Resounding Confidence In Bucs’ Division Title Chances
December 2nd, 2024
National expectations.
Four big names paid big money to cover the NFL believe the Bucs are a massive favorite to win the NFC South, despite being tied with the Falcons and Atlanta owning the head-to-head tiebreaker.
That was the consensus on the Football Night In America panel last night, which included ex-quarterback and head coach Jason Garrett, former All-Pro defensive back Devin McCourty, fantasy guru Matthew Berry (Joe’s not a fan) and NBC super insider and ProFootballTalk.com guru Mike Florio.
All were asked rate the Bucs’ shot at winning the division from 1 t0 10.
Each chose a number 7.5 or greater.
Joe’s point here is not what each guy said about the Buccaneers, but the overriding evalution that the Bucs are the best team in the NFC South with the best chance to win the title.
That represents expectations on the head of Todd Bowles, and rightfully so.
Joe believes anything less than a division title or a 10-7 record from the Bucs is highly problematic.
December 2nd, 2024 at 1:28 pm
As has been said and will continue to be said, it is the official position of the Free Stretch that those Atlanta losses, especially the first one on TNF, will continue to loom large and that you simply cannot let games like that get away against the top competition in your division. They always seem to come back to bite you.
In other words, I’ll believe it when I see it.
December 2nd, 2024 at 1:34 pm
A bad division makes a division title meaningless IMO unless you are clearly a good team. Which in the Bucs case, well I will just say isnt so clear.
Could the Bucs win any other division?
Who actually believes these Bucs can go deep into the playoffs?
Who actually believes the Bucs will ever go deep into the playoffs with this HC?
Those are the questions that need to be asked. IMO
December 2nd, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Bucs with this head coach and his Cover Who prevent victory defense will be lucky to win one more game. Yesterday, the team shat the bed in front of the world, and the Loser gives them a day off?!?!?!
Loser is as Loser does.
Jason knows.
December 2nd, 2024 at 1:55 pm
If TB could ever get the defense to hold opponents to under 23 points, this team could very well end up 10 / 7. Of course for TB that’s asking a lot.
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:06 pm
Ye of little faith. As disappointed as we were with this week’s win, watch us clobber the Raiders on Sunday. Inconsistency is our forte.
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:11 pm
Didn’t you predict a loss? If so, wouldn’t that make you wrong, ie a loser ? 🤔
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:17 pm
It’s a great feeling as a longtime Bucs fan to be in Dec talking playoffs instead of tanking for a higher draft position.
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:18 pm
Todd Bowles has no business being HC and DC. That should of been addressed in the offseason with Licht and the Glazers. We’re handicapped every game with him
running the show.
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:18 pm
Lol you guys are so funny. Trying to discredit the bucs if they win the division. Saying its because the division is bad. Hey guess what, todd bowles beat the commanders, eagles and the lions. You cant take that away. Sure we lost to kirk cousins twice, but we beat Detroit IN Detroit.
“But those teams are not the same teams today, as they were earlier in the year”… blah blah blah. Bucs go 10-7 todd bowles returns
Bucs go 11-6 todd bowles returns, with a 1yr extension.
If only jason licht drafted pass rushers instead of trey palmer and jalen mcmillan, oh and kyle trask, and jake carmada.
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:19 pm
Jon Gruden won quite a few of his division titles in a bad division. Pre Drew Brees and Sean Payton days.
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:21 pm
Waterboy….exactly!!
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:37 pm
Jason Licht has drafted pass rushers… Todd Bowles has failed to develop them. Just sayin.
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:43 pm
Couch Fan Says:
December 2nd, 2024 at 1:34 pm
Could the Bucs win any other division?
_______________________________________________
NFC West maybe. And although they already beat the top 2 teams in the NFC East (Eagles and Commanders), but those teams are currently playing much better than the Bucs are right now.
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:47 pm
Relying on a inept or borderline retarded head coach to finish 6-1 or better is laughable
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:51 pm
None of you could make it through five minutes of practice without crying.
Go bucs.
December 2nd, 2024 at 3:21 pm
10-7 seems acceptable because of where things stand at the moment. Taking the snapshot of the season, Todd Bowles led this team, that’s capable of beating the Lions in Detroit, to a record of 6-6. He’s dang lucky to be that, too.
This team has no excuses for not being at least 8-4 right now. Minimum.
December 2nd, 2024 at 3:23 pm
AFC South, possibly NFC East having already beaten the Commanders, Eagles and Giants. Would be competitive in almost any other division aside from the AFC North probably. We own the Packers, Vikings don’t scare me and already beat the Lions.
@Eric… wrong, recent former pro athlete, give me 2 months to train, I will go on the field and absolutely get my a** handed to me but I wouldn’t cry!
