9-8 Would Be A Good Bucs Season Whether You Like It Or Not
December 31st, 2023
Joe was somewhat appalled by the intensity of negativity today on social media when it comes to a loud minority (majority?) of Bucs fans.
Yes, the Bucs were embarrassing at home against the Saints. No excuses. But the team remains 8-8 with a league-leading number of rookies playing, and with a roster that was handcuffed to start the season by the extravagant spending of the Tom Brady era.
General manager Jason Licht had a record amount of dead salary cap to start the year, as in money he couldn’t spend on players. Throw in season-ending injuries to two expensive dudes on the payroll, Russell Gage and Ryan Jensen, and it’s actually very cool that the Bucs are 8-8.
Joe isn’t celebrating mediocrity, but it’s ludicrious to have a tantrum because the Bucs are an average team.
Joe watches at least five NFL games a week, including during preseason. There are not a bunch of great football teams out there. Heck, look at how the Eagles have imploded through this season, including today at home. You think Dolphins fans think their team showed up today for a huge game?
The passion of Bucs fans is beautiful. Joe is as passionate as the next guy, but not when it comes to thinking this Bucs team at 8-8 is a total train wreck. Joe hasn’t lost sight of picking the Bucs to be 8-8 at this point in the season.
Yeah, Joe expects the Bucs to win the division next week with a 9-8 record and, if coaches can wake the hell up, be a competitive club in the playoffs.
Sorry, haters, Joe knows you despise that kind of talk. Thanks for reading and have fun studying the NFL Draft tomorrow.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:21 pm
How many teams have we played this year with a winning record just out of curiosity? Any team with the pulse is curb-stomped us.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:22 pm
Father Dungy was fired for less.
This was a must-win game.
Getting dominated by Derek Carr and Dennis Allen, at home, is enough to be fired. This duo of QB and head coach are not the answer.
A win next week is fool’s gold. Show me a playoff win, followed up by a “not an ass whooping” effort to consider me curious for another year of these two.
No thanks. Today lost me.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:23 pm
8-8 and I guarantee they will lose to the Panthers who should have beaten them a couple weeks ago
December 31st, 2023 at 5:23 pm
Can’t dominate the worst division in football, at home. Nope.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:25 pm
If they finish 9-8 and make the playoffs, that is a great year, for sure.
I’m no Baker fan, and if he can shake off today’s horrific game, the worst of the season by him, where he single handedly lost the game and didn’t give his team a chance, if he can recover from that and go to Carolina, against a very good Panthers pass defense, and have a good game, and carry that into the playoffs, it will go a long ways towards removing the bust label.
But they need to actually make the playoffs and win next week before I’ll start talking about that. People this week acted like the Bucs already had this wrapped up and were buying their SB tickets.
Lets just hope they can not drop the ball next week in what is literally the easiest game the Bucs could have on their schedule – and that’s what worries me with Baker and Bowles at the helm. The pressure is on them not to screw it up, and hopefully they can actually come through.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:25 pm
Who wrote this?
Is this the dude from Ricky Bobby’s pit crew?
December 31st, 2023 at 5:25 pm
NYbucsfan Says:
December 31st, 2023 at 5:21 pm
How many teams have we played this year with a winning record just out of curiosity? Any team with the pulse is curb-stomped us.
—
We just beat the jags so give that one a rest.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:27 pm
Rod,
If we lose next week they’re both gone.
If we win next week and lose in the playoffs, they should both be gone.
If we win at least one playoff game, and don’t get sent home in an “ass whooping”, then bring them back. But anything less is “mid”.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:28 pm
1-6 against teams with a winning record.
Nice mental gymnastics and spin, Tony Marks, lol!
December 31st, 2023 at 5:29 pm
My sentiments exactly on a prior thread tonight. However, I still don’t keep Bowels. He needs to go. Baker, I’m maybe 60% I would like to resign him. He is a bit above average as a starting QB. He’s good enough to win a whole lot if you can get us more studs on both sides of the ball. He’s certainly not a 30M man though, in my opinion.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:29 pm
Baker Mayfield is TRASH and so is our offensive coordinator. AVERAGE AT BEST!
December 31st, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Stop making excuses for this pathetic embarrassment of a team.
Shame on you Joe.
We have not over achieved in any way whatsoever. Destroying the Jags was our only win against a “good” team (who happened to be melting down at the time).
December 31st, 2023 at 5:30 pm
You actually have been celebrating mediocrity all season, Joe. Let’s be honest here.
We should have started our backup QB all season and have the team collapse for a top one or two 1st round picks.
Now if we win next weekend, we will actually be worse off. We’ll be stuck with Bowels and Baker for another year or two before we finally take our medicine and collapse to rebuild. This is the worst outcome for the franchise if you are a true fan. We will never ever EVER win a superbowl with Bowles and Baker. Ever.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:32 pm
Joe is correct. All the pundits had them pegged for a 2-3 win season because: a lot of talent left the building due to the cap, 1/4 of the team were rookies, and the pulled Mayfield out of the scratch and dent bin. They’ve overachieved
December 31st, 2023 at 5:33 pm
No, 9-8 isn’t a good season.
Not when you start 3-1, and have a 4-0 streak in December.
9-8 means you puked all over your own *********** for the majority of the season.
HORRIBLE COACHING!
December 31st, 2023 at 5:33 pm
Awful scheme today, I’ll be in Charlotte next Sunday
December 31st, 2023 at 5:33 pm
But good enough for the Glazers. 7 wins came against bottom feeders.
WHICH ONE OF YOU WANTS TO RUN IT BACK! I’ve seen enough of this coaching staff. All you have to do is bracket Mike Evans and this offense is nothing
December 31st, 2023 at 5:34 pm
***** FREE KYLE TRASK *****
December 31st, 2023 at 5:35 pm
-Its obvious now that the Bucs media is part of the problem with this organization.
