1. The Bucs, on a good day, can beat most of the likely NFC field: Cowboys, Giants, Commanders, Seahawks, Vikings, Packers or Lions. These teams are wildly inconsistent, like the Bucs. So, getting to the NFC title game isn't implausible. (49ers and Eagles are another story.)
2. The defense is good. Of course they'll give up points when the offense commits 5 turnovers in Bucs territory in one half. But they've been consistently good to excellent all season (except for the 49ers game). Bucs should soon get back Vea, Dean, and Winfield, arguably the 3 best defenders.
3. There's this from PFF: "Buccaneers offensive lineman Nick Leverett was the highest-graded player [in the Bengals game] with an elite 90.3 grade. This came from an 88.8 run-blocking grade and an 85.5 pass-blocking grade. He also didn’t allow a sack the entire game." When Wirfs returns, this could be a decent O-line.
4. The first half offense against the Bengals was real. We saw advances in play-calling: motion, play-action, double fakes, varied personnel. Also, the muffed fake punt was [sort of] a positive, in that it showed creativity. It clearly would've worked but for Bernard's mistake. Maybe the coaching staff is learning?
Not sure about #4
As bad as this franchise is historically, you want to see a playoff appearance.
Everyone hoping for failure due to better draft positioning must be forgetting who this coaching staff is.
As bad as this franchise is historically, you want to see a playoff appearance.
Everyone hoping for failure due to better draft positioning must be forgetting who this coaching staff is.
yeah exactly. We are not the Eagles or Ravens who are in the playoff hunt every year and have that luxury to root against playoffs.
2002 - Superbowl win
2005 - first round exit
2007 - first round exit
2020 - Superbowl win
2021 - second round exit
maybe some have recencty bias as if it's easy to get to the playoffs....well it's not for Tampa. Let's go in the playoffs with a 3 game win streak and be the team we were in 2020, 2021. I know im high to think so but nows a good time to start, then beat the choke artist Cowboys in the first round....and hope for some upsets against Eagles/49ers by lower seeds lol
Let's go in the playoffs with a 3 game win streak and be the team we were in 2020, 2021. I know im high to think so
Yeah, you're high.
This team and these coaches would have to do a total 180 from what they've been all season.
It's reasonable to expect a win this Sunday against AZ. Beyond that, it's a fantasy that's not happening. If we get to the playoffs, we're done in the first round.
Right now, I have more optimism for the Jags making the playoffs than the Bucs.
The Titans play Houston, Dallas and at the Jags. The Jags play at Houston and then home against the Titans. The Titans are without their starting QB.
If the Bucs lose to Carolina, than they are probably out. The Saints could even win the NFC South if the win out.
Carolina looking unstoppable
such a buc thing to do, lose Brady last year with team and miss playoffs to rebuilding team with interim coach lmao
2020,2021 we will never forget
There's no way we make the playoffs the way they've been playing. Sucks this team has a lot better in them than they've done but also injuries haven't helped. Don't get started on the coaching. Everyone knows they've been a disaster. Knowing the glazers tho they will give them a fresh slate when Brady leaves. Which is opposite of what they need to do but we all know what they will do. Maybe they can suck enough next year to get a 1st overall again and maybe can get a franchise qb for once. Best thing that would happen is they change a few things and get rolling again. They have some key pieces there. I just don't know if they do it tho. Hope for the best.
We look so bad I don’t think we make the playoffs it’s 3 team tie rn. Bowles needs to go no risk it no biscuit stop trying to fix what’s isn’t broken. You were around Arians for your entire career be a variation of him not a completely different guy
Stop playing to keep from losing, and start playing to win. Simple.
The Falcons play the Cardinals and then the Bucs go to Atlanta. So they could end up 7-10. The Bucs could end up 7-10 if they can't get past the Panthers who just rolled the Lions and then lose to the Falcons. The Saints could end up 7-10. I don't see them beating the Eagles, but they could beat the Panthers. The Panthers could be 7-10 if they win one out of two, playing the Bucs and Saints. So I don't know for sure, but it seems like the whole NFC South could tie at 7-10. Who would win that tiebreaker?
@catherder If all the NFCS teams ended up at 7-10, the NFL would need to put all the stats and tiebreaking scenarios into a super-computer. After churning all the data for an hour, the super-computers answer would probably be "Garbage Out"!
The Falcons play the Cardinals and then the Bucs go to Atlanta. So they could end up 7-10. The Bucs could end up 7-10 if they can't get past the Panthers who just rolled the Lions and then lose to the Falcons. The Saints could end up 7-10. I don't see them beating the Eagles, but they could beat the Panthers. The Panthers could be 7-10 if they win one out of two, playing the Bucs and Saints. So I don't know for sure, but it seems like the whole NFC South could tie at 7-10. Who would win that tiebreaker?
Panthers
we have a playoff game next week at home and I‘m having a very bad feeling about it
