 12-4 to 13-3 and winnining the division. Also, there is always a team or two who were playoff teams the prior season who fizzle the next season.
August 26th, 2020 at 10:27 am
“Regardless, Dominik’s logic is flawed”
No way.
Who would have ever thunk?
August 26th, 2020 at 10:39 am
10 dash 6 and we are in.
August 26th, 2020 at 10:47 am
With Brady here, this team will stay level headed and keep busting their collective tail, and putting in the hard work. There is finally ACCOUNTABILITY at every postion (see QB) No one here really wants to see them lose their last game. So that means Super Bowl champs. Whether they do it or not we will see. But this sure beats anything around 1 buc place in the last 17 years, since they hoisted the Lombardi in San Diego. So Super Bowl or bust. I have been a fan since the beginning and these times have been to few. Just glad that the are good again. And Joe, I have a bag of mothballs for the moniker “The den of depression” lol At least until Brady plays his last game. lol Go BUCS!!!
August 26th, 2020 at 12:08 pm
Everyone talks as if the NFC South is an automatic win by the Saints. It’ll be closer than people think and I expect the Bucs to come out on top.
August 26th, 2020 at 12:17 pm
we gonna sweep the dirty taint’s and be crowned NFCS division champs, u can take that to the bank
August 26th, 2020 at 6:58 pm
How bout #1 seed in nfc. See y’all after the bye. You heard it here first, go Bucs.