LOL –Joe
For the record, Joe never wrote that Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield need to return, only that calling 9-8 a bad season for this year’s group is outrageous. –Joe
December 31st, 2023 at 5:35 pm
Sorry Joes but you’re wrong on the take. It’s not the record we’re upset about it’s the lack of preparedness and intensity that you, Joes, even wrote about. Fans see it for what it is. Bowles is not a leader, yes players like him but the way he is outcoached is nauseating. Do we really think if Arians were the HC we would have come out this flat? Sorry but Bowles has got to go 👋👋
Where did Joe write to keep Todd Bowles? Joe firmly believes every Bucs team should do what’s in its best interest. Head coach needs to be evaluated. –Joe
December 31st, 2023 at 5:36 pm
No way this team with Todd can win another game. Bet the farm on the Panthers to win outright. Todd’s signature – at the most critical point of the season in the most important game of the season, have a week of practice and a gameplan that inspires sloppy, flat, no energy, no creative play. For once the defense did its job. Interesting that when the offense was for Ed to go deep, the Bucs did it at will.
If Bowles wants to keep his job, he will order Canales to gameplan like it’s 2021. But he won’t. And someone needs to tell Palmer that going to the ground untouched does not constitute being down. Moron.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:37 pm
Rod Munch Says:
December 31st, 2023 at 5:25 pm
If they finish 9-8 and make the playoffs, that is a great year, for sure.
I’m no Baker fan, and if he can shake off today’s horrific game, the worst of the season by him, where he single handedly lost the game
—-
Mush selling hard
but no one wilth a brain is buying that load of nonsense even a for a nickel.
IF anyone lost tha game by themselfit was Canales with going to the run game over and over when it wasn’t working. So obvious the covergae guys kept coming back to it ove and over.
Canales is like the opposite side of your stupidity where you argue running backs are not needed at all in the NFl.
as for all the rest – You have no choice. Bakr has forced you because the record is already good enough that a single game more and it shuts you up for the post season.
You had the bucs winning at most 6 ( after you revised it from 5 when the tea lea s were against you ). Thats already shown to be moronic so you own that as well.
One game can’t save the mush from being a bust
December 31st, 2023 at 5:37 pm
The playoff game will be a good thing for Tampa. But it means we get Bowles back again next year for probably a worse result and delays the much needed reset and purge. The one home playoff is a money maker. I don’t care about the draft position because we always blow it it the first round.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:37 pm
I love how Joe and some certain Bucs fans are okay with being an average team that’ll never be able to compete with top tier teams as long as are in contention in a horrible division to maybe make it to a playoff game. lol, what a loser mentality
December 31st, 2023 at 5:38 pm
Joe you’re 💯 on this one. Many fans, myself included were ready for a VERY rough season, considering the cap, the youth, and the changes in the staff. This team has had its ups and downs, and is trending upwards, as opposed to being in a tailspin. The fact that we have a chance to win the division next week is something our fans should be happy for. Not many teams get a shot at the playoffs. I’d take this any year over being eliminated by Halloween and hoping and dreaming about the draft. GTFO to all the negativity and Go Bucs!
December 31st, 2023 at 5:38 pm
The run game set up those last minute garbage bombs….HAHAHA
December 31st, 2023 at 5:39 pm
No way they tank Bowles if the Bucs win the division. No chance.
How many coaches have been fired after winning two division titles in their first two years? Todd would be the first.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:39 pm
@Tony, my mistake. I don’t know how I could have overlooked them with all of the Super Bowl talk surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars. The sad thing is that’s probably the best team we beat all year.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:40 pm
SteveK Says:
December 31st, 2023 at 5:27 pm
Rod,
If we lose next week they’re both gone.
————
If I’m the Glazers, that would be my move for sure.
But if they win, you really have no choice but to bring back Bowles – I mean he wasn’t handed a very good team and if he can have a winning record and make the playoffs, it would be hard to fire him. As for Mayfield, it would 100% be based on his play next week and then, if they win, in the playoffs. If he recovers from today’s disaster and plays great next week and in the playoffs, then I’d bring him back on a 1-year deal, assuming I get the deal done with Evans first. To be clear, I still assume he’d fall on his face next year, but if he wins and plays well down the stretch, and today was outliner, then maybe he turned the corner, and you’d take a one-year flyer on that since we’re not going to get a top QB in the draft anyways.
But yeah, both of their jobs should be on the line next week – although I still hate to lose Bowles and would love to be able to demote him to DC. Maybe we can talk Arians into coming back for a year?
December 31st, 2023 at 5:41 pm
The opening drive for seven seemed to say waht was going to happen. To me it was a tell. I just knew how bad it was going to be.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Tony marks – I was asking earlier who the Baker Bois would blame for today, and there we go, it was Canales.
Always someone else to play.
Literally down 20-0, and Baker has under 100 yards passing and two INTs and is playing his worst game of the season, holding the ball forever, missing guys who are open all over the field — but it’s always someone else’s flat. Always.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Dave Pear Says:
December 31st, 2023 at 5:36 pm
No way this team with Todd can win another game. Bet the farm on the Panthers to win outright
——
if You felt tht way then you would put everythng you have on the game next week. The fact that you won’t just shows how much lying you are doing
“And someone needs to tell Palmer that going to the ground untouched does not constitute being down. Moron.”
NO real moron. The kid is a rookie and lost control of the ball . He did NOT intentionally fumble so caling hima moron for that makes you one.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:43 pm
I say, give everyone a participation trophy…. Just for showing up.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:44 pm
If this franchise is happy with mediocrity then by all means keep Bowels and resign Mayfield. 8-8 or even 9-8 is about as good as it gets for those two.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:44 pm
Everyone take a deep breath for a second and think about how some here are celebrating a 8 maybe 9 win season like it’s winning the superbowl.
What is wrong with you people?! The only thing that matters every year is winning the superbowl- nothing else. There are no moral victories for winning a disappointing division and making the playoffs.
How did come certain Bucs fans lose sight of that ? It’s a loser mentality. You are either in the running to win it, or you’re collapsing to rebuild it. What the Bucs are doing is the dumbest thing. Playing just good enough to not get draft pics and not being good enough to come close to being a contender. We are rutterless
December 31st, 2023 at 5:44 pm
NYbucsfan Says:
December 31st, 2023 at 5:39 pm
@Tony, my mistake. I don’t know how I could have overlooked them with all of the Super Bowl talk surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars. The sad thing is that’s probably the best team we beat all year.
