CBS: Bucs Are No. 2 Super Bowl Favorite
December 15th, 2021
Looking up at Packers?
You have likely seen several websites that traffic in numbers claim the Bucs are the favored team to win the NFC. That doesn’t sound like a stretch.
After all, the Bucs are the defending champions and may be the healthiest they have been in weeks — and they look to return (?) furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing, fake-V-card flashing receiver Antonio Brown and defensive back Mike Edwards.
That’s not enough for Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports. Benjamin is of the belief that the Packers are the top team and his reasoning can be summed up in four words.
Drama queen Aaron Rodgers.
Benjamin has the Bucs ranked right behind the Packers at No. 2.
You’re betting against Tom Brady? The Bucs have laid a couple eggs — or threatened to — several times. Their defense has proven vulnerable. But TB12 is still at the top of his craft, and their offensive balance is as good as it gets.
Joe isn’t worried about the Packers at all. Since the Packers won the Super Bowl for the 2010 season in Rodgers’ third year as Green Bay’s starter, the Packers always find a way to choke in the playoffs. Every. Year. Like clockwork.
Even if the Packers take the No. 1 seed, Joe isn’t worried. The Packers will choke. Again.
December 15th, 2021 at 12:13 am
Devil’s Advocate: You learn from experience. GB worries me more than the Cards or LAR.
December 15th, 2021 at 12:14 am
I hope your right, Joe. But right now I wouldn’t put TB at #1. I need to see more from the defense. I also want to see a couple complete games in this final regular season stretch before I really start feeling good like I did last year with this team.
December 15th, 2021 at 12:15 am
“Even if the Packers take the No. 1 seed, Joe isn’t worried. The Packers will choke. Again.”
Hopefully, but the law of averages could surface.
December 15th, 2021 at 12:41 am
Who cares …
Playoff time. Win or go home. All the noise dont matter.
Simple , one game. Who ever plays the best moves on.
December 15th, 2021 at 12:43 am
The way this team gags away leads and goes into total dead stretches on offense – yeah. Two is actually generous for this ultra talented but very inconsistent group.
A healthy AB, all starting CBS, and a healthy DW and LVD, I’d put us at the top. But not now. We’ll do well to beat the Saints at home right now. They may not throw at all and just do what the Bills did in the 2nd half. Their defense puts Tom Brady into Tom Thumb mode.
December 15th, 2021 at 1:17 am
Idk Sly.. GB is better this year than last, but we beat them and beat them again bad. I’m much more worried about Rams, with Arizona pretty close. The difference is I think we might be able to stop Kylers legs but McVay knows how to exploit our secondary..
December 15th, 2021 at 1:19 am
Also Arod is hobbled, and was playing MUCH better ball last year. This year he’s just looking like normal Arod, not quite MVP form
December 15th, 2021 at 1:43 am
The Rams and Cards are dangerous. Our D is very vulnerable to RPO with Murray and Stafford’s ability to roll out and throw perfect timing passes. Mobile QBs kill our Defense. Not so worried about the Packers as we know how to play them. My hope is that the Rams get eliminated in the first round so we don’t have to see them again.
December 15th, 2021 at 2:29 am
If GB keeps #1 seed–it could happen that Rams beat GB… Then Rams come to us as #2 seed & we beat Rams at our house. Rams will be tough as McVay will attack secondary very aggressively…..
But , hopefully GB looses against either Ravens ,or Vikes who beat them few wks ago…..We could really use that Bye wk
December 15th, 2021 at 3:50 am
Our chances to get back to the Super Bowl TRIPLE if we get that #1 Seed.
And I don’t care how many times the Packers have choked in the playoffs. Having to potentially win at Lambeau again in an NFC Championship game, this time with a full crowd, is a tall task for any team to accomplish.
December 15th, 2021 at 4:35 am
The Bucs need that #1 seed the Packers currently sit in. It was a very rare, extremely gratifying win to go into Lambeau last year and knock the Packers out on their home field to get to the SB. I would rather not have to press that button again this year, as one thing Rodgers does as well as Brady is “remember.” Let’s set it up to bring them, or whoever, here to Tampa.
December 15th, 2021 at 4:39 am
Counting out the Packers is folly in my opinion. They have come together after Rodgers threatening to sit out/host Jeopardy/marry a fellow drama queen. They’re well coached and if they have home field again…look out.
Rams are also worrisome. The Cards? They might not even hang onto the West divisional lead ( see Rams ).
Should be a lot of fun down the stretch…only 4 regular season games to go which is hard to believe. Avenge the earlier loss to The Saints first and foremost!
December 15th, 2021 at 6:27 am
The Rams are better than the Cards and the Pack. The Bucs can beat them all if they stop doing stupid things, players and coaches.
December 15th, 2021 at 6:44 am
I watched some of the Monday night game and it occurred to me that a lot of the Card D looked positively liliputition in size compared GB’s guys. Did anyone else have this impression?
Go Bucs!
December 15th, 2021 at 6:47 am
I agree with this article. The Bucs have NOT played a dominant 4 quarters game this year. The Packers continue to do so. Packers know how to put their foot on someone’s throat. The Bucs appear not to have that same quality as they continually let lesser teams stay in games.
December 15th, 2021 at 6:51 am
aaron rodgers has kinda become a dirty grungy vermonter from burlington…
what is up with that…
#BatheYourBallsGreazyMan #LooksLikeAyePotHead
December 15th, 2021 at 6:58 am
The pack struggled with the bears . Nobody is dominating any average or better team for 4 Qtrs. The complete game crap is a cliche unless your playing the lions and even then they will have their runs. If you get 1 complete game a year your lucky.
