The Difference Between The Bucs And The Packers
July 11th, 2024
Examining different perceptions.
Far and wide amid the clique of NFL analysts spread across the globe, very few seem to be bullish on the Bucs.
The Bucs ended the 2023 season hot, pounded a team from the almighty NFC East to begin the playoffs (which was a favorite of many to win the Super Bowl) and gave the upstart darlings of the NFL, the Lions, a fight for their lives on the road in the divisional round.
The Bucs return the highest percentage of players from the previous season of any team but the Packers. So with the Bucs just a couple of plays from the NFC title game, with several stars back, the Bucs ought to be a favorite to make a playoff run, right?
Nope. Not even a favorite to win their own division.
Yet the Packers, who advanced no further than the Bucs, a team the Bucs hammered in December in the cold and rain of Green Bay, is a popular pick to make the playoffs.
Why?
One reason people are down on the Bucs is that AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht retained virtually the same team and did not add big-name free agents. This seems to irk the analysts.
Yet the Packers did the same very thing. Oh, wait. They did add a running back, Josh Jacobs. Oh, he was such a difference-maker with Las Vegas.
But seriously, how is it the Bucs are slammed for not signing a big-name free agent when another team the Bucs crushed kept more of its roster than the Bucs and didn’t advance any further than the Bucs?
Joe will tell you why:
The Packers have a budding young superstar quarterback in Jordan Love. Always remember and never forget: It’s about the quarterback. Even when it’s not about the quarterback, it’s about the quarterback.
The other reason? Packers coach Matt LaFleur is a wunderkind offensive-minded coach. Smart. Bright. Innovative. Exciting. Not to be overlooked, he has a little Chucky in him. He’s not afraid to bark on the sidelines and can often be seen waving his arms for Packers fans to holler louder.
And do not dismiss how much the stat geeks love LaFleur.
The Bucs, meanwhile, have Baker Mayfield, who the national #NFLMedia largely distrusts, or he turns them off.
On the sidelines for the Bucs is Todd Bowles. Given his track record in New York, #NFLMedia is largely suspicious of Bowles as a leader of men.
Not to be overlooked, Bowles is often an image of full and complete concentration. Totally locked in. He barely bats an eye during games and rarely shows emotion. Even though that doesn’t mean a hill of beans, it’s a bad sell on TV.
And do not dismiss how the stat geeks dislike Bowles.
(For example, notice how ESPN analyst Mina Kimes said earlier this offseason she thinks Bowles is on a broiling hot seat, even though in both seasons as Bucs coach he’s won the NFC South. In picking the Colts over the Bucs in a rankings show with Kyle Brandt, Kimes chose the Colts over the Bucs because she likes Colts coach Shane Steichen.)
So there you have the reasons why the Packers are getting so much love while the Bucs are thrown out with the trash. It’s often about the head coach. And it’s always about the quarterback.
At least Joe understands (doesn’t agree, but understands) why there is such a difference among national #NFLMedia with their differing perspectives on the Bucs and the Packers, even though the Bucs may have the winning edge.
July 11th, 2024 at 5:12 am
I really like this Bucs squad. They suit up a bunch of overachieving players that simply let their performance do the talking. All football no talk.
Kind of like when you are walking down the boat marina docks looking for a charter boat. Do you want that boat that’s all spit shined and polished up, or do want that boat that has some grit, been worked, and a little bit of slime look to it? In other words do want all boat and no fish?
Or do want that guy that doesn’t spend every waking moment polishing his boat and not catching any fish because he spends all his time shining up his boat? Mayfield over love everytime.
July 11th, 2024 at 6:04 am
Joe , … the mindless garbage that is being spewed out this time of year is worthless click bait.
One of the reasons I check your site daily is you truly try to do your due diligence on a issue . For that you have earned my respect and my time .
July 11th, 2024 at 7:59 am
Those same analysts who drag us for not signing any big-name free agents will be the same ones who’ll say “Winning free agency doesn’t win you a Super Bowl” when those teams that signed a lot of FAs stumble during the season.
July 11th, 2024 at 8:00 am
Uh..I would certainly count Jordan Whitehead as a big time free agent add on. Especially considering the still unemployed corpse he replaced.
July 11th, 2024 at 8:11 am
I’ll tell you why, Joe. The Bucs are a very unpopular team. Probably bottom 5 in overall popularity across the NFL. Historically, they are awful with zero tradition. The team’s fans that show up are usually outnumbered by visiting fans. We all love the Bucs but need to face the reality that they are completely irrelevant on the national stage. The Packers are a storied franchise and beloved across the country.