———
Yeah, but Baker and Bowles beat the 15 point spread in San Fran, and then celebrated afterwards talking about a moral victory, that should count for something.
Anywho, if the duo can avoid falling flat on their face next week in Carolina, they’ll have their chance to make a statement win in the playoffs, at home.
Again, assuming they can actually win next week.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:47 pm
Hey, Doomers. One thing I agree with you on. They blow it next week against the official Worst Team in the League, then I yell for Bowles’ head. Until then, just remember, this is Year One of a rebuild job. The Bucs are two years away from true contention. 8-8 is as good as we had any reason to expect.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:50 pm
Sorry Joe, but Bowles and his coaches have shown too many times they can’t prepare this team every week. 9-8 means Bowles stays. I don’t want that. Next week’s game should be a blowout. Panthers are packing and calling the movers. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs aren’t ready next week and if they win it’s a very close game.
Kellen Moore new HC and a higher draft pick is better than getting blown out at home in the 1st round of the playoffs.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:51 pm
It’s been a great season and Baker and Bowles are both coming back. It is very difficult to sweep a team like the Saints. A bunch of chicken little, the sky is falling. If anything this is good for us because it brings down the value of Baker’s next contract. We will handle our business next week and earn another division title and another home playoff game. And hopefully I will be there
December 31st, 2023 at 5:53 pm
I expected 6 wins this season, anything more is gravy
Yet, I do not believe Bowles is the long term answer at HC and the more seasons we have him, the longer this type of game keeps showing up 8 or so times a year
We looked EXACTLY like the 1-6 Bucs of Oct/Nov today
The inconsistency is the only thing that is consistent under Bowles
December 31st, 2023 at 5:54 pm
Rod Munch Says:
December 31st, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Tony marks – I was asking earlier who the Baker Bois would blame for today, and there we go, it was Canales.
Always someone else to play.
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The problem you have Muuuush is that it wasn’t my call or any “Baker Bois”. It was the call of the broadcast team that kept asking why Canales was still going to the run
OF course it was canales. . those of us that can count know we had 12 throws proactically to the end of the half.
TWELVE
All can also see what happened when we finally abandoned the run heavy though not working strategy.
Two TDS in short order
YEs an int hurt us taking a field Goal away but the second we were already down several scores so doesn’t explain why we were already down.
Besdies you can’t even start to indict Baker ove Ints. He’s had ten the whole season. you lose
Now to be fair I dont expect you to understand any of this. Football generally eludes you why you make up such giberish as “running the ball in the air”.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:57 pm
Why do the Bucs seem to lose at home more.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:58 pm
Canales probably blew any chance he had of becoming a head coach next year. That was the worst play calling I’ve seen in a long time. You can’t just pound the rock on the Saints. Why weren’t we throwing to White? He needed the ball in open space. I thought Canales had already figured this out. He totally regressed today
December 31st, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Great post Joe. I think what we see here in the comments is just the passion of the fans. Regardless of the personnel involved we all wanted this win and we all felt the team could win this game.
I remember before the season started, some of the “expert” predictions were saying the Bucs would be the worst team in the league. Some of us here believed we could get to around 8 wins and that’s right where we are. One more win and we are in.
We have places to improve for sure but for all the reasons stated by Joe this is a good season for the Bucs. We have a young team with young players making significant contributions in terms of snaps. We will actually have cap space next season and several contracts that can be restructured to create more space. We will have a more experienced OC calling the plays.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Tony marks Says:
… kept asking why Canales was still going to the run
———-
Probably because Mayfield was terrible today, holding the ball forever, missing guys who were wide open, then when he did throw the ball he was just checking it down.
What exactly are you supposed to do when your QB is having his worst game of the year, in the biggest game of his career? As an OC, you’re trying everything to take some pressure off the QB who is in the middle of a complete collapse.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:01 pm
Face it. Bowles and Co. are going to be baaack next yaer. Ain’t it grand?
December 31st, 2023 at 6:01 pm
no
December 31st, 2023 at 6:02 pm
The way the team loses is disrespectful to the fans. It showed that the team didn’t care enough to even be competitive. The saints are also 8-8 and we couldn’t even be competitive with them. It’s disgusting. I spend a lot of money on being a fan of this team weather it’s gear or going to the games and I expect the coaching staff and the players to give it all they have every week. There is no excuse for this, if the Bucs puts up 20 points and loses on the last drive it’s a different story but they didn’t they imploded especially when we’ve seen this same team win by 20 points. This coaching staff to soft and doesn’t hold people accountable. When Arians came here he immediately saw Vernon hardgrevs loafing and cut him he caught Leonard fournette pouting and he said suckitup or we will cut you, he called out Brady for playing poorly more than once. Todd Bowles doesn’t coach these guys up like that he’s flat like the team plays
December 31st, 2023 at 6:04 pm
We just came off winning a Super Bowl and two division titles. We’re going to beat the panthers next week and go to the playoffs with another division title. Anyone who’s crying about this season isn’t a Bucs fan. Sorry.
We went all in on the Brady era and now we’re dealing with the consequences. And even though there are consequences, we’re going to win another division title and go to the playoffs.
Do any of you remember what it was like to be a Bucs fan before Brady? If you do, then you wouldn’t be having a meltdown today.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:05 pm
Welcome to Bucs fandom joe
December 31st, 2023 at 6:06 pm
We lost five what should’ve been winnable games this year to Falcons, Bills,
Texans, Colts, Saints due to conservative play calling, poor clock management, n overall poor coaching.We went from a potential 14-3 team to possibly another 8-9 season. The only reason Bowles is our head coach is because of BA. It’s evident that he lacks what it takes to be a head coach. Bowles must go.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:06 pm
@Lombardi Lenny is right. This team should have bit the bullet this season. Signing Dean was dumb. Signing Baker was pointless. We had a ridiculous amount of dead cap, and this upcoming draft has a lot of QBs. The strategy should have been to eat all the debt, start your 2nd round pick, and see where the chips fall. Best case is a season like we’ve seen this year. Worst case, we get a very high draft pick. The plan was bad.