December 2nd, 2024 at 3:28 pm
AFC west was pretty soft during the chiefs recent reign. I mean it wasn’t till this year that some actual competition started to show its face, but even then, pretty soft.
The Chiefs have been a force, but no one talking about how their soft division led them to home games and byes during the playoffs that might have otherwise cause them to lose
December 2nd, 2024 at 3:43 pm
Look how many divisional championships Pats won playing jets, fins, bills there is no asterisk when you win the division. But they did have 6 sb wins as well. So they were a good team in a bad division. We seems to be an ok team in a really bad division. Go BUCS
December 2nd, 2024 at 3:43 pm
Clueless Todd’s defense is prehistoric trash.
December 2nd, 2024 at 4:08 pm
Yeah it’s kinda funny to tho k. Our most recent Super Bowl hosted two team (Tampa vs LC) from arguably the worst two divisions in the NFL. Qualitative stats don’t matter, only matters if you make it the dance and win
December 2nd, 2024 at 4:24 pm
We REALLY need Tykee Smith back playing slot defender.
I think Izien could then take Mike Edwards/Whitehead role back at safety…
And for the love of God, could somebody crack the whip on Jamel Dean to tell him to move his ass up And stop with the 10+ yard cushions on opposing WR’s….
We as fans are FREAKEN SICK of seeing that crap.
December 2nd, 2024 at 4:31 pm
When the division title, lose the first playoff game and throw Coach Repus blows a going away party. Sounds about right to me.
December 2nd, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Bucfan1988 ..no shyte about Dean.
December 2nd, 2024 at 5:02 pm
Waterboy Says:
December 2nd, 2024 at 2:17 pm
It’s a great feeling as a longtime Bucs fan to be in Dec talking playoffs instead of tanking for a higher draft position.
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There’s a few yahoos on here already howling for just that. The Bucs are the walking wounded. Every week, someone significant is out. But, our team is 6-6, not 0-12. Pretty da##ed impressive when you consider the fact they play TWO teams, not one. I hope they mop the RJS floor with the Raiders. I have despised that team since the Art Tatum-John Madden days. Go look it up. Go Bucs–what comes around, goes around. Pound the Raiders into the GOM.
December 2nd, 2024 at 5:13 pm
Bravo to the Bucs for pulling this win out of the fire! We have a shot at getting into the playoffs because there is a sense of urgency. One game at a time does it.
And, oh, by the way the Panthers will be in the chase with their young QB in coming years.
Go Bucs!!!
December 2nd, 2024 at 6:13 pm
So you had time to troll jbf but not the time to get the moldy stuff out of your garage bedroom Jeff
December 2nd, 2024 at 6:53 pm
What is the damn Hamstring thing going on ,,, should we start practicing in May to get these hamstring issues out of the way?
December 2nd, 2024 at 8:04 pm
With the exception of Philly and Baltimore, which teams run better than the Bucs? This board cried over the lack of run production last year. It gets greatly improved, and the babies find something else to cry about… Every team has weaknesses. We’re solid at qb, o line, and kicker, tackles. Serviceable receivers ( Mike is a beast). Lb core weak. secondary always hurt . If the back end can get healthy, and Nelson supplants plan 9, I like our chances a t a nice playoff run.
December 2nd, 2024 at 9:10 pm
This is going to sound insane…and I cannot justify it with sound reasoning…but I’m going to make a prediction that will sound stupid to a lot of people:
The Bucs are goibg to the Superbowl.
December 2nd, 2024 at 9:35 pm
I know Joe doesn’t want to hear about grown men’s fantasies, but for those of us that do, Matthew Berry is great. Much like Joe, he is a man of the people. As far as I know, he’s the only person on these major networks calling out the 49ers for lying all off-season about CMC
December 3rd, 2024 at 1:32 am
9-8 or 8-9 is probable The Bowles Zone. 10-7 would be amazing and well over Bowles average. Atlanta holds the cards. it is theirs to lose.
December 3rd, 2024 at 6:25 am
“”The Bucs are going to the Superbowl.””
With this coach and his defense are you sure you didn’t mean to type the Bucs are going to the toilet bowl?
December 3rd, 2024 at 6:27 am
“”This team has no excuses for not being at least 8-4 right now. Minimum.””
If we had a capable head coach I think you’re exactly right.
December 3rd, 2024 at 7:53 am
Will the Bucs rise up, and snatch the division? Will that be enough to save Bowles job? Meaningful games in December.
December 3rd, 2024 at 8:43 am
Resounding Confidence In Bucs’ Division Title Chances
December 2nd, 2024
^^^^
Is anyone on this site really that confident ?
Kayfabe