Keeping The Mojo Rolling
October 13th, 2023
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
The Bucs were on a roll before the bye. Not only have they won three of their first four games, but the Bucs rolled the slimy Saints in their own voodoo-laced crib (Joe likes to call it “Lincoln’s Tomb” because the place is dark like Lincoln’s Tomb and given its location, maybe just as haunted).
But man, Joe doesn’t blame a Bucs fan at all for being disappointed that the bye week came at the wrong time. The team was playing good football.
Did the Bucs lose their mojo with the bye? There’s only one way to tell, and that will come Sunday on Creamsicle Day when the Lions come to town. Bucs coach Todd Bowles spoke today about the possible loss of momentum.
“It’s tough. I’ve been on both ends of that before,” Bowles said. “Obviously, when you have a bye week when you’re winning, you want to keep going, but when you’re banged up, you want to take a bye week.
“Getting back into the swing of things and getting used to the grind of the middle of the season is usually different for a lot of people. Hopefully we come out with the same energy we had before we left.”
To be fair to Bowles, the Bucs were banged up. The Bucs had at least three starters who may have not been able to suit up had the Bucs played last weekend. Jamel Dean, Mike Evans and Calijah Kancey each got extra days to heal up. Devin White was playing with a bad groin and foot, so that extra time helped him heal, too. Same with Carlton Davis’ toe.
Given how so many important guys are mending, maybe this early bye week did come at the right time, momentum or no momentum.
October 13th, 2023 at 4:26 pm
I know this isn’t a division game and isn’t the same as beating the A’ints in their house. But for some reason it feels really big and I’m not exactly sure why. Like after we win some alien will appear and say, we were going to destroy the earth if The Bucs lost but now we will sore you. 😂
October 13th, 2023 at 4:28 pm
I thought this bye couldn’t have come at a better time. Especially with as many rookies as we’ve got, it was really good for them to get this 1st quarter to review and adjust.
October 13th, 2023 at 4:29 pm
Well, Lincolns Tomb had a better coach than what the Non-Saints have.
October 13th, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Stopping the run will force Lions to throw the ball which can lead to turnovers
October 13th, 2023 at 4:56 pm
Once again the national media talking heads give the Bucs no chance Sunday. That gives me great confidence we’re gonna get the win.
October 13th, 2023 at 5:12 pm
Tough game even with everyone healthy. We need to play error-free, complimentary football to pull this off. A quick start would be very helpful. I mean if we come out of this 4-1 by beating the Lions, the talking heads won’t have but one story line – the Bucs need to be taken seriously!
October 13th, 2023 at 5:23 pm
I think our bye week came at the perfect time. Gave a chance for players to heal and our OC to improve what’s working for us and stop doing what’s not working. Our players will be confident and play their best this Sunday. Bucs win 23-17
October 13th, 2023 at 6:22 pm
Daniel Jeremiah is the only one that gave us chance. I also remember Jeremiah being a big fan of Kancey to the Bucs. Coincidence? Maybe, but I like to believe Jeremiah knows the impact Kancey may very well have in this game.
October 13th, 2023 at 6:48 pm
The bye week always comes at the right time. This team is a lot younger than it was last year, so having that earlier week to learn can be seen as a benefit. A later bye may give benefit if we are talking playoffs, but I cant go there just yet.
October 13th, 2023 at 6:52 pm
Except for injury rehab, I have never thought playing after the bye was a good thing, because you DO lose the “mojo” you develop during the season grind.
What is Bowles & the Bucs record the last decade for the game after a bye?
October 13th, 2023 at 7:38 pm
The team desperately needed to heal so in that sense it was a great bye week.
As far as losing their “Mojo” I’m not too concerned. In fact if they’re going to lose their “Mojo” this is a good week to do it. The Bucs do not need this win since they have a road win against the Division favorite Saints in the bank.
If they lose and learn it’s OK…again 3/4’s of the season lays ahead and one of the posters here, wish I could remember and give him credit, correctly pointed out that it isn’t how teams are playing now, it’s how they come together over the course of the season and hit their peak right at the playoffs. Can you say the 2021 Super Bowl Champs?