Now we’re in the middle of nowhere with a bad HC and an up-and-down QB.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:08 pm
Also that cheap shot on Mayfield at the end was total bs. The Honey Badger should have been ejected for that hit with a huge fine and suspension next week. The ball was long gone and that hit was meant to injure the qb. We will see what the league office has to say about it this week. It was similar to the hit to Godwin a couple of years ago. Very poor sportsmanship and it doesn’t belong in the NFL. But no surprise coming from the Slimy Saints
December 31st, 2023 at 6:08 pm
Wait, does this mean Bowles is not winning coach of the year like I read on here last week? What nonsense. Making excuses and accepting bad coaching and poor play has been part of the problem for far too many years. We have had a few great runs but fail to create any consistency year after year. Just look at the teams following our SB years. The crazy hype this past week over a poorly coached team with no real leadership was misplaced. Joe can continue to make excuses for Licht and Bowles but the facts and the play on the field tell a different story. The fact that the Bucs have all that dead cap space is not an excuse, it is a disgrace. Comparing the Saints debacle to the Dolphins losing to a very good Ravens team is just weak.We should not be asked to accept mediocrity or teams with no fire. Enough with excuses.The fans deserve some leadership from the owners and a determination to finally build a program that can consistently perform at a high level not more excuses. I for one am sick and tired of suspecting that the Bucs will not show up or be an embarrassment on the national stage. I knew when everyone picked the Bucs that it was probably cue the disaster. And that has grown very old.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:09 pm
Joe, most of us just don’t buy your conjob on Baker.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:09 pm
How many times have we not split the season? I did not expect to win this game to begin with. Their record against us is something like 40-25 now with all the coaches and QB’S we have had to blame everything on.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:11 pm
dmatt Says:
December 31st, 2023 at 6:06 pm
We lost five what should’ve been winnable games this year to Falcons, Bills,
Texans, Colts, Saints due to conservative play calling, poor clock management, n overall poor coaching.We went from a potential 14-3 team to possibly another 8-9 season.
———-
Spoken like a true Baker Boi!
This team would be 14-3 if everyone didn’t let Baker down! And they’d be 17-0 if Baker was coach.
Hell if you made Baker GM, this team would win the SB every year for at least the next decade!
Baker is the real GOAT, and he’d prove it except everyone is conspiring to keep him down!
December 31st, 2023 at 6:16 pm
realistic says: “Signing Baker was pointless. The strategy should have been to eat all the debt, start your 2nd round pick, and see where the chips fall.”
True. Though, the point was to keep the 2nd round pick off the field lest he expose Joe and Ira and Todd for the being idiots they are.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:20 pm
@Rod Munch- not for nothing but are you a retard? Your sarcasm is very tiresome and like the wit of a junior high schooler. The poster made a good comment. This team should have had a much better record and yes that does fall on the coaching staff. And I don’t think he even mentioned Mayfield so you might want to work on your reading comprehension
December 31st, 2023 at 6:23 pm
Hater here Joe….. as long as Bowles remains we remain mediocre! You know it as well as the rest of Buc nation ! Mayfield get resigned and we get the same spit from him again !
December 31st, 2023 at 6:23 pm
Rod Munch Says:
December 31st, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Probably because Mayfield was terrible today, holding the ball forever, missing guys who were wide open, then when he did throw the ball he was just checking it down.
——
Liar liar pants on fire. Baker was around 3 0f 5 for a good chunk of the first half. GO try and fool someone who didn’t watch the game Pinochio. We were running the ball just like we have all season long because Canales said he won;t give up on it.
Inferring that Canales came in with a pass heavy offense but had to switch to a run heavy offense because of missses just once again confrmrs you as the HIgh priest of lying for Trask
Lik I have said before – if you are typing you are lying.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:24 pm
It’s hard to believe that Joe has sunken so low. Wow, a 9-8 record would be good. Joe, you are still caught up in the bad Bucs of the past where mediocracy is celebrated. We should have had at least two Super Bowls with Brady. Instead, lets celebrate 9-8 or 8-9. No way, 9-8 is not good enough even if we make the playoffs. It could have been much better last year and much better this year. Keeping it real in Ireland.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:26 pm
So did I see if the Bucs win the NFC South, they would likely host the Eagles iin the first playoff game? Little chance of that being a blowout.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:29 pm
Oh contraire.
Making the playoffs at 9-8 just to get embarrassed in the first round was by far the worst possible outcome for this season.
Not anywhere close to being good enough to actually contend for a championship. But not bad enough to draft a potential franchise QB and game changing prospects at the top of every round.
All the Bucs have managed to do is buy a 1 way ticket to NFL purgatory.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:29 pm
Bucs were the oldest team last yr. They’re now the youngest w/ no team having rookies playing more snaps than the Bucs…
This is what young teams do, they’re inconsistent! But due to mostly winning more than the sports world expected we control our own faith even with losing today…
This was supposed to be a rebuild yr w/o much wins. We’re rebuilding while winning. How can I not be grateful. Win next week & playoff birth BAY-BEE!
December 31st, 2023 at 6:30 pm
Great coaching job this year. Several rookies have really came around, the team didn’t quit during the losing streak. Four game winning streak before today. And you all come unglued because they laid a turd today. Some fans.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:31 pm
If the Bucs win next week and make the playoffs, it’ll be 4 years in a row. They have the 3rd longest active playoff streak behind the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:35 pm
11-6 or 12-5, with just a slightly above average coach.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:35 pm
Despite the dead cap, this is still a very talented team thanks to Licht. This team has flashed the potential plenty this year, but remains handicapped by poor coaching. We really should have beat the Falcons, Texans, and Colts this season. I can forgive losing against the good teams we played, but this was a winnable schedule and we barely got through it .500. And too often we played ugly and far below our potential. Again, that’s on coaching. Bowels has to go!