December 15th, 2021 at 7:56 am
The defense used to bail out the offense. Now the roles are reversed. Who would have thunk it?
December 15th, 2021 at 9:22 am
@Kentucky Buc
The “complete game” idea is not a cliche. I’m not suggesting that the Bucs should blowout every team they play. But this team consistently plays one good half of football. Sometimes it’s the first half and sometimes it is the second half. With the roster we have we should have never let the Eagles, and Bills back into the game. WFT and Saints should have never beat us. Go look at the Patriots last 6 or 7 games. They have put together 4 to five dominate performances, with a rookie QB and a team not as talented as ours.
December 15th, 2021 at 9:32 am
Easily GB is the biggest obstacle. I don’t think AZ has the oline to match up against Bucs D which will limit Conners run attack. No doubt Hopkins and Green are great and the addition of Ertz doesn’t suck so that would absolutely be a shootout. Rams, the loss of Woods killed their pass attack. OBJ is coming around but Strafford is shaky. I think 49ers are a sleeper, solid O & D and well coached. Play the games and see where the chips fall.
December 15th, 2021 at 9:38 am
The thought has crossed my mind more than once that the Shield would like an LA vs LA in LA Super Bowl.
We’ve got a good shot if the Shield prefers TB Vs. NE.
Anyway you look at it, defense wins championships, and our D ain’t near there yet. We don’t even tackle.
December 15th, 2021 at 10:34 am
The return of a healthy AB (going no where) and Edwards is a gigantic leap going into the playoffs as well if we can see a healthy Whitehead return at some point.
December 15th, 2021 at 10:36 am
Rodgers already has his built in excuse with his toe injury. We have seen this before. GB is the doormat the NFC champ steps over to get to the SB. This isnt a surprise because the difference between Rodgers and Brady has always been that Rodgers gets the season long accolades while TB12 collects the hardware. We all know Brady isnt coming off the field inside the red zone in a big game, and he isnt likely to pout and throw the whole organization under the bus for his failings.
December 15th, 2021 at 10:45 am
SOEbuc, what a Debbie downer. The return of AB & Edward’s would be a huge boost to this team. What team in the NFL has the DB’s and LB’s that can cover Gronk, Evan’s, Godwin & 7 time probowler, SB MVP Brown? Not to mention Brate, Johnson, Scotty & now Perriman?
December 15th, 2021 at 10:56 am
Na green Bay will I think come more prepared this year… Seems different for some reason?? I hope we don’t have to go through green Bay again to get to the super bowl it would be a game that everyone would need to show up
December 15th, 2021 at 11:07 am
Rodgers: one super bowl in 14 years. Really lucky to beat Zona. Football Outsiders ranks Greenbay 10, Buccaneers 1.
December 15th, 2021 at 11:28 am
Yeah bud most teams play 1 good half and then adjustments are made. Show me who’s playing four quarters .
December 15th, 2021 at 12:19 pm
The Bucs are vulnerable. The defense is shaky. It will bite them at some point in the playoffs. I hate to say it, but it’s just not a SB team with a defense that gives away a 3 score lead and nearly loses a game they should have walked away with. 🤷🏼♂️
December 15th, 2021 at 12:23 pm
We need to beat the dam Saints this week. They have owned us during the regular season for a long time… If we can’t beat the Saints this week it will set the tone for the rest of the season including the playoffs.
Go Bucs!!!
December 15th, 2021 at 12:27 pm
We are 16-5 against the Saints since 2011… Not good.
December 15th, 2021 at 12:29 pm
I disagree Joe. The one certainly in the NFL is change. Eventually the clockwork finally changes direction. Michigan is terrific this year but they beat Ohio State even though they “always choke”. IMHO, the Bucs need to win out and Ravens beat the Pack. If Green Bay gets a first round bye and home field, they will go to SB. They are a great team and , like the Bucs, are undefeated at home. Go Ravens !
December 15th, 2021 at 12:32 pm
Remember that a lot of great QBs were once called chokers. Elway, Is one example and there are many others too.
December 15th, 2021 at 12:33 pm
Lstnfrmar
Im confused???Opposite of being a downer on this side. If you prefer Cockrell or Sherman to Edwards or Whitehead going into the playoffs, be my guest. Bucs 5-0 with AB Sooooo….And Scotty has a bad toe still.
December 15th, 2021 at 12:38 pm
The Bucs are #1 until they are knocked off the hill… We already proved last year that home field advantage is not necessary in order to win a SB.
December 15th, 2021 at 7:15 pm
Another concern: we see no matter what injuries teams have the Covid can take any playoff team any game to disaster. I’m convinced the Bucs and Green Bay are for real Bucs have to win out and have capable 3rd. 4th string as all other teams are going to have too. Question: Bucs or Green Bay have enough?
December 16th, 2021 at 7:33 am
Rodgers is playing better than Brady for sure. There has not been a game outside the season opener where it felt like Rodgers made errant throws and contributed to Packers loss or them struggling to move the chains. He has been balling and getting the most out of a mediocre supporting cast. Brady’s highs are GOAT like, but he’s had lapses from time to time.
December 16th, 2021 at 12:28 pm
Brady has had the third quarter blues for years, unless he’s down, like, 24 points to Peyton Manning at the half. Aaron is the opposite. Good at holding a lead, but don’t count on him to win with pressure in the fourth quarter.
December 16th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
For now I’m just not seeing the intensity, energy or excitement on the field from our BUCS. I hope something gets them fired up. And soon!