Are The Bucs A Super Bowl Team?
October 13th, 2024
So can these Buccaneers go the distance?
Joe believes a team requires five elements to get to the NFL’s promised land.
In no particular order:
1. An explosive offense that can consistently deliver 28 or more points per game.
2. True playmakers on each side of the ball — dudes who can either take over a game or make game-changing plays.
3. Top-shelf quarterback play.
4. A dangerous and consistent edge rusher.
5. Elite coaching.
Joe sees the Bucs as having the offensive execution, the elite QB play and the necessary playmakers.
The special edge rusher? Absolutely not.
Elite coaching? Joe isn’t sure. Coaching is not just about Todd Bowles, who is erratic when it comes to managing situations. The final drive of today’s first half is a good example.
While Bowles proved he can be a mastermind Super Bowl defensive coordinator, he’s suspect when it comes to being a head coach with the chops to play in February.
Obviously, Bowles has an experienced staff, many of which coached in a Super Bowl. The offensive staff has turned over, and Liam Coen has shown a lot of upside through six games. The special teams coach? Joe can’t call that unit a strength outside of kicker Chase McLaughlin.
So do the Bucs have enough to win a Super Bowl? By Joe’s formula, they don’t. However, that could change.
Perhaps one Bucs edge rusher could get hot later in the season and Todd Bowles could evolve and operate more like a seasoned big-game coach.
Regardless, Joe thinks the Bucs are close, which means the team should be able to cruise to at least a 10-win season and improve enough to be a team nobody wants to see in the playoffs.
October 13th, 2024 at 9:55 pm
I think it’s less a question of are the Bucs a superbowl team and are the Bucs a playoff team. I think they are a playoff team. Once you get in then everyone has a shot.
October 13th, 2024 at 9:59 pm
Wishful thinking. Reality is, this team is probably going to lose the next 4 games.
October 13th, 2024 at 9:59 pm
It amazes me how every time they win a game. We talk about Super Bowls. Enough with the hype. Every time they end up bottoming out the next game. Thanks Joe.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:04 pm
So what do you trade for an elite pass rusher? How much is too much? Who do you go after? Myles Garrett? Hassan Reddick? Are the cowboys selling now? Can you get Micah Parsons?
October 13th, 2024 at 10:06 pm
Little too early for SB talk. Qe do have the offense but defense needs to stiffen up
October 13th, 2024 at 10:07 pm
If BA is reinstated as head coach and Robert Saleh hired as defensive coordinator, yes.
Todd manages a game as if he thinks the game is tennis or something. You could ask him to write the equation describing the sum of two numerals and he would respond with a series of simultaneous differential equations with more unknowns than data.
The team wins in spite of him.
Thank you for scoring points Liam.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:09 pm
Superbowl teams always find a way to win
Bowles teams always find a way to lose.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:12 pm
Pound the rock ! Play smart defense and watch the penalties we can get to Super Bowl no doubt
October 13th, 2024 at 10:16 pm
The team is very hot/cold right now. The offense in particular. At times it looks like we could just score at will. Our receiving group is elite and Baker has been very sharp. With the running game we saw today we could absolutely compete for a title. The defense is much better when they’re aggressive. The pass rush has been improving every week it seems and they’re back to stuffing the run. I hope they see this upcoming game against Baltimore as a chance to prove themselves. Confidence and momentum play a big part in a Super Bowl run. If they come out and get manhandled by the Ravens it could be demoralizing. To answer your question Joe I just don’t know. I’m not sure they even know.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:19 pm
The offense looks good enough to play with anyone. Cohen is great. The defense isn’t there yet. Need an upgrade on Britt and need the dominant edge rusher as Joe said. I hear Simeon Rice is available- Lol.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:21 pm
Nope, we’re nothing. Shut up
October 13th, 2024 at 10:23 pm
And give devin white a one year prove cheapy…. If he’s willing, just saying
October 13th, 2024 at 10:28 pm
It’s ok to dream
October 13th, 2024 at 10:29 pm
Pump the brakes….we got to clean up the unforced penalties and discipline issues!