December 31st, 2023 at 6:40 pm
Good teams almost always have youngsters step up. The Bucs did this year. They also got sterling play from Evans and Winfield and solid quarterback play with few turnovers. The best offensive lineman in the league…
How that translates to 9-8 or 8-9 in worst division is a mystery.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:43 pm
Baker was terrible today when the game mattered, all his yards came in garbage time. If you accept being average then Baker is your guy, he’s a loser just like the head coach. This franchise must find a better, more consistent signal caller and a better head coach to take this team to the next level.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Nothing but just a bunch of ‘smoke & mirrors’ with a VERY favorable schedule in THE weakest division in all of football. The first half to first three quarters were just another typical Baker-Bucs Offense… Then, 50-80% of his stats all come in the 4th against zone/prevent defenses while playing all helter-skelter, fly by the seat of your pants football. It’s ALL Smoke. EVEN, if they had won… Do people REALLY believe that Baker & Bowels is the long term answer here, & can get the Bucs to the next level!? I Don’t Think So. Your ‘eyes’ aren’t lying to you… It is what it is & they are ‘who’ they are. Do you REALLY trust the Bucs future with these TWO!? Would really suck loosing him for nothing, but do you REALLY want to ‘handout’ a 4yr/$100M+ to an aging WR… Na, I’ll let someone else have that.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:50 pm
The head coach is the captain of the ship. It is his responsibility to see that game plans are solid for the opponent and that the players are prepared to give their best effort for the team and fans. When the players don’t give their best effort for the fans that falls on the head coach. When the game plans are not well crafted that falls on the head coach. When adjustments aren’t made at half-time that falls on the head coach. In 1967 when a tragic fire broke out on the USS Forrestal the ships Captain (J.K. Beling) had to assume responsibility even though it was not his fault. Fire Bowles now.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:50 pm
You idiots blame Baker all you want. He was handcuffed all game until the 4 th quarter with running plays from Canales.Dave stuck with the run wayyyyy to long. To put the blame on baker is just plain stupid.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:51 pm
Tony marks, you are absolutely correct with your posts tonight
December 31st, 2023 at 6:51 pm
Buccos Says:
December 31st, 2023 at 6:20 pm
@Rod Munch- not for nothing but are you a retard? Your sarcasm is very tiresome and like the wit of a junior high schooler. The poster made a good comment. This team should have had a much better record and yes that does fall on the coaching staff. And I don’t think he even mentioned Mayfield so you might want to work on your reading comprehension
———-
He’s literally saying the team should be better, then names all the people who are responsible for not being 13-4 … and doesn’t mention Baker – thus implying the one person who is not responsible for any losses is Baker.
Then you call me retarded and talk about me lacking reading comprehension?
Wow, that’s dumb even by Baker Bois standards.
You should go stand in the corner and think about why you’re such an idiot.
December 31st, 2023 at 6:52 pm
It depends on the team and the week played just like most other teams. Throughout this season the Bucs have beaten two teams that ended up with a winning record at some point of the season.
This is such a stupid take. Very few teams beat winning teams all season long. I think the Ravens have beaten the most winning teams at 4. The Dolphins at 11-5 have only beaten one team with a winning record. Again, stupid argument.
December 31st, 2023 at 7:22 pm
I think Baker Mayfield is a very good quarterback. Say what you will but he certainly cannot be accused of lack of effort. That can’t be said of many of the Bucs players today.
December 31st, 2023 at 7:25 pm
This team stinks… and they’ll stink worse next year.
Complete reset.
December 31st, 2023 at 7:26 pm
9-8 would be a fantastic record. Too bad the 10-7 train left on time at 1:00 PM today and the Bucs were left on the platform. I think their excuse was needing a better itinerary, despite having all week to set it up.
December 31st, 2023 at 7:30 pm
This team doesn’t beat good teams and loses games to below average teams. This team is talented cap space or no cap space. The team is underperforming on defense and underperforming on offense. Offense is the big problem and it starts with bad QB play.
December 31st, 2023 at 7:30 pm
Joe, I agree that we have quickly become spoiled. I would have accepted a division title like a giddy school girl any single year of the lost decade. I still do not think Bowles is the guy to win another superbowl. Now, some people say he should be in jail for what he did with Brady’s last year, that seems harsh, but I want to hear the full argument.
December 31st, 2023 at 7:38 pm
We won 4 playoff games in a row with second youngest team in NFL, not much of a running game no speed at receiver a very flawed roster. Future is bright and we lost to a division rival after beating them 5 times in a row. Our fan base cant get any dumber we will win the division next week in Carolina and play the eagles tough. They are slightly better even with how bad they are playing but it might be best game of wild card weekend. Give me a big tough line man in round 1 then a man to man corner in round 2. resign Baker resign Evans lets run this thing back with a off season of NFL strength training for all these rookies. High expectation for next year!
December 31st, 2023 at 7:44 pm
Tony marks you’re spot on. Rod Munch you are out to lunch! So it was “Mayfield’s fault, single-handedly lost the game”… that’s just an idiotic demeaning thing to say. So it’s Mayfield’s fault that are o line got manhandled the entire game and Baker was running for his life!? Hard to complete passes that way. It’s Baker’s fault when he completes a long pass to Chili Palmer and he fumbles while falling down on the groun!? No problem not getting in the end zone but he fell down and fumbled. It’s Baker’s fault when Rashad has a long run after catching a flare pass and gets the ball punched out and fumbles!? It’s Baker’s fault for the lack of adjustments at halftime when you’re being bullied by the D line!? It’s Baker’s fault for Canalis predictive idiotic play calling, running on first down straight up the middle over and over with the same horrible result!? Is it Baker’s fault that are great punter had his worst day!? Is it Baker’s fault that bowls calls blitzes and plays a soft zone defense that basically gifts 10 to 15 yd easy completions!? I would say it differently, Baker almost single-handedly WON this game for us was a late second half surge, after bowls / Canalis took the reigns off their idiotic play calling. Everyone suck today except Baker and Levante David! P e r i o d
December 31st, 2023 at 7:47 pm
Correction Mike Evans didn’t suck he never does! Same with Chris Godwin, consummate Pros. Predictive play calling, No schemes, no adjustments and o-line and D line got bullied and punked out all day long!
December 31st, 2023 at 7:58 pm
What con job? If he does well, Joe types about him well. If he stinks (like today) Joe calls him out.
