Your Sunday Bucs-Fan Rooting Guide
November 1st, 2020
Trade option?
When the Bucs play on Monday Night Football, Joe always enjoys a full Sunday of NFL games huddled on the couch with Big Storm Beer and Hooters takeout. And preparation for that includes figuring out exactly what to keep an eye on.
The big beast on today’s schedule is the 4:25 p.m. clash of the Bears (5-2) and the Saints (4-2) in New Orleans. What massive implications this game has for our beloved Bucs!
The Bucs’ greatest chance for postseason glory comes via winning the NFC South, and it’s the path that would carry the least nonsense and stress. Therefore, Joe must wildly root for the Bears today. The Saints again will be without stud receivers Michael Thomas (hamstring) and Emmanuel Sanders (The Sickness).
However, a Bears win is bad for the Bucs in a potential Wild Card chase. If the Bears top the Saints, the Bucs absolutely have to bury New Orleans next Sunday night in Tampa and pull away in the division.
In other NFC action, Joe will scream for the Dolphins (3-3) to upset the Rams (5-3). But Joe has a hidden agenda in that game. If the Dolphins lose and the Bills (5-2) beat the Patriots (2-4), perhaps that would convince Miami they have no playoff shot and get them willing to trade Ryan Fitzpatrick by Tuesday’s deadline.
Joe knows Fitzpatrick is a far better backup QB than Blaine Gabbert, the Bucs’ No. 2 QB. And Fitzpatrick has experience with Bucs receivers. Upgrading the backup QB position would represent one more sensible all-in move for the Bucs.
Joe’s also gotta pull for the 49ers to knock off the Seahawks (5-1) in Seattle, and for Minnesota to upset the Packers (5-1) in Green Bay. Both would help the Bucs’ quest for the No. 1 playoff seed.
REMEMBER, watch Monday Night Football at the Big Storm Clearwater taproom with Ira Kaufman and fired up Bucs fans! The Sage rolls in about 6:45 p.m. Halftime giveaways include a No. 12 jersey for one lucky winner.
November 1st, 2020 at 9:04 am
I hear you Joe about the Bears tiebreaker on us, but I can easily see them going 3-5 in the second half of this season. I can see them wining today because the Saints are depleted at WR, but I just don’t see that Bears offense getting them even to the playoffs as a wild card. Having Fitzmagic back would be pretty cool, especially if we get a ring. GO BUCS!!!
November 1st, 2020 at 9:12 am
If the Bucs take care of business tomorrow and beat the saints next week, perhaps only KC can beat us. 13-3 or even 12-4 w another slip up would still be gold.
Tough to get too stressed scoreboard watching in week 8, but appreciate the viewing guide on an “off day” of sorts.
November 1st, 2020 at 9:17 am
I’d love to see Fitzmagic back. Don’t think it’s going to happen this late in the season. We really need a veteran CB.
November 1st, 2020 at 9:24 am
Be great to get Fitz back. Long shot though.
November 1st, 2020 at 9:25 am
We don’t need a backup qb. Brady has played in and finished over 95% of his games. He’s an ironman at the qb position. We do need cb backup though. I do not want to see Ryan Smith on the field because of injuries.
November 1st, 2020 at 9:30 am
The question is could we even afford to bring Fitz back, I wouldn’t be opposed to the idea if we can. Its amazing to talk about getting #1 seed instead of #1 draft position going into November. LFG BUCS
November 1st, 2020 at 9:31 am
With the way things are going, the Bucs could end up winning their division and possibly #1 seed. We will see, but I think the Bears will be a non factor for the Bucs. 3 games of note Saints, Rams, KC, and the rest they should win. If they go 2-1 in those 3 they would be 13-3, if 1-2 then 12-4. This is not a bunch of pie in the sky this year. Barring injury the Bucs will be in good shape for a #1. People can say, aren’t you getting ahead of things. No I am enjoying being a Bucs fan for the first time in 17 years since they last won the Super Bowl. This is a lot better than already talking about the Draft already which has been way too normal by now most years. GO BUCS!!!! KEEP TOM ALIVE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVE!!!!!!
November 1st, 2020 at 9:42 am
Lol @ trying to bring fitz back. He is not gonna save your season if Tom goes down lmao. Dude couldnt even take the job from jameis. Lucky for you guys Tom doesnt miss games.
November 1st, 2020 at 9:44 am
I’ve heard everybody here Bragg about how deep we are at many positions. But I can tell you all..Better hope Brady stays upright. Arians pet project Gabbert is not
that good at all. I’d take Fitz..even Jameis over him any day. Still, a lot of games to be played. And anything can/will happen.
November 1st, 2020 at 10:01 am
I think zero chance of Fitz leaving Miami, as Tua’s hip injury has not been battle tested. And he has not been hit since. Will it affect him, physically or mentally?
November 1st, 2020 at 10:09 am
A bit early for scoreboard watching.
November 1st, 2020 at 10:21 am
We need to focus on winning our games….that is all we control.
November 1st, 2020 at 10:22 am
Many of our contenders for wild card play each other … some twice
November 1st, 2020 at 10:30 am
Playoffs? Playoffs? Who said anything about Playoffs?
