Emphatic Sage: Bucs Will Be Alone Tonight In First Place
December 8th, 2024
So listeners to Friday’s Ira Kaufman Podcast heard The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports offer to bet any Bucs fan $20 that Tampa Bay will be alone atop the NFC South standings by dinnertime tonight.
The struggling Falcons, tied with the Bucs at 6-6, head today to the mighty Vikings (10-2) for a 1 o’clock kickoff. Their insane crowd will be eager to beat old man quarterback Kirk Cousins in his return to Minneapolis.
Simultaneously, the Bucs host the two-win Raiders, a team in turmoil with a backup quarterback starting, a club that’s playing a ton of first- and second-year players.
Kaufman, as he’s said for weeks, is a believer in the Buccaneers and expects them to beat the Raiders and close the season strong winning 10 or 9 games. The Falcons? Kaufman isn’t expecting them to have a winning record when the dust settles in January.
So Sage Ira, in his 40th year covering the Bucs, went out of his way to tell Bucs fans they’ll be sitting pretty this evening with a completely clear path to their fourth consecutive division title.
Joe loves the firm, bang-the-table optimism. It feels great. So would a win against the Raiders.
Man, what a stunning division comeback Kaufman’s scenario would represent.
Ira Kaufman Talks Sneaky Factors Against The Raiders, More Todd Bowles Rumblings, The 2023 Run Vs. This Year’s, Game Predictions And More
December 8th, 2024 at 3:37 am
Go Ira, go Baker n Bucs, but, think they will get 11 wins!! Bucs Will b top of division alone by nitefall!!!!!
December 8th, 2024 at 5:01 am
I’m sure Ira felt the Bucs would soundly defeat the last two win team that we faced. I worry about every game, knowing how many teams have snagged a 7 Eleven stock boy to play QB on their way to the stadium, and kicked our butts. I worry about our rematch with the Panthers. They embarrassed us last Sunday in performance. The Saints rematch is another one that always keeps me awake on Saturday nights. Our Bucs have so rarely been a consistent team throughout a season. “On any given Sunday” has never been more fitting for any other franchise. Please demolish the Raiders today.
December 8th, 2024 at 5:48 am
Can’t peg us Victor’s yet…kirk is going to be so Dailed in going against the vikings if darnold throws 3 into this game they won’t win it…just my opinion honestly but if we win all our remaining schedule we will clear the smoke.
December 8th, 2024 at 5:48 am
1sparkybuc last week Ira predicted we’d beat the Panthers 27-16. When we were ahead 20-16 I began to wonder was he truly “the Sage”. No matter, he’s alot closer than most of us around here. And if he says we’re leading the division alone by nightfall I’m in. Some guys just know how to pick a winner.
December 8th, 2024 at 5:49 am
My biggest issue with today’s game bowers is nice but I am worried about the tucker on Dean dude is twitchy and a straight burner on the2nd move stiff Dean struggles today that’s the sad reality
December 8th, 2024 at 6:19 am
I’ve got an extra $20 laying around.
December 8th, 2024 at 6:44 am
Bucky Irvin & Cam Skattebo 2025!!
December 8th, 2024 at 6:44 am
6-7 by tonight bc we can’t stop the raiders offense
December 8th, 2024 at 6:55 am
Keep the faith Ira, fire them cannons, all afternoon long
December 8th, 2024 at 7:02 am
Good news for Bowles he’s got some bad teams coming up. Bad news is, no excuse for losing to bad teams. If he does, he’s certainly gone.
December 8th, 2024 at 7:09 am
As I said earlier this week. I predict we go to the Superbowl.
I may, so far, be the only one predicting it, and I may be crazy for doing so…but…well…there it is.
December 8th, 2024 at 7:24 am
@bonzai I got us in the nfc championship game with the lions makes for good t.v. but the lions are hot right now and we’ll coached and they actually play hard the whole game yeah we beat them and served them the only l they have but they definitely will get they get back off of us we don’t have Sirvoccia this go round.
December 8th, 2024 at 7:28 am
Especially with Antoine Winfield playing like Winfield Antoine lol
December 8th, 2024 at 7:32 am
hopefully vi jones is up for the task after a couple years on ps…
let’s see some tucker today…
bucs win 30-20
December 8th, 2024 at 7:34 am
rest bucky rest…
your the best bucky best…
we have a 3 back nest that has impressed
December 8th, 2024 at 7:34 am
Luvmybucs- all due respect, but the Bucs have no linebackers, no edge rushers, no safety next to Winfield and you want Tampa to take a luxury pick in like Round 2? In general I’m all for BPA instead of piecing a puzzle like losers do – but not when our holes are more gaping than a Kardashian
December 8th, 2024 at 8:07 am
“…but not when our holes are more gaping than a Kardashian…”
GoForTheFace, that was awesome. LMAO
December 8th, 2024 at 8:18 am
I’d love to take a luxury pick but I’m having a hard time getting past the gaping holes.