October 13th, 2023 at 8:25 pm
This Bye hit at the right time. A new OC, QB, HC who finally is the HC, and a bunch of starting rookies got a break to assess where they’re at. The vets got a chance to rest. The Defense is ready even if Shaq is out sick. I’m going to be listening to how the ST does. This game is gonna be a classic Cardiac Bucs. I sure hope a ton of Bucs fans show up. Pewter Report had a podcast with Dungy on it. He is favoring Bucs though he said it’s going to be a dogfight.
October 13th, 2023 at 8:41 pm
Cobraboy Says:
October 13th, 2023 at 6:52 pm
Except for injury rehab, I have never thought playing after the bye was a good thing, because you DO lose the “mojo” you develop during the season grind. What is Bowles & the Bucs record the last decade for the game after a bye?
Bye week gives teams a competitive advantage because they have an extra week to prepare and plan for their opponents. Good coaches have a winning record playing after a bye week
October 13th, 2023 at 9:03 pm
The bye week did come at a perfect time but still, I only give the Bucs a 25% chance of winning this game which is far better than the 10% chance I gave them of beating Philly.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m a true blue Bucs fan and think they are doing amazing, all things considered. It’s just too early in the season for a team with a new QB, new OC, new O-line (with re-arranged pieces) and an average, at best, RB to compete with the best teams in the NFL.
Give them another six weeks to gel, and this Bucs team might very well have a chance to beat any and every team in the NFC.
Only time and injuries will tell ….
October 13th, 2023 at 9:41 pm
@Jack Clark: prove it. Show me the records if Bowles and the Bucs through history.
October 13th, 2023 at 9:45 pm
Need to get better play from the middle 3 on the O-line and keep everyone else healthy. If Bucs can do that, they can hang with anyone besides, perhaps, the 9ers, Bills, or Phins… (However, on any given Sunday, anything is possible. 🤞)
October 13th, 2023 at 10:46 pm
@Cobraboy…Since Bowles has been here his record after the bye is 0-4. All of those bye weeks came in October, November, and December.
October 13th, 2023 at 11:20 pm
Creamsicle’s huh?
All I’ve got to say is the Bucs have come a long long ways since the days of when ‘capece was kaput’, and rod jones turned to ‘toast jones’ Again.
Keep up the intensity gentlemen! Go Bucs
October 13th, 2023 at 11:56 pm
Before the season started, I predicted Mayfield would self destruct by game 6.
This game is his first true test. The Eagles were an okay, not great team. The Lions? The are supposed to be really good this year, though I have not kept up with them so I’m getting this second hand.
Assuming they are very good and I hope they are…Baker Mayfield doing extremely well against them will score points with me.
Even if we don’t win (and I hope we do), so long as Mayfield still plays well, I’ll give him credit.
Not that my opinion counts for much.
I still have the feeling that the Mayfield bubble is going to burst. It has nothing to do with Brady, Trask, or anyone else. It has to do with Mayfield himself.
The whole thing reminds me of…Fitzmagic. A trap.
October 14th, 2023 at 12:23 am
What about a banged up Lions team has people so worried?
Even Lions fans are saying if they were at FULL STRENGTH, they BELIEVE they would win. They also said they think the Bucs do win because of all the injuries.
There secondary is decimated (They brought in CJGJ and Emmanuel Mosley) specifically to fix the back end and CB spots and they are both out for the year. Jonah Jackson starting LG is out. RB Jahmyr Gibbs is Out. Backup RB Knight is OUT. Laporta has a calf injury. Doctor said soft tissue injuries late in the week is NEVER a good thing. HE is gonna TRY to play but could actually hurt it worse. He will ne hobbled in the pass and blocking plays.
Yet people still say this TEAM is the one of the best and we have a 25% chance of winning LMAO.
Seriously?
What about this game makes you think At Home, after a Bye, with Tampa COMPLETELY healthy and the Lions COMPLETELY NOT HEALTHY gives Tampa a 25% chance?
Good God, I can’t wait for you sissies to see THIS GAME.
October 14th, 2023 at 12:34 am
At SI there were 10 analysts who made picks.
The Consensus?
Bucs 6 Lions 4
Please point out that MOST of the media is picking Detroit?
Go look for yourselves.
