Falcons away
Houston away
Jets home
Eagles Home.
Tough because the Bucs could still split with the Falcons bbut with the opening way loss and then lose agains at Texans so everyone is freaking out at 0-2. Presumably beat the Jets, but then lose to the Eagles?1-3 in the first 4 games?
I will go 2-2.
They hold serve down a few players. Key INTERCEPTION seals the Flacons win away, but then they lose to the Texans and the Jets in a shocking home opener. Maybe Grizz calls an jet sweep late for a big fumble. Everyone is screaming for Bowles head . . but then .. back to level with a big win against the Eagles, in part due to the return of Wirfs and Sean Tucker running for 225 yards?
lol
We are more talented than any roster we face with the exception of maybe Houston and definitely the Eagles. But we own the Eagles and that should continue. I do think we get beat in primetime at the Texans. Nick Sirianni is too goofy for someone like Bowles to lose to very often.
I think we go 3-1 and Egbuka has 5 TDs in the first four games.
Don't need to tell people on this board but I will anyway. Egbuka is going. in the 6th round in leagues with any sort of experience behind them. I am grabbing him in the 5th with the knowledge that if I drafted him in the 1st, it would still be a great pick from a production standpoint.
Falcons away
Houston away
Jets home
Eagles Home.
Tough because the Bucs could still split with the Falcons bbut with the opening way loss and then lose agains at Texans so everyone is freaking out at 0-2. Presumably beat the Jets, but then lose to the Eagles?1-3 in the first 4 games?
I will go 2-2.
They hold serve down a few players. Key INTERCEPTION seals the Flacons win away, but then they lose to the Texans and the Jets in a shocking home opener. Maybe Grizz calls an jet sweep late for a big fumble. Everyone is screaming for Bowles head . . but then .. back to level with a big win against the Eagles, in part due to the return of Wirfs and Sean Tucker running for 225 yards?
lol
i'll stay consistent with my original picks back in May
3-1 to start the year with loss in prime time game to Texans.
We go 0-4 in prime time games (HOU, DET, LA, ATL)
we go 5-1 in division
much like previous years, we are hovering around .500 (6-5) and go on a run to end the year 5-1 to finish 11-6
two other losses are Buffalo and San Francisco
Don't need to tell people on this board but I will anyway. Egbuka is going. in the 6th round in leagues with any sort of experience behind them.
It’s comical that some major sites still have his ADP in the high 90’s/low 100’s.
He was a 5th/6th BEFORE the McMillan injury (Jalen had an ADP in the 12-14th round range, which was accurate).
I don’t hate him in the 4th (would prefer 5/6).
Don't need to tell people on this board but I will anyway. Egbuka is going. in the 6th round in leagues with any sort of experience behind them.
It’s comical that some major sites still have his ADP in the high 90’s/low 100’s.
He was a 5th/6th BEFORE the McMillan injury (Jalen had an ADP in the 12-14th round range, which was accurate).
I don’t hate him in the 4th (would prefer 5/6).
In my big money league, I have the 5th pick, and it's very Atlanta/NFC South slanted so I could see him going in the 5th. I am going 1. Cmac/Gibbs, 2 Jacobs/Irving, 3rd Daniels/Allen, 4th Connor/Kamara, 5th Metcalf, then hoping Egbuka slips. And I may take him in the 5th as I know he's going to bust out quickly.
I am going with 1-3 and the Bucs rally to be over .500 by mid season after the bye. Reason being after the Eagles game they have to travel across the country against SEA, then host SF at home, then travel to Detroit and then travel to N.O. Then the bye arrives in a timely fashion to give this team a rest with all the traveling they will be doing. Extra rest coming off bye to against a young Patriots team. Then road games to Buffalo and then cross country again to LA for the Rams game. The last six games after the Rams games are winnable and only one AFC opponent (Dolphins). Bucs control their destiny with NFC and NFCS foes down the stretch for another divisional title run.
Fortunately for the Bucs they are road warriors under Bowles which is a paradox but it is true 100%.
If the Bucs start 3-1 or 4-0 that sets them up nicely for the rest of the schedule and dominate the rest of the way.
So for the too long didn't read crowd I think the Bucs start ugly and have a gutsy come back post bye and finish strong down the stretch.
Don't need to tell people on this board but I will anyway. Egbuka is going. in the 6th round in leagues with any sort of experience behind them.
It’s comical that some major sites still have his ADP in the high 90’s/low 100’s.
He was a 5th/6th BEFORE the McMillan injury (Jalen had an ADP in the 12-14th round range, which was accurate).
I don’t hate him in the 4th (would prefer 5/6).