December 8th, 2024 at 8:23 am
We’re signing guys off the street to punt and play safety, and starting practice squad guys to start at ILB and OLB. We have no meaningful pass rush outside of Vita and Kancey. God knows who’ll start at slot CB. What ‘scheme’ can we run to compensate for a horrible lack of talent on D. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
December 8th, 2024 at 8:27 am
Big whoop!
This team ain’t going ANYWHERE in the playoffs if it makes it there !
December 8th, 2024 at 8:33 am
Fire the cannons! Let’s go Bucs!!
December 8th, 2024 at 8:36 am
Will someone please explain to me the reason Jose Ramirez is not getting playing time? He balled out during preseason n with the Panthers player trying to test his toughness last week, today would be a good time to put him on display for a “how you like me now game”.
December 8th, 2024 at 8:47 am
Just like every Sunday I’ll be listening to Gene Deckerhoff call the game. And I’m excited to hear my favorite words in the English language. “FIRE THEM CANNONS!!!”
December 8th, 2024 at 8:57 am
dmatt: Because Todd Bowles is very, very slow to make adjustments, even if what he’s doing isn’t working. Look at how many games JTS has started even though he can’t rush the passer. Look at how many games Devin White started even though he obviously didn’t want to play football last year. Look at how far off the line Jamel Dean is.
How many of you agree with this statement:
If your “system” is hard for your own players to figure out, yet easy for opposing offenses to figure out, you have a failed “system”.
December 8th, 2024 at 9:04 am
It’s all about the talent…
or lack of
We running on empty
Was Don Shula a great coach or was it having long runs with Bob Griese and then Dan Marino
Remember the Bucs talent in their Super Bowl runs…
Yeah I will watch as I always have and I hope they play well today but the reality is that they DON’T have the talent to make a run in the postseason
December 8th, 2024 at 9:08 am
I agree that you don’t change the “system” 4 weeks before the regular season ends. The “system” is developed during the offseason, and for the first third of the season was effective. Injuries obvious took its toll on Bowles system, and he’s been patching it since then. But you don’t change that mid season, there’s no time – each week is used to prepare for the opponent, not rewrite the book.
December 8th, 2024 at 9:16 am
Other side of the coin says EVERY team left on our schedule has the Bucs circled as a win because of Todd Bowles. I want nothing more than the Bucs to win out.
I don’t usually get what I want…..ask the wife.
December 8th, 2024 at 9:25 am
Don’t see us winning today, if we give our normal emotionless sleepwalking effort!
The Raiders play with heart and emotion. Plus we don’t seem to be able to beat AFC West teams!
Go Bucs!
December 8th, 2024 at 9:47 am
I have Zero faith the defensive scheme and play calling.
December 8th, 2024 at 9:49 am
Yes we need to win the division so we’re not the first ones to go home with a wild card. Bucs fans see you on the upside of .500 finally
December 8th, 2024 at 10:12 am
Nothing with Bucs defense is safe, sound, or assured. Just hoping offense will press hard and not let up. Let’s get ME13 200 yards+ today plus a couple TD’s.
December 8th, 2024 at 11:16 am
Joe in Michigan,
That’s what’s up. I agree with u 100%. Bowles responds like a stubborn mule. JTS proved two years ago that he was a bust. Just go look at the Bengals vs Bucs game in 2022. On his bonehead play that middle schoolers don’t make, after that play coaches such as Parcell, BA, Homegrem, Payton, n Coughlin all would’ve benched or traded JTS after that play. He n JDean does not have the mental aspect to play on the nfl level.
December 8th, 2024 at 11:46 am
I’ll take that bet. Instead of $20, why not $200 or $2000. (BTW, my dinner is around 3pm EST).
December 8th, 2024 at 12:04 pm
Every team has holes like the Kardashians right now.
Every team is dealing with injuries.
I don’t wanna hear any excuses.
If the team comes out flat, in what they are all saying is a must win and a playoff type game then the bulllseye is squarely on Bowles.
If they are looking ahead to the Chargers they lose.
Rachaad should be inspired after that Iowa St beatdown by his former team.
December 8th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
Appreciate the optimism Ira !! I’m certainly hoping for the same outcome. 👍🏼
For those of you who think Todd is the HC Antichrist, or just clueless, I assume you’re predicting a loss and will be cheering for the same?
Let’s go Bucs 💪🏼🏈
December 8th, 2024 at 12:28 pm
Great Newz. 1st place and over .500. Way to go Bucs!!!
December 8th, 2024 at 12:31 pm
Don’t count them chickens before they are hatched. Just because a team has only won 2 games does not mean they cannot win another. We need to bring it. I smell..TRAP.
December 8th, 2024 at 4:58 pm
Gofortheface30
I was just having a laugh, bredren. No worries
December 9th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Boy some people’s comments aged like milk