October 13th, 2024 at 10:29 pm
Jason listens to me here and there…..i think devin has been humbled
October 13th, 2024 at 10:30 pm
The older I get the more I know I don’t know. But what I know I know. You better believe they are looking at this upcoming game against Baltimore as a chance to prove themselves. And you are right BigPoppaBuc – they are doing it to prove it to not just the world but also to themselves. And if they happen to put together 4 quarters of complementary football Monday night – resembling the second half tonight – next Tuesday morning we’ll all know they are Super Bowl contenders.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:38 pm
You left out one of the most important factors Joe…..injuries. Almost every team that runs deep has some luck in regards to injuries. So far this team has been the walking wounded and if that doesn’t change we most likely will not go deep.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:40 pm
The Bucs beat Atl and 49urs they the best in NFC
Beat the Ravens and Chiefs, the whole league.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:45 pm
Stirling Shepard damn near ruined this game with bone head personal fouls leading to 27 points for the Saints in the 2nd quarter… Arians would have yanked him out of the game.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:52 pm
Please stop with the Super Bowl talk after every win. Bucs choked away a win in Atlanta thanks to the defense and allowed 27 pts in one qtr today. The punt coverage didn’t even touch Shaheed. They have Bowles as a coach, Britt as a LB and Dean as db. Enough said.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:54 pm
A premier edge rusher would go a long way. I don’t think the Browns are willing to part ways with Myles Garrett, but if they continue to tank, Za’Darious Smith could be a realistic target.
Or swing for the fences and try to snag Maxx Crosby. Raiders aren’t close to winning anything any time soon.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:57 pm
The harsh reality is this team can never win a Super Bowl with Todd Bowles as HC. You can hold onto all the false hope you would like but it’s the cold hard truth.
October 13th, 2024 at 10:59 pm
In 2020, Buccaneers were 4-2 after six games.They went 3-3 over the six, including bad losses to the bears and saints to go 7-5. At that point, they had perhaps a 10 percent cent chance to make it to the super bowl, if that. Then they won 9 straight. The weakness at linebacker and cornerback is obvious but this team has a dynamic offense and is unlikely to be out of any game. Also they normally play well on the road. Bowles is 11-4 his last 15 games. Not to shabby.
October 13th, 2024 at 11:06 pm
This team is an EDGE RUSHER, TIGHT END, Corner, away from a Superbowl team.
October 13th, 2024 at 11:09 pm
Have to win the division first. Dropping that game to the Falcons is going to hurt us. Falcons are now 3-0 vs our division. That loss will hurt us in the long run.
October 13th, 2024 at 11:12 pm
Browns lost again today. Myles Garrett? Give the Browns a call and see what it takes.
October 13th, 2024 at 11:12 pm
Bring back Shaq
October 13th, 2024 at 11:15 pm
They’ve got 3 out of the 5.
October 13th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
If Jason doesn’t do something about Todd’s awful game management, soft passive pass defense, and curious ability to suck the energy out of a team at the drop of a DB, the Ravens game will be over 5 minutes into the second quarter. And nobody’s dropping an 50 burger on John Harbaugh.
Nor are all the good coaches after that. We’ve only faced one good head coach so far, the hated Sean Payton. And we saw what he did to Todd’s Masturmind defenseless genius. With Bo Nix.
Jason can hire Robert Saleh. Initially as a consultant perhaps, but the reality is Todd can’t do both jobs. If he wants to be the Head Coach then act like it. Now.
Todd – the truth is, your defense sucks and not because the players suck.
October 13th, 2024 at 11:47 pm
The path to the NFC championship is wide open, I see no reason why the Bucs cant make it….
Every team has weaknesses, for example, the Vikings quarterback is Sam Darnold
October 13th, 2024 at 11:48 pm
Second half offense was incredible
Saints are a bad team – really bad
They had 3 picks and a punt return for TD and were the beneficiaries of 12 or so penalties and got blown out
We still have a punter problem
We played 3 rookie qb’s including J Daniels first pro game ever and Philly had a bunch of injuries
I love the optimism and Baker is playing like an MVP
It has been a super fun ride so far
October 13th, 2024 at 11:49 pm
Bowels defense plays best when he’s aggressive and blitzing…..thats what he’s known for but I have no idea why in pressure situations he reverts back to Lovie Smith mode.
October 13th, 2024 at 11:50 pm
Elite coaching isn’t necessary. Lovie made it. Pedersen won it. Super Bowl formulas are extremely complex as well as infinitely simple: On any given day….
Can’t forget luck. Not good luck necessarily but no bad luck.
Can’t forget talent acquisition either.
I’d take Joe’s five points and add talent management to it and call it six steps to continued success, year over year. Getting to the championship game requires a few other factors working in your favor.
