Signs Of A Playoff Team?
September 18th, 2023
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Don’t worry. Joe knows how ridiculous this sounds.
Talking playoffs before September ends is outrageous if not irresponsible. Joe gets it. Joe is not confirming the Bucs are playoff-bound.
But the trends say they just may be.
As world-renowned JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman pointed out yesterday, since 1990, 64 percent of NFL teams that began their seasons 2-0 have made the playoffs.
So yeah, there’s a good chance.
And here’s this little nugget from the Bucs’ media relations office: This decade, only three teams have opened a season with at least eight sacks and at least five takeaways. The 2023 Bucs are one of them.
So what is significant about that? Well, the other two teams, the 2022 Bills and the 2022 Bucs, both made the playoffs.
Will history repeat itself?
Dare to dream, folks. Dare to dream.
Have the Bucs made themselves the favorite in the NFC South? @Joe_Davis and @DarylJohnston break down the @Buccaneers' win over the Bears pic.twitter.com/9aiMbhbb2O
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 17, 2023
September 18th, 2023 at 4:14 am
We’ve all seen the “stages of Baker Mayfield” memes on the internet. We’re at the stage of beating an inferior opponent.
Let’s ensure we don’t progress (regress?) to the other stages in the coming weeks before becoming irrationally exuberant.
September 18th, 2023 at 4:57 am
Yikes, way to freakin early!
Don’t Jinx!
Defense is playing very good, Baker is playing very good!
Team is playing very good! take it one game at a time.
Running game is still a concern! it must get better.
The run blocking has not been stellar let’s hope the
good passing opens up more explosive run plays.
GO BUCS!
September 18th, 2023 at 5:14 am
I like the defense, I ❤️ The pass rush yesterday! A lot depends on health, I don’t think the Bucs defense would be the same without Vita Vea, and the Bucs have a couple of glass CB’s.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:25 am
It’s thought we’d have a decent season but yes playoff talk is wild. Beating two playoff teams from last year will really help so let’s see what happens on the big stage against the eagles who should definitely make the playoffs.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:45 am
I’m telling they’re going to beat the Eggles. There’s total parity in this league so yes the Bucs will make the playoffs for the 4th year in a row. Btw if Canales was the OC last year we would have been an 11-12 win team. The D is better this year, Izien is the second coming of Ronde and White will get better with each game.
September 18th, 2023 at 5:50 am
playoffs?, playoffs??, you want to talk about playoffs??? (Jim Mora Jr.)
September 18th, 2023 at 5:52 am
I think we have a top shelf Defensive line but still on the fence concerning the Oline. In my opinion, we are literally one injury away from being subpar on the Oline.
September 18th, 2023 at 6:28 am
The Bucs have stubbed their toe plenty against inferior opponents. So I’ll take all the wins I can get. Bucs play quite a few teams like the Bears, stack those W’s and then pull off a unexpected win or two and who knows
September 18th, 2023 at 6:31 am
Our schedule isn’t that bad as long as we stay healthy and be confident but don’t get the big head. Let’s Go Bucs. Mayfield is getting more confident with every game but he will need to start sliding n stepping out bounds to ward off injuries 👍
September 18th, 2023 at 6:50 am
LOL @ playoff talk already. Couple things…
Jamaal Dean was straight up awful yesterday. He was an embarrassment out there.
Zion was a player yesterday! I love the progress from the kid.
September 18th, 2023 at 6:52 am
You have to give Bowles lots of credit. The team is committing few penalties and are not killing themselves. The proof will be when we play good teams. If you’re playing a good team and start trying to run out the clock with a 10 point lead, that will get you beat more times than not. Having said that, a few good wins to build confidence is very cool!
September 18th, 2023 at 6:55 am
It’s great to be 2-0! Though both these wins have been slogs against slugs. I’ll get excited with a win — or even a very competitive game — against the Iggles.
September 18th, 2023 at 6:55 am
@Leighroy . You’re a bum fan. Go pick a new team and get the heck out of here with that Bologna spit negativity.
September 18th, 2023 at 7:03 am
For those discounting the Bucs competition. The Vikings were a 13 win team last year. They lost to the Bucs, and then lost to a team that just went to the SuperBowl, on a short turnaround week, with multiple Olinemen hurt.
The babies are 2-0, just be happy instead of coming on here and posting some dumb spit about the Bucs inferior competition. Any team they beat is an inferior team. Like hello!!!!!! Mcfly!!!!!!
September 18th, 2023 at 7:03 am
The Bucs ***** not babies. Lol
September 18th, 2023 at 7:17 am
Smmoth@ like most teams the Vikings are NOT the same team as last season and their D stinks almost as bad as the Bears. Beat Philly then puff out your chests. Your still nit 1st in your shatty division.
September 18th, 2023 at 7:35 am
NE fan it must suck to live your life. You are a bed wetter who enjoys being spanked by your mother. You should go to a patriot site and find comfort
September 18th, 2023 at 7:37 am
NE Fan is just sad that both the teams the Bucs beat, beat the irrelevant Pats last year. Hard to discount wins when your team is 0-2…
September 18th, 2023 at 7:39 am
Bucs about to lose a bunch in a row. That’s ok. We anticipated this.