I'm in an 8 man and got him in the 11th. So that would be like the 7th or 8th in a 10 man
Week 1 - shootout. Offense takes the lead late on a fg. Defense gives it right back up and we lose. Bowles lovers blame Coen for the fg not being a TD.
Week 2 - we bounce back and our d-line has a breakout game against one of the worst lines in football. Bowles fans rejoice as he finally wins in primetime.
Week 3 - game is closer than we'd like. Fields runs for 2 TDs and throws for 2 more but we run out the clock in the end on a long 8 minute scoring drive to clinch.
Week 4 - starters are back. This is a coin flip but I say we won at home in a close game.
3-1
3-1
2-2 if Wirfs is out 4 games. 3-1 if Wirfs is only out 2 games (damn prime time games!).
Week 1 - shootout. Offense takes the lead late on a fg. Defense gives it right back up and we lose. Bowles lovers blame Coen for the fg not being a TD.
Week 2 - we bounce back and our d-line has a breakout game against one of the worst lines in football. Bowles fans rejoice as he finally wins in primetime.
Week 3 - game is closer than we'd like. Fields runs for 2 TDs and throws for 2 more but we run out the clock in the end on a long 8 minute scoring drive to clinch.
Week 4 - starters are back. This is a coin flip but I say we won at home in a close game.
3-1
Awesome. you picked up on the vibe!
Maybe in that primetime win we will go for it on a 4th down to get a first (but really to make sure Evans gets some yards!). But then Bowles takes heat because Evans gets hurt on the post-completion celebration. He's out for the next game because Desmond Watson (a special sideline guest of Bowles) stepped on Evans toe during the celebration over the first down catch!
Week 1 - shootout. Offense takes the lead late on a fg. Defense gives it right back up and we lose. Bowles lovers blame Coen for the fg not being a TD.
Week 2 - we bounce back and our d-line has a breakout game against one of the worst lines in football. Bowles fans rejoice as he finally wins in primetime.
Week 3 - game is closer than we'd like. Fields runs for 2 TDs and throws for 2 more but we run out the clock in the end on a long 8 minute scoring drive to clinch.
Week 4 - starters are back. This is a coin flip but I say we won at home in a close game.
3-1
to be clear, i dont think there were many Bowles lovers out there. Maybe some, but i for one, was just a realist when it came to Bowles. After they made playoffs for the 3rd straight year under him, 3 division titles, and 2 without Brady; i just knew they weren't going to fire him last year.
Just feel Ownership/Management expectations for life after Brady was bleak and We managed to maintain prosperity. Now too many's point, that was all Mayfield and the offense but again Bowles is head coach so his "leadership" (just puked in my mouth) has to account for something.
i was always in the camp that 2025 season should have been the year of decision for Bowles, another 9,10 win season and first round playoff exit, and it was time to potentially move on in 2026; but what really threw me for a loop was him getting an extension this off-season; just showed that even I.....was too "negative" on Bowles. i disagree with managements decision as the expectations this year should not be barely winning one of, if not the, weakest divisions in football with a 9,10 win season and another playoff exit where we are potentially favored in the game.
i for one, was just a realist when it came to Bowles. After they made playoffs for the 3rd straight year under him, 3 division titles, and 2 without Brady; i just knew they weren't going to fire him last year.
me for two.
Bowles is a good coach for the Bucs situation . .. and that situation has been predominantly rebuilding. And yet Bowles is over-the-top trolled by many of the SELF-DESCRIBED RB Football Smart Set. Like this fine specimen, just moments ago:
the excuse-makers for the defense last season.
lmao.
"I for one" and gladly standing with Licht (Chief "excuse-maker for the defense last season") instead of Biggs and "his ilk" who said Trask should've been a starter over Mayfield, White would be RB1 running the ball "again and again and gain," and the Canales running game struggled because Mayfield was sending the RBs the wrong way.
3-1.
Could be 4-0. But we don't know yet how well Heck will fill-in at LT, and if the dropoff is cliff-like, against PHI for example, that could lead to a L. But this roster is good enough to win all 4, barring injuries to critical players.
The other concern is simply how good a playcaller is Grizz going to be? I doubt he'll get through the first 4 games without making some mistakes. Will he bounce back quickly after making a bad call? Or will he turtle up? Or will he compound a bad mistake with more?
I think he'll be okay, but he might have a bad game or two coming out of the gate, so 3-1.
Jeez, the haboob sounds like it's going to tear the roof off right now.
Bowles with someone holding his hand on clock management and analytics should win us a few extra games. That plus Reddick and better CB play.
Bowles is def in a position to shut haters like me up.
Sticking with 3-1