October 13th, 2024 at 11:56 pm
Tbbucs3 – bingo. For the whole Denver game, the whole Atlanta game, and the first half of the Saints game, I could have sworn Catatonic Lovie was on the sidelines staring off into space in bewilderment.
We need Todd to stop trying to outsmart everyone with the “confuse the opponent” gambit. We’re about to go through a gauntlet of excellent head coaches who know how to play Todd as if they were chess masters against a kindergartener playing checkers. Get your players playing fast, cover someone, and fercrustsakes get Britt out of there. Put Whitehead or Izien in his spot.
Gosh darnit.
October 14th, 2024 at 12:12 am
If they are healthy and Bowles strings 5 good weeks together then yes. SF will still be biggest problem if CMC comes back to full strength. Lions losing Hutchinson is a tough break. Rest of NFC doesn’t scare me. So it’s there if things go the right way. This Ravens game is a good test. Back to Bowles, His clock management is something else. As you mentioned, potentially cost us a FG before halftime. Gotta stop. That stuff costs you SBs.
October 14th, 2024 at 1:02 am
BRING BACK SIMEON RICE DERRICK BROOKS WARREN SAPP BOOGER MCFARLAND DEWAYNE WHITE GREG SPIRES RONDE BARBER JOHN LYNCH BRIAN KELLY DEXTER JACKSON DAMIEN ROBINSON DWIGHT SMITH & DONNIE ABRAHAM. I’m sure some of them would still play better.
October 14th, 2024 at 1:06 am
Nope because Todd Bowles is the head coach
October 14th, 2024 at 2:04 am
The defense is not superbowl caliber. Need a better Dline and a few edge rushers. Other than LVD, linebackers can’t cover. Really need to bring White back on a prove it deal. Bowles is not a good coach, but Coen is and the offense will need to score over 30 points to win and hope that the defense can at least slow opponents down.
October 14th, 2024 at 5:27 am
We have the best offense in the nfl. When we can run the ball we are completely unstoppable. Our Qb might win league MVP. If I’m being honest I think right now we are probably the 4th best team in NFC. We are one good draft and off season away from being superbowl team.
I understand we struggle to get to the Wb without blitzing but to me the biggest problem is we need another corner back badly a lockdown corner so we can play man to man in coverage more.
Sitting in that zone is going get us best when it counts. Sure id love an edge rusher but the most glaring weakness is the lack of talent at cornerback in terms of ability to play man.
October 14th, 2024 at 6:41 am
I predicted a 11-6 record and a NFC championship game appearance before season, and I’m sticking to it!!
October 14th, 2024 at 6:48 am
I cruise other team’s chat / forum sites. I don’t think the NFL has a fanbase so desperate to hold onto the narrative that no matter what, our team sucks.
Bucs fans, you know we have a good team, right??
October 14th, 2024 at 6:50 am
Bucs need to go at least 2-2 the next four games, beat the ravens and definitely have to be the falcons at home. 49ers haven’t looked amazing this year so there’s a chance you might be able to get a win there, I think this is a 10 to 11 win season for the Bucs and if they can get hot leading up to the playoffs Bucs might make some noise
October 14th, 2024 at 7:05 am
Ask this question again after the next four games: Ravens, Falcons, Chiefs, 49ers. We’ll be ten games into the season at that point with some real data points.
October 14th, 2024 at 7:13 am
Not until coaching and player focus and attention improves.
I think as the season goes on, IF the mental errors abate and the depth at 2ndry and linebacker get more time on the field and experience then maybe.
I don’t see Mike winning his match ups right now. Injury/age/scheme? But if he isn’t reliable I think that also handicaps a deep run, especially without a TE catching 6 or 8 passes a game. Godwin will get hurt if he keeps having to carry the bulk of the dirty receiving yds.
October 14th, 2024 at 7:22 am
As long as Bowles is HC, this team has no hope. Todd has proven nothing to warrant him being considered a successful coach.
Just enough wins to make the hopeful forget the horrible losses. He wastes the talent that Licht brings in just to get to .500
October 14th, 2024 at 7:37 am
If Bucs want to get to the Super Bowl, they need to win 12 games- playing on the road in an NFC Championship game is a tough task.
Yes, they beat the Packers on the road, but the stadium was only 1/4 full.
Bucs need to get consistent like the Chiefs- getting healthy will help tremendously.