How many times does Joe have to say or type that Joe wants a first round quarterback selected next spring regardless if the Bucs bring Mayfield back or not before it sinks in?
December 31st, 2023 at 7:59 pm
Thanks Joe! I needed that. It’s a very emotional sport for us fans as well. I 100% agree with your words. It’s easy to get caught up in all the negativity. I personally have been emotionally attached to this team for 26 seasons now, I’ve been through it all with them as a spectator, all the ups and downs. As my user name suggests I will always be here. Again I for one thank you for your insight sir. Go Bucs!
December 31st, 2023 at 8:05 pm
I’m an OG box fan back to ’76 this was one of the worst stinkers I’ve ever seen the Bucs ay down. All I kept thinking was, if We had Gruden as head coach and OC, and Monty Kiffin as defensive coordinator, and the same exact Talent/ personnel on this team we would already have clinched a division title 3 weeks ago! PS, and while we’re at it, they could could put Gruden back in the Bucs ring of honor, that he had properly earned! that was a bush League weak move taking him out before he ever had a chance to respond to his “personal”, private leaked emails. Coach Dungy tried to come to his defense and got Savaged by the woke mob. I’ll always root for the Bucs, but management is weak, and our current coaches are soft!
December 31st, 2023 at 8:10 pm
In defense of Canales… His boss is an old school, run heavy type of head coach. He’ll tell you that himself.
Do you think that maybe, just maybe, Canales was told by his boss that he must run the ball more?
Before you answer, maybe you should go take a look at Bowles head coaching career.
Someone once said that doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results, was the definition of insanity. I disagree, but it does point to bullheaded stubbornness and rank stupidity at the very least.
December 31st, 2023 at 8:16 pm
Toilet Bowles still stinks. One more win than last year.
December 31st, 2023 at 8:19 pm
Appalled? What are we supposed to do, golf clap for that awful performance. No, 9-8 isn’t good when 10-7 was RIGHT THERE… AT HOME against our hated rivals. I quit commenting in the 1st quarter because my comments get edited out, but I was far more upset than I typed. As fans, we want to see a team focused and making progress towards another championship. Not let the Saints come into our tax payer funded stadium and beat the hell out of us. It was far worse than the score. Quit apologizing for them.
Goodbye Bowles. You laid an egg. Again.
December 31st, 2023 at 8:20 pm
Captain Vic Says: Chili Palmer
I like it.
December 31st, 2023 at 8:26 pm
No Joe the party has been over. The fat lady was in the room with Bucs at 4-7 at the time.
Joe,
You were forced to finally to write the negative articles and the truth on Baker. Please don’t mess it up again. Baker is an inconsistent journeyman and his today performance was another example of it.
December 31st, 2023 at 8:27 pm
I expect NOTHING from this team after this performance today.
December 31st, 2023 at 8:33 pm
In defense of Canales, his QB was God awful today when it mattered, holding the ball too long, missing wide open guys, and checking the ball down.
Baker had played great the previous two weeks, against probably the two worst pass defenses in football right now. I was hoping he could use momentum from that to propel him for the rest of the year, and instead he fell flat on his face, which is what you should always expect from Baker since his entire history says he’s not going to give you more than one or two games before putting up a trash performance.
Today, in the biggest game of his football life, playing for a huge new deal with a chance to seal a home playoff game, Baker puts up his worst game of the season.
Today was on Baker, not Canales, not Bowles, not White, not Palmer.
He’s got one more chance next week, but he’s not going against a cupcake defense like the Packers or Jags, the Panthers have a very good passing defense, which people don’t realize because their record is so poor.
Betting on Baker and Bowles, in a key, pressure situation, to win the most winnable game the football Gods could give them… Again, not a fan of Baker, but man, they have to win that game, if not, they should both be denied entry to the team plane and told to walk home. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, Baker builds off the prevent defense stat padding and can make easy work of the Panthers, and keep it going in the playoffs. Hopefully.
December 31st, 2023 at 8:36 pm
i guess its not the right time but i am wondering if gage, jensen, ryan neal, feller and even shaq barrett are gonna have enough to cover the expectations of their positions, never mind the net cap effect.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:01 pm
The nose knows, and these coaches just stink.
Mayfield was a bargain for $4M/year, when equivalents are about $30M/year. So that $75M is really more like $49M… still top 5 dead money but not worst in the league and less than Philadelphia at that point.
They overpaid for two cornerbacks, and then the dumb defensive coordinator pretending to be a head coach plays them in soft zone instead of man this season.
They insist on pretending to be a running team, when week after week the only thing that works is an up-tempo passing attack.
With more cap money, it’s doubtful they’d have signed any free agents who would be starting now anyway. It’s second string where that weakness hits, but that has very little to do with why they’ve lost. It’s the starters that have been failing, trying to carry out the instructions of stupid coaches.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:28 pm
Just bad football. Wanted to believe.
Fire everyone
December 31st, 2023 at 9:37 pm
LMAO. Bucs fans have short memories. Brady’s last year we were what..8-9?
Beat Carolina and we got a winning season. No superbowl, but a decent season..all considered. We will beat the panthers.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:37 pm
100% agree with Joe on this.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:39 pm
U people r the worst kind of fan if u r at all a fan, baker single handle lost the game OMG that is the dumbest thing I heard all season he had 309 yds 2 td’s shud. Been 4 he doesn’t design or call the plays u people r as dumb as dirt he has bout 4000 yds 28 td’s & 10 int”s he is a bumb I’m sure glad I am not Bryce Young u people wud chop his head off the defense did not do their job drop balls no catch is baker fault even if they finish 9&8 baker has played way better than brady all day long last season so choke on u r nonsense
December 31st, 2023 at 9:43 pm
Who dat who dat who dat dat thought they was gonna beat them Saints
December 31st, 2023 at 9:43 pm
Optimisticbucfan r u kidding u r pure pessimistic as well as 50% of the other morons
on this site
December 31st, 2023 at 9:51 pm
they had our offensive plan STOMPED, would that our D could do that
December 31st, 2023 at 9:55 pm
Baker is definitely not the problem. It wasn’t his best game but where were the screen passes. How about a draw play. Trying to pound the rock between the tackles with a finesse back is ridiculous. It’s like trying to hammer a finishing nail into concrete block. It makes no sense. We got into 3rd and long all day, making Mayfield’s job 10x harder. We need to get first downs on 1st down and 2nd down sometimes. Constantly getting into 3rd and long is moronic. At this stage of the year these coaches should know better
December 31st, 2023 at 10:03 pm
Rodmunkin u r a true jv post artist cause u have zero talent at anything that is very blatant what a pro loser u r
December 31st, 2023 at 10:03 pm
Rod Munch, you are out to lunch.