November 1st, 2020 at 10:57 am
Rather have saints lose today if we win the division we are in no matter what the bears do..
November 1st, 2020 at 11:05 am
Why keep talking playoff chances at 5-2?
I’m not ready to go there just yet.
November 1st, 2020 at 11:17 am
Fitz would be a nice insurance policy. Its funny to think that last year he was deemed a threat to Winston’s mental state. Even funnier that Fitz is a starter that other teams value and Winston is a 3rd string back up that never gets mentioned for any opening.
November 1st, 2020 at 11:18 am
Well then don’t be, and let the rest of us enjoy the moment.
November 1st, 2020 at 11:21 am
Easy Easy folks remember the immortal words of a certain coach many many years ago…… WE ARE 5 dash 2!!!!! How did that end up?
November 1st, 2020 at 11:26 am
Blu:
“your” season, not “our” season? It’s all in the pronouns. You’re obviously not a Bucs fan so GTFOH
November 1st, 2020 at 11:54 am
As much as I would love for Fitz to come back they need corner and online depth above all!!! Either of those positions get hit hard (look what happened to the niners speed guys on that Giants crap turf) and their playoff run is in serious jeopardy!!! Brady goes how the line goes!! …. Fitz is a good idea and love that dude and in sure he’d love to be back… But they have more pressing needs!!
November 1st, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Bears still play Tennessee and the Packers (twice).
The better route is winning the division. Screw the Wold Card thinking at this point.
Just stack the wins, and you control your destiny.
November 1st, 2020 at 12:23 pm
*Wild*
One game at a time. Just win to control your destiny.
I am ambivalent about the Bears (even though I lived in Chicago during their Super Bowl season, and saw all their home games in person), but despise everything about the Saints. No way could I ever pull for the Saints at this point in the season.
November 1st, 2020 at 1:24 pm
You nailed it JOE!!! Go BUCS!
November 1st, 2020 at 1:42 pm
We need the other NFC teams to beat up on each other if the Bucs are to have a shot at the #1 Seed. Let’s hope the Seahawks lose to the 49ers.
November 1st, 2020 at 3:48 pm
Fitz would cost about $4m, the Bucs only have about $5m available. However you could then cut Gabbert and Griffin (put one on the expanded practice squad you’d think) and eyeballing the numbers, that would free up around $1m total. So Fitz has a net cost of $3m and would free up a roster spot. I’m totally for that as this team is dead if anything happens to Brady.
Also when it comes to creating cap, the Bucs could cut McCoy and if they got a min salary player, that would free up like $200k on a prorated basis. Sounds like not much, but with such a tight cap, all that stuff adds up.
November 1st, 2020 at 4:22 pm
Packers lost and Rams are gonna lose. Good times!
November 1st, 2020 at 4:23 pm
Packers lost. Rams are gonna lose. Good times!
November 1st, 2020 at 4:28 pm
The Bucs are currently on top of their division and play the woeful Giants tomorrow night. They will still be division leaders Tuesday, even if the Saints win.
Their game has improved more since they played the Saints than the Saints game has. Beat N.O. and keep rolling. Division champ is the better ticket, it might allow a bye week.
November 1st, 2020 at 4:39 pm
if we get fitzie back i will be happy…
tom gravy and fitzie are the perfect combination plate
November 1st, 2020 at 4:41 pm
A couple of surprise upsets today.
I hope the Bucs were paying attention and come with their A-game.
Let’s not make this a trap…
November 1st, 2020 at 7:11 pm
Always nice to see a team lose to help our chanses…..but right now we arent gotta stress it. You know was who stesses the scoreboard watching? Fans after their teams lose.
Lets kick the Giants ass and then get ready to win a huge game on sunday Night.
November 1st, 2020 at 7:16 pm
Bring back Fitz. Love that guy!
November 1st, 2020 at 9:19 pm
Man yall talk bad about Jamies but Fiz is trash . I never understood the love yall have for him . Yall judged Jamies after only 5 years wich his teams has been trash on defense and SP . But yall love this guy and he been in the league for 13 or 14 years and was a starter for some teams and never played in 1 playoff game . Lol lol 😄😁😆😅🤣
November 2nd, 2020 at 8:32 am
Fitz brought some fun to the team for a few games during a bad season, but I doubt the Bucs would (or even should) give up a late draft pick and take on a contract for a position that we (arguably) have a little depth at. Gabbert is very familiar with Byron’s system, so I’d be more comfortable (but not by much) with him filling in vs. Fitz. Plus Fitz probably wants to go someplace where he could have a real shot of starting. He’s already holding a clipboard on a team he knows the offense vs. having to learn a new one.
November 2nd, 2020 at 1:41 pm
Oneilbuc – Fitz as a backup is 1000000000x better than Gabbert, but no, I wouldn’t want him starting – but he’s better than what we have, by a mile. Ideally the Bucs could pull a deal for the 3rd stringer with the Saints who is making only $1m, he already knows the offense, isn’t making hardly anything, and could step in at any moment and lead the offense without much of a dropoff, in particular with the way the o-line and running game is working. But we know the Saints aren’t trading him away, not to the Bucs.