It’s a long, fun season, and Bucs are a talented group.
October 14th, 2024 at 7:41 am
Can we beat SF? That’s the only thing limiting us. Philly is just an average team, Atlanta, Dallas, GB, we can easily beat them. (Buncha very good AFC teams tho, once we get there)
October 14th, 2024 at 8:10 am
i think we have 3 out of 5 on that list.
October 14th, 2024 at 8:17 am
Putting the cart before the horse here, Joes. Bucs also have a small (?) problem with biased referees. That was very obvious in the second period. I give the entire team and coaches full credit in getting settled down, Once they did, refs were toast and backed off. This team is playoff caliber, and if they win the Division, fine. Shame money/greed talks but that’s the way of the world. I’m glad the better team won yesterday.
October 14th, 2024 at 9:54 am
Hardly…this team always has too many injuries and there is not enough strength on the bench in key positions. Yesterday brought heart stoppages just seeing Trash up and throwing when Baker showed some pain. Evans has to go out after every play where he runs down the field. Linebackers are thin. Boales should go back to just Defense calling and bring in a winning coach who can be a head coach for all disciplines. Edge is lost. Def line is not getting pressure. Stupid penalties continue to mount. Shepard needs discipline. Offensive line still a work in progress.
October 14th, 2024 at 9:56 am
Joe knows what he is talking about. Baker will continue to provide elite QB play because he is an elite talent. Improved running game will force two High safeties up opening the deep game to ME and Palmer. Hopefully, the O line will continue to develop. Have to believe that there is a spot along the line for Hainsey. Maybe Hainsey at LG? Not sure why he couldn’t be a fulltime swing man and play any position along the line when needed? When needed means just about every week because there is always somebody on the line nicked up.
October 14th, 2024 at 10:34 am
So who has been the elite edge rusher for the Chiefs?
Chris Jones is a dominant DT.
Who was the dominant edge rusher for the Rams in 2021?
Aaron Donald was a dominant DT.
October 14th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Do the Bucs have what it takes to win the Super Bowl ? Absolutely!! If the Bucs are healthy and in the playoffs they have so many offensive and defensive weapons they can use to overwhelm opponents. Bucs are on their way to peaking offensively but are not quite there yet. If we can establish a consistent running game with White, Tucker, and Irving. Think of that, we have 3 excellent running backs. If we can get them all going, no one will beat us !!
October 14th, 2024 at 11:03 am
Someone has to get thru to Bowles that using timeouts is NOT a bad thing. I don’t understand why he can’t manage the game or goes conservative from time to time. Keeping the foot on the pedal is the only way the Bucs can win. If you go to prevent defense it lets the offense just walk down the field which he’s done time and time again and then on offense they go to trying to run the clock out which before yesterday has always bin a dud for like 3 seasons now. LEARN BOWLES FROM THESE MISTAKES THAT HAS CAUSED US LOSESS
October 14th, 2024 at 11:56 am
You and I are on the same page, especially in regards to an edge rusher and coaching. Hell, it doesn’t have to even be an edge rusher, it can be a Warren Sapp if need be. Coaching? Bowles is a mystery surrounded by a riddle wrapped inside an enigma. One moment his feet our stuck inside cement like Atlanta and the next he is making adjustments that shutout an offense in the second half like yesterday. Go figure.
October 14th, 2024 at 4:28 pm
Difficult to say at this point with the team just now getting healthy. Pass rush is coming to life but edge rush needs a jump start. We have all but two of those qualities at this point in the season but we do have good coaches and we do have lots of potential for a decent pass rush. Let’s wait till week 10 to say yay or neigh
October 14th, 2024 at 4:30 pm
No
October 14th, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Lets see them smoke the falcons next time they meet. If cousins throws for a league high in passing yards again ill vomit.
October 14th, 2024 at 10:07 pm
if bucs can avoid an offensive guru like shanahan in playoffs that will be the key. a team bowles is familiar playing against like the lions will also help. bowles isnt elite when it comes to preparation
October 14th, 2024 at 11:01 pm
Dave Pear, your hatred of Todd is blinding you. You say we only faced 1 good coach, Denver. What about Detroit and Washington? Most fans would consider them good coaches.
October 15th, 2024 at 4:14 pm
Tough four game stretch coming.
Let’s see how the ship weather’s that proverbial storm before talking about any kind of playoff run!!