December 31st, 2023 at 10:06 pm
Since76 says plz this is 2023 u r now officially retired from this site along with the other 10 moron post crew on This site
December 31st, 2023 at 10:33 pm
9-8 is not a good season, who is writing this article? Mediocrity is nothing to strive for.
December 31st, 2023 at 10:42 pm
Wow, unacceptable by almost the whole but definitely a qb that’s less than mediocre. How people like that guy is beyond my comprehension. Anticlimactic…..90% of the time he is downright boring to watch. Time to move on, of course I never wanted him to begin with
December 31st, 2023 at 10:57 pm
same old losers differant year
December 31st, 2023 at 11:01 pm
Citrus County Says:
December 31st, 2023 at 10:03 pm
Rod Munch, you are out to lunch.
—–
🙂 He ALWAAAYS has dumb narratives. Same level as David.
What he is trying to sell in multiple threads is that Canales Had a forward passing game plan all ready to go but Baker stunk so much lololololol Canales SWITCHED to a run heavy and dink behind the line game plan
PURE STUPIDITY
Despite everything Canales has said about sticking with the run game Mush has it down the exact OPPOSITE. Canales Mush claims had schemed a game plan away from the run and to passing but had to go back ot it . OF course when you review the plays from the first drive ( whch had only one pass) and forward the game paln was always upfront heavy on drops behind the lines and runs most of which were for little or minus yards.
in other words CLearly Canales was hoping what worked with the Jags would work again – NOt taking into consideration the defense would be prepared for exactly that and and schemed for it.
You woud have to be an idiot to think this loss was all on Baker…. well and idiot and deperate to tag Baker – because for four weeks he’s been unable to do so.
Anyway it all goes away next week –
IF the bucs cant beat the Panthers who are playing for nothing and as bad as they are it won’t be on any player – That would require a complete implosion of defense and offense against the stinking awful Panthers.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:02 pm
Wow. What spin in this article. This team is awful. A lousy HC, staff and clueless GM. Clean house from top to bottom Glazers.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:12 pm
Win next week against Carolina and we are NFC South champs for 3rd consecutive year.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:15 pm
The Bucs will go nowhere with Mayfield and Bowels.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:19 pm
Hey Joe,
A lot of us have watched a lot of football and don’t buy what you are saying. It isn’t about a play here or a play there. This is about having your team ready to play. A lot of rookies, sure. But also a lot of top flight talent too. Look, we know the weaknesses, bad interior line play, weak edge rushing, mediocre corners. So play to your strengths and game plan against the weaknesses of the other team and adjust as your opponent dictates during the game. And my goodness, play your best players! Too often, we see little evidence of good coaching. I’m okay missing the playoff if a team is well coached. A good coach (like a Matt Lafluere) would have had this team to 10-11 wins.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:43 pm
9-8 in the worst division of football and we should say that is a good year ? Let’s just hand out trophies regardless of what happens next week while we are at it. This team has lost every game against a decent opponent and defense all year. This coach and bonehead assistant GM (Arians) is probably the main reason why Brady didn’t come back. I heard all pregame how the GM prepares at the start of every offseason for his division. Any smart GM would realize you got six easy wins in this cupcake division but here we are clawing for a week 18 win to make the post season. But let’s retire everyone’s number and induct them into the ring of honor. This group would be a laughing stock if it wasn’t for Tom. This is what you get when you listen to that idiot Arians and keep Bowles around whose NFL track record was a joke.
January 1st, 2024 at 12:11 am
Yea simple. 1. Futile commitment to the run. 2. Way too late on the no huddle offense. Start when two scores down regardless of the Quarter. 3. One interception was an under throw. The other a tip. Both fumblez were bad. Still if you had started the no huddle after going down by 14 you might have won. Baker operates best at pace. I would do two random no huddles every half regardless of the score.
January 1st, 2024 at 12:38 am
“There are not a bunch of great football teams out there.” – Joe
That doesn’t excuse a thing. Today was an embarrassment. I blame coaching in this instance.
We could have been 10-7 at the end of the season, but the head coach let the team blow it.
10-7 is much better than 9-8 or 8-9.
January 1st, 2024 at 12:39 am
How many games did Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden lose their final years? Hm?
Bowles deserves to be fired.
January 1st, 2024 at 12:39 am
I will say that the team is young…but it will only get younger next year.
January 1st, 2024 at 12:45 am
I blame everything on Ariens! When he found out Brady was coming back, he bailed out quickly so Bowles would get the job before Brady could insert his own coach on his return last year. I truly believe Brady would had gotten Payton to coach the Bucs, but Ariens smelled it out first & forced Glazers to endorse Bowles before this could had happened….Bowles lost the playoff game to the Rams by calling a bonehead defensive play, and his his defense-wins-game mentality just makes the Bucs a mediocre team, at best. Even the 4-12 Cardinals can a playoff team but when Bucs face the Eagles in 2 weeks don’t expect the same…just saying. It’s a passing game now. Keep Canales & hire an offensive minded coach. Then who cares if the other team can score 20 when we can score 30 with our offensive weapons…..
January 1st, 2024 at 12:56 am
Citrus County Says:
December 31st, 2023 at 10:03 pm
Rod Munch, you are out to lunch.
—–
Man, that’s a good rebuttal.
Maybe I’ve been too hard on the Baker Bois.