September 18th, 2023 at 7:40 am
Who the fook is Jeff ? Go back to your hole troll.
September 18th, 2023 at 7:43 am
@NE fan. Here’s where you are wrong. There’s been nobody on here is puffing out their chests. There is however people like you and leighroy, who are still talking down on the Bucs, which we will not stand for. Take your butt back to NE and cry about how you wish the Pats had Mayfield.
September 18th, 2023 at 7:58 am
If, and a big IF, the Bucs D can sustain some semblance of weekly sacks and picks, this team has a fighting chance. As we know all, picks are quite random, but so far this Izien kid looks sharp and hopefully the sacks keep coming.
I’m pleasantly surprised at the first 2 weeks. Decent chance of a much closer game against the Eagles, but if the Bucs truly end up being a contender, we will see slight improvements week to week, and even if we lose the Eagles, I will gain more confidence in this team.
Encouraging, and frankly, unexpected start to this season!
September 18th, 2023 at 8:20 am
Jeff is the troll that now says we predicted this but in fact go back and. Look. He predicted a Loss by the Bucs to the Bears.
September 18th, 2023 at 8:28 am
Take the picture of bowels off the article and we might
September 18th, 2023 at 8:32 am
This decade isn’t even four years old. They should say “Since 2020”.
September 18th, 2023 at 9:21 am
Geez, let’s beat Philly first and then MEBBE start the playoff chat. I just want the Bucs to play well for us fans next week. Let the best team win. joes, the great Bucs teams have always had superlative defenses. I wonder how many sacks our Dungy HOF defense had in their first two games that SB season?
September 18th, 2023 at 9:25 am
9th Ranked Defense and 16th ranked offense after two game is a good sign.
Seems it would be hard to not to go at least 5-10 the rest of the way and cover the 6.5 Wins Projected. NFC South doesn’t look like the Worse in the Conference but it’s still early.
Defense with all it’s achievements is still 3rd or 4th in the Division although that will change tonight with Panthers playing the Saints.
Packers are 2nd in Team Defense, handled the Bears easily and struggled with the Falcons. Based on that it’s hard to say where the Bucs and Falcons compare.
Bucs/Eagles are playing to a big audience Monday Night and Bucs are either going to be 3-0 or 2-1. Be nice to finally see what they look like against a Top 5 Defense and not two of the worse.
Resilient has been tossed out there. Lions got their taste of Humble Pie and we’ll see how they respond against the Falcons this week.
To allow the Dreamers to keep Dreaming let’s just leave it at Tampa won’t lose a game and we will never find out just how resilient they are.
September 18th, 2023 at 9:34 am
Last year they made the playoffs, yay! But was that a fun season to watch? Nope.
I don’t get a bonus if they make the playoffs or win a super bowl. I just want to tune in every week and watch them play a good, entertaining game for the next 15 games. If they play a game 18, then bonus, but that is just one game.
September 18th, 2023 at 10:50 am
Vikings scored 17 against Bucs and 25+ against Eagles.
September 18th, 2023 at 12:29 pm
If you think I am talking our team down, you are mistaken. I am a realist who maintains reasonable expectations, not some rosy colored sunglasses fan declaring sky is the limit on the way to 17-0.
I would love to see Baker excel and prove all the haters wrong! I just don’t expect it, and will welcome the pleasant surprise should it turn out positively. 2 games does not a season make, or else Joe Burrow is a bum and the Cowgirls are the 2nd coming of the ‘72 dolphins.
Unlike this NE clown who should take a long walk off Pier 60.
September 18th, 2023 at 1:36 pm
in case anyone wants to know… GOOD OR BAD
The GOOD 1979 2-0 to 5-0 to 10-6 and 1979 NFC championship, 1997 2-0 led to 5-0 and 10-6, Wildcard win and Division loss. 2000 a 2-0 start went to 3-0, and 10-6 with wildcard loss. 2005 2-0 led to 4-0, to 11-5 wildcard loss. 2021 2-0 start ended week 3 led to 13-4 playoff win, then loss div. round. 2022- 2-0 start ends week 3, 8-9 record, wild card loss.
The BAD: 1980 2-0 start ends week 3, ends up being 5-10-1 season. 1992 Bucs blew out two teams to go 2-0, ended 5-11. 2018 2-0 fitzMAGIC start lose week 3, fall to 5-11
and finally… YOU DECIDE! 2010 2-0 Bucs lose week 3 to a 10-6 record, miss playoffs.
in short, most 2-0 Bucs teams lose week 3. the ones that go 4-0 or 5-0 turn out to be special years.
September 18th, 2023 at 6:33 pm
The bucs have some very good players on both sides of the ball. Good things are going to keep happening.
September 18th, 2023 at 10:37 pm
The “weak” NFC South is 6-2! Exceeding all expectations. I love a good September. Keep it up Bucs!!
September 19th, 2023 at 3:52 am
We are exceeding my expectations already is how i am thinking about it.
We are showing a toughness and intensity we did not have last year.
4-0? Who knows?
Go Bucs!