July 11th, 2024 at 8:59 am
Bucs caught the Packers in the Regular Season when they had an Eagles Wild Card type game.
Had the Bucs drawn the Packers in the Wild Card Round then Mayfield and Bowles would be 1-1 in their playoff career.
There is a reason why the Packers may be looking to pay Love 50 million this season or next and why the Bucs have a 20 million Emergency Exit next season.
If the Bucs canned Bowles do you think that he would get hired somewhere before Vrabel?
Media might drive the narrative but it’s the GM’s that decided that they were not going to pay Mayfield anywhere close to what Tampa had on the table. Especially when he couldn’t put up enough points to win 4 games against QB’s that made a combined 14 million last season and 12 more points against the worse team in the two games they played.
Only difference between Mayfield is Mayfield did catch a break or sucker along the way.
July 11th, 2024 at 9:06 am
Dcone u r a sucker of the worst kind
July 11th, 2024 at 9:08 am
2023:
Thank you! Ran across that item yesterday morning about how only the Packers have brought back more of their roster than the Bucs. Then Joe was like, “Well, why aren’t people killing the Packers for ‘running it back’ like the Bucs?”
Then remembered the Bucs hammered the Packers in Green Bay in December. And the Packers didn’t get past the divisional round, just like the Bucs.
Then Joe thought, “What the hell?” The only thing that makes sense is, folks just don’t trust Bowles and Mayfield. And when you get down to it, those two are the most essential pieces of a team.
July 11th, 2024 at 9:08 am
DCone you never fail to amazed with the garbage you spew.
July 11th, 2024 at 9:10 am
Major upgrade.
July 11th, 2024 at 9:12 am
Yeah, maybe 10 years ago Deadspin — when it was worth reading — did a major study on the most popular NFL teams. They used all sorts of data including TV ratings, ticket sales, social media activity, jersey sales, etc., etc.
Deadspin determined only the Jags were less popular than the Bucs.
July 11th, 2024 at 9:28 am
So the team that paid their Qb 20m a year just embarrassed the team who is going to pay their Qb 50m a year in their own crib? The 20m guy or game-winner had a perfect Qb rating. Who’s the sucker?
July 11th, 2024 at 9:33 am
The same analysts stating that Kirk Cousins is the new Goat, 2nd coming of God. Yes, Jordan Love looked really good last season until at the end when he threw two interceptions in the playoff. You just never know what will happen.
July 11th, 2024 at 9:45 am
Look, most of us have been BUCS fans for decades. We’ve grown rather used to having the lame-stream sports media(?) peeing on our colors and telling me it’s raining. The only thing that will really cheese me off is when all those meh-dia bozos claim they knew all along that the Bucs would surprise a lot of teams this year.
July 11th, 2024 at 9:55 am
Jose, I believe your analysis of the situation is correct and that the “analysis” of the talking heads is incorrect. Well done.
July 11th, 2024 at 10:51 am
Jordan Love had a chance in the fourth quarter and threw an ugly interception against 49ers.
July 11th, 2024 at 11:24 am
Some thought so (before the season).
July 11th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
Bring back the lawn chairs Says:
I really like this Bucs squad.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Every post on this board should start with that line.
1000% agreed. CK, Yaya, White, Vea, Zyon, Mauch, Goedeke … these guys aren’t the Bucs of old. They were incubated in a championship culture. They are uber driven and they are grinding to be great.
“Great achievement is born of great sacrifice.”
These guys get it. Bucs that will be taking the field this year will shock the NFL.
July 11th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
Yeah, the Eagles were ‘favorites’ for awhile… Didn’t they start out like 10-1 and looked about as close to being ‘unbeatable’ than ANYONE. Wow, what a collapse! And, which of your friends (&/or) neighbors just bought the brand new ‘bright and shiny’ new boat that your jealous of, Lawn Chair!? Hahaha
July 11th, 2024 at 1:08 pm
Let’s play.
July 11th, 2024 at 2:13 pm
I thought the NFL was a NO Excuses league. Next man up. Every team gets injuries. Some years you are more unlucky than others. You plan for it as best you can by having good players 1-53 plus your practice squad. Eagles had a lot more issues than injuries in that epic collapse.
July 11th, 2024 at 7:18 pm
I’m with you Sly. Just not sure they have quite enough horses THIS year. An injury or two puts us in the dumper. Give Licht another year or two to clear the cap of 50 mill dead money per year. Bake will still be in his prime if he’s for real. Great culture, young studs maturing. Just stay patient. Maybe we shock the world. Go Bucs.
July 11th, 2024 at 7:21 pm
Poor Bowles will probably suffer the Dungy curse. Build the team for another coach to take us over the goal line.