January 1st, 2024 at 2:13 am
Joe.. Joe.. Joe.. the problem not every 9-8 record is the same. If the Bucs go 9-8 this season, every single win besides the jaguars game was against a losing record team. And the jaguars being the only winning record team we’ve beat were absolutely horrible coming into that week with an injured and concussed Trevor Lawrence who just had back to back 2 of the worst games of his career. What we wanted to see this year was a team that maybe started out like a work in progress but eventually evolved and found an identity. But we we got this entire year instead has been major inconsistent coaching on the defense and offense. Both bowles and Canales have been bad more than they have been good, and baker has been maybe 65/35 (good/bad). As it stands right now, nobody who’s actually watching this team should be considering this a good 9/8 season. It’s not over yet there, the narrative has room to go both ways still.
January 1st, 2024 at 2:33 am
Shake n bake!
January 1st, 2024 at 4:30 am
Joe, no doubt 9-8 would be considered a successful year for this Bucs team. But, if you celebrate mediocrity like that is a success then all your ever going to be is mediocre. I’m all for being thankful that this team was competitive throughout the year but you don’t win Super Bowls being satisfied with a .500 season. Do you want to see what you get when you are satisfied just look at Devin White. He is the poster child for I’m satisfied with where I’m at. If your not getting better your getting worse.
January 1st, 2024 at 8:58 am
Please correct me if I’m wrong…we have Todd Bowles calling out his coaches @ his press conference…isn’t he the HC AND DC? Because he got out coached badly as is the usual this year and last, and the defense looked like SHIZNIT….FIRE BOWLES…BOWLES GOTS TO GO!
January 1st, 2024 at 9:14 am
Jason Light needs to clean house. Simple as that. Bowles and Canalas are trash coaches.
January 1st, 2024 at 1:12 pm
Wow Joe way to “hit a nerve” , look at the thread. I’ve never been a fan of the word “haters” though. A fine line between “Haters and Disapprovers” . Some people just have a differant vocabulary and have less couth than a wordsmith like you. But their point is the same. And more importantly their concern and passion for the teams direction, along with its “unpopular, unconventional coaching decisions” etc are still valid no matter how “haters” express themselves. Haters points may be wily nilly but the “place” it’s coming from is valid. Haters may not seem like “true” fans but they just have a lower tolerance for mediocrity.
However, Every objective fan (haters and non-haters) would agree “overall” this season from one metric, the most important metric, wins and losses and making the playoffs have been a success. But there is nothing wrong with having a higher expectation. SB or bust. And accepting the miscues and inconsistencies of the coaching staff, certain players etc are just not acceptable and I’m more interested in fixing what all “haters and Non-haters” agree on, we need a coach that can take us to the next level. Just making the playoffs isn’t enough for the bar of Tampa Bay fans. You and fans alike have watched a lifetime of football and it’s obvious this year the goal was to just prove the prognosticators wrong. Win more games than the NATIONAL consensus of about a 5-6 win team. And you know what, that was a reasonable goal for a salary cap strapped, life after Brady team. So I did have a very low win expectation but it was based on evidence and history of this current coaching staff. So I’ll lower my bar and acknowledge this season has been a definitive success. But I’m not gonna shy away from
Demanding accountability and “consistency”. Pull the onion layer away and it’s obvious we are victims of a very fortuitous circumstance of being in one of the weaker divisions in the NFL history. We could have been a 4 loss team or 9 win team. No chance of a SB win. And while a positive fan would say “success we made the playoffs and have an opportunity to be the first average team in 60 years to win the SB tourney. Haters are saying, ughh now it’s one more year of Bowles and mediocrity
January 1st, 2024 at 2:03 pm
Interesting.
There are 15 teams with between 7 and 9 wins in the league, 8 teams with worse than 7 wins, and 9 teams with more than 9 wins. So, statistically, the Buc’s are exactly where everyone else is. This idea that they’ve not beaten anyone with a winning record – only 9 teams have done that, at most. And few have beaten more than 3 teams with winning records. MOST of the league is in that middle pack.
Now, some of those teams are in harder divisions… but only 2 divisions have a couple winners and a couple losers. 6 of the 8 divisions have at least 3 teams with better than 7 wins. Which means parity is the norm… most divisions are actually quite competitive. The AFC North is by far the best at this time.
This season the Bucs were predicted anywhere from 2 to 6 wins by most people. IF they beat Carolina next week, they will be 3 wins over their best prediction. And they are doing that with the youngest team in the league, a huge salary cap deficit, and are definitely ‘on the rise’ as opposed to ‘falling off’. The Chiefs can at best be 11-6 – and that is definitely ‘falling off’ from their expectations.
To expect the Bucs to be back in the SB 2 years after they spent the whole bank to win one is unrealistic. For the real fans – the question is NOT whether we are happy with a division title and a playoff game… it’s whether this team is better than last year’s, and moving in the right direction.
I, for one, believe the answer to that is an emphatic ‘YES’. They have a great rookie and sophomore class that is starting to contribute. They have veteran leadership that has not yet fallen off in performance. They have a top 10-15 QB, and many of the pieces they need to make a run in the next 2-3 years. They have some needs, but they will have salary cap freeing up to address those needs.
So, I’m not satisfied that they blew at least 3-4 games they could have won.. young teams do that. But keep the band together, make wise choices on who to bring back, and who to sign, and next year they should be in the 12-14 win range, with a chance at the Bowl.
January 1st, 2024 at 2:50 pm
Man, I am pissed off. My dear NC Panthers BFF passed away the middle of last week. I listened to the game, and know the game patterns. I knew we were in trouble when Camarda couldn’t hit a decent punt. Postgame, one of the Bucs players said that the Aints were hungrier than they were. The others said they made too many mistakes—no sh1t. At least they were not shut out. I debated getting on here cos of all the usual negative crap, fire the coaches, etc. I guessed that one right. Panthers have quit. Bucs haven’t. But, judging from this site and bloviators/fake fans, one would think the team’s record is 1-15.
January 2nd, 2024 at 7:44 pm
I love playoff football. However, wouldn’t it be better to have a better draft pick instead of years of one and done playoff football? Just hanging out in the middle
Of the pack year after year isn’t great. I want to see Bowles succeed, but hishead coaching game management is suspect. He’s a great d coordinator
January 2nd, 2024 at 9:51 pm
You are not wrong but good luck getting the coaches and players to agree to lay down.