For the sake of argument, assume they go 8-9, win the division and play the Cowboys in the playoffs as a losing team. Would you buy tickets? Would you tailgate? Would you have a watch party? How will you feel about that game when the result will inevitably be the Bucs get crushed? Or do you think they'd have a chance to win that game?
That's what I'm trying to gauge here. Is it really better for the Bucs to get in the playoffs with a losing record than it is to miss the playoffs?
yes it’s better. MUCH better.
it’s much better because the team doesn’t exist like many fans seems to think of the NFL, which is that each season is its own all or nothing season. Win it all or tank (kidding on that part)
Getting to the playoffs even if that means getting stomped by the Cowboys is part of the development (and hopefully motivation) of guys like Mauch and White and Palmer and more. The experience of competing at that level EVEN LOSING helps them all the next time they get there (hopefully)
The Bucs heartbreaking loss to the Rams helped them go on to win a SB later.
Mike Florio was on With TKraz. Florio speculated that they could go 4 for 4 on coach firings in the NFC South if the "winner" of the division gets blown out of their playoff game. If Bowles does manage to make the playoffs with a losing record, that doesn't mean his job is safe.
As TKraz pointed out, the Glazers are going to look at a half empty stadium for the Panthers game and thats going to get their attention. The Bucs attendance has been augmented by fans from other teams all year, but nobody's going to be coming down here from Carolina. Bowles doesn't generate excitement inside the locker room, nor does he generate excitement in the stands.
Another point Florio brought up was that, as we know, the Bucs were stuck with hiring Bowles because of the poor timing of Arians' retirement. They didn't get to do a normal coach search.
We've had two seasons of moribundity if that's a word. The fans are over it. In retrospect, I was wrong at the beginning of the season. In hindsight, seeing what kind of uninspiring product is being put out there again this season, they should have tanked it. They do have talent on this team, maybe not to the level of the top teams, but they have the talent to have a winning team and they are once again underperforming and uninspiring.
And a playoff game won't fix that, not when it will be at home in a stadium half filled with Cowboy fans celebrating their team scoring 40 points! Not trying to be negative Nelly, but that's the reality of it.
I just disagree because they didn't really earn the playoff game they just fell into it by beating Carolina twice and a couple other equally bad teams, if that ends up happening. Now if they can go 5-1 and therefore finish 9-8 then that's a different story. At least they had a winning record and would be showing some kind of momentum for next year.For the sake of argument, assume they go 8-9, win the division and play the Cowboys in the playoffs as a losing team. Would you buy tickets? Would you tailgate? Would you have a watch party? How will you feel about that game when the result will inevitably be the Bucs get crushed? Or do you think they'd have a chance to win that game?
That's what I'm trying to gauge here. Is it really better for the Bucs to get in the playoffs with a losing record than it is to miss the playoffs?
yes it’s better. MUCH better.
it’s much better because the team doesn’t exist like many fans seems to think of the NFL, which is that each season is its own all or nothing season. Win it all or tank (kidding on that part)
Getting to the playoffs even if that means getting stomped by the Cowboys is part of the development (and hopefully motivation) of guys like Mauch and White and Palmer and more. The experience of competing at that level EVEN LOSING helps them all the next time they get there (hopefully)
The Bucs heartbreaking loss to the Rams helped them go on to win a SB later.
We've had two seasons of moribundity if that's a word. The fans are over it. In retrospect, I was wrong at the beginning of the season. In hindsight, seeing what kind of uninspiring product is being put out there again this season, they should have tanked it. They do have talent on this team, maybe not to the level of the top teams, but they have the talent to have a winning team and they are once again underperforming and uninspiring.
And a playoff game won't fix that, not when it will be at home in a stadium half filled with Cowboy fans celebrating their team scoring 40 points! Not trying to be negative Nelly, but that's the reality of it.
Kudos to you.
Luckily this is all hypothetical as Bucs could very well lose to the 1 win panthers this weekend
“the Bucs’ shot at the postseason jumped from 15 percent before last night’s game to 26 percent today.”
And after Sundays game with a Todd Bowles clock mismanagement, non challenge and all out blitz that doesn’t work, Bucs chances will fall to 3.8%
And after Sundays game with a Todd Bowles clock mismanagement, non challenge and all out blitz that doesn’t work, Bucs chances will fall to 3.8%
youre a crazy optimist
The truth is that this year was a test of the coaching staff. We knew the talent level was .500 level at best with a lot of young players and undrafted players making the roster. December will decide the fate of this coaching staff IMVHO. They have to finish strong and avoid a slide like last December.