Bad Information SMH
October 14th, 2023 at 2:09 am
Mojo? The team has looked alot more intense and Physical in the first four games than they did at any point last year. Many blame Brady for the lack of intensity, but to me that is just BS.
Some guys looked like they did not want to be there last year…mostly on offense. Tom was/is criticized for getting fired up on the sidelines…sometimes on the field.
I for one do not blame him at all. When you are a competitor and you see teammates mailing it in, and making stupid mistakes, it tends to make you angry. Especially when you yourself are giving it everything you got.
Que the Old Man Brady haters who will point out his two missed preseason practices.
Go Bucs!
Go Bucs!
October 14th, 2023 at 2:16 am
Honestly do Bye weeks ever really come at a bad time folks?
“OMG, we were playing so well and had zero injuries and now this bye week just messed everything up!”
LOL
Go Bucs!
October 14th, 2023 at 5:09 am
With that extra week off they should be so prepared for the next game they should know their every move and crush them unless they just laid on their arses
October 14th, 2023 at 5:19 am
BillyBucco … ‘What about a banged up Lions team has people so worried?’
Was wondering exactly the same thing after reading the article & all the comments. SB 2020 deja vu? Chiefs were the favorites, BUT … they were banged up & we capitalized on those weaknesses. We’ve had any number of games where we were the banged up favorites, but got our shorts handed to us.
I like Tony Dungy’s prediction that the Bucs will win but this’ll be a dogfight. Our offense has scored an average of 21 PPG & our defense has allowed 17 PPG average. Picking that as the final score: Bucs 21 Lions 17. To make that happen, we’ll need to win the Turnover Battle by PLUS 2 (again, our average this season thus far).
October 14th, 2023 at 6:48 am
Bonzai
“The Eagles were an okay, not great team.”
Bonzai has Mayfield hate destroyed your mind? The Eagles are an OK team?
Really? You may be the only follower of the NFL who calls the Eagles OK. They are freaking FIVE AND OH!!! A perfect record is only OK?
“Even if we don’t win (and I hope we do), so long as Mayfield still plays well, I’ll give him credit.”
No you won’t Bonzai. You’ve been saying that for several weeks now. If Mayfield plays lights out like he did on the road against N.O. you will come back and say the Lions were overrated and play the card you’ve already revealed.
“The are SUPPOSED to be really good this year, though I have not kept up with them so I’m getting this second hand.”
Great out…you can always say the friends or second hand info was clearly bogus.
You have the right to wait for the entire season before crowning Mayfield as even decent. I am beginning to wonder why you refuse to accept that a Heisman trophy winning, first pick in the NFL draft, second place finisher in Rookie of the year balloting, leader of the first Browns playoff team in decades is expected to fail.
If you questioned whether his shoulder might fail again that would at least be rational…but totally ignoring his success…one has to wonder if you’re now actually rooting for him to fail.
October 14th, 2023 at 7:14 am
It’s got to be the defense, to regain the mojo. Maybe Kancey will be another spark.
October 14th, 2023 at 8:42 am
DR, you must have watched the same Dungy podcast I did. He picked the Bucs, but cautiously. I would like to see them break another losing record: win a game AFTER a Bye. Bucs’ record isn’t too great there. They were reporting that the Lions were getting banged up during the Carolina game. Panthers lost, but they put a few more bruises on the Motown Boyz. Looks like the weather may shape up to be decent, no heat index of 100-plus. Ugh!
October 14th, 2023 at 12:57 pm
Cobraboy Says:
October 13th, 2023 at 9:41 pm
@Jack Clark: prove it. Show me the records if Bowles and the Bucs through history.
lol Bowles and the Bucs are not a good historically, but Andy Reid and Bill Belichick are. Belichick is 15-7 after the bye week and Andy Reid is 29-6 after the bye week
October 14th, 2023 at 7:10 pm
@Jack Clark: I only care about the Bucs, not the others. It is Bowles team, not Reid or Belichick.
Surrender noted.
I can tell you, as a former player, that I hated breaks in the season. Once you get your mind focused on the season, a break in routine takes at least one game to get your mind right again.
Which is why I am not particularly optimistic vs. the Lions.