a four way tie at 7-10 but Bucs take the tie breaker to win the division?
a four way tie at 7-10 but Bucs take the tie breaker to win the division?
which would be amazing with "11 Game Mayfield" under center.
a four way tie at 7-10 but Bucs take the tie breaker to win the division?
which would be amazing with "11 Game Mayfield" under center.
Let's hope we get a better version of him than that!
aka 35% Mayfield
that would be ideal and align with 2024 Mayfield.
If we get that Mayfield, team could win double digit games.
If we get the other one, we are likely looking at losing record again
If we get the one that made me make a "baker Mayfield appreciation thread" aka 2023...then 9-8 is calling our name! Need to build around him
I think the fanbase is frustrated with Bowles as head coach. Honestly, the defensive free agents and draft picks (even Trotter as a mike), give Bowles all that is needed to make his system wirk to become NFL average. He now has no excuse for any defensive let-down. So, being as positive as I can, I’m saying he should be able to improve the defense to NFL average. His defense doesn’t need to be spectacular, just provide stops and get off the field.
Zac Robinson has the heavy lifting. He’s still being graded by the media for the middling offensive output in Atlanta. I’m betting he has better offensive talent than he had in Atalanta and will be able to pull off a Liam Coen-esque transformation. I expect the offense to run through Chris Godwin, at least at first. Before his injury he was having a spectacular season, the o-line should be healthy, and depth has been added. Baker playing more within a system he has proven to do well in, has me excited to see what can be done, Kenny Gainwell being added was a really good addition to give Bucky some rotational rest and take time to recover from surgery - whatever that was.
I still think 10 wins is the ceiling, but we have seen a Bowles defense collapse too often since becoming HC, so jury is out on that until proven otherwise.
I want to see how the defense comes together, and how crisp the offense looks in training camp & pre-season. Hopefully we have a different approach on offense in the pre-season that allows the starters to get ready, but rested enough to avoid injuries that plaqued us at the beginning of last season.
Sure players get nicked up, especially as they age, but I still think there’s some type of training schedule that contributed to the entire o-line missing the start of the season, and never having a full starting compliment far into that season. Coen’s o-line didn’t have any of that. It could be just timing, but it feels like there’s something to it.
I’m approaching the season as if everything, every coordinator/coach wanted, was addressed this off-season. Now it’s down to coaching and we are poised to win the ones we should, and steal some tough games this season.
Color me optimistic.
Honestly, the defensive free agents and draft picks (even Trotter as a mike),
I think this is part of why the Bucs gave him what he asks for this offseason, like Trotter over another LBer
Emory Hunt at CBS (correctly predicted 2025 Bucs do NOT make playoffs) says 9 is the FLOOR for the 2026 Bucs
"Their floor for me is 9-8,” Hunt said of Tampa Bay’s 2026 season.
The Bucs’ drafting of Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst in Round 3 has Hunt excited, and Hurst likes how the Bucs have what he believes is the best collection of veteran talent in the NFC South.
Throw in edge rusher Rueben Bain and nickel cornerback Keionte Scott, Hunt said, and the Bucs can win 10 games if they find better consistency.
Emory Hunt at CBS (correctly predicted 2025 Bucs do NOT make playoffs) says 9 is the FLOOR for the 2026 Bucs
"Their floor for me is 9-8,” Hunt said of Tampa Bay’s 2026 season.
The Bucs’ drafting of Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst in Round 3 has Hunt excited, and Hurst likes how the Bucs have what he believes is the best collection of veteran talent in the NFC South.
Throw in edge rusher Rueben Bain and nickel cornerback Keionte Scott, Hunt said, and the Bucs can win 10 games if they find better consistency.
interesting that the floor is 9 wins but if they find consistency which they have not been able to do under Bowles....they can reach 10 wins.
Emory Hunt at CBS (correctly predicted 2025 Bucs do NOT make playoffs) says 9 is the FLOOR for the 2026 Bucs
"Their floor for me is 9-8,” Hunt said of Tampa Bay’s 2026 season.
The Bucs’ drafting of Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst in Round 3 has Hunt excited, and Hurst likes how the Bucs have what he believes is the best collection of veteran talent in the NFC South.
Throw in edge rusher Rueben Bain and nickel cornerback Keionte Scott, Hunt said, and the Bucs can win 10 games if they find better consistency.
interesting that the floor is 9 wins but if they find consistency which they have not been able to do under Bowles....they can reach 10 wins.
yes it is a little weird in that way. it suggests a bigger number of wins is possible
I dont see how the floor is 9. Thats a very optimistic view, BUT thats why I thought it worth mentioning that he was down on the Bucs last season
Emory Hunt at CBS (correctly predicted 2025 Bucs do NOT make playoffs) says 9 is the FLOOR for the 2026 Bucs
"Their floor for me is 9-8,” Hunt said of Tampa Bay’s 2026 season.
The Bucs’ drafting of Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst in Round 3 has Hunt excited, and Hurst likes how the Bucs have what he believes is the best collection of veteran talent in the NFC South.
Throw in edge rusher Rueben Bain and nickel cornerback Keionte Scott, Hunt said, and the Bucs can win 10 games if they find better consistency.
interesting that the floor is 9 wins but if they find consistency which they have not been able to do under Bowles....they can reach 10 wins.
yes it is a little weird in that way. it suggests a bigger number of wins is possible
I dont see how the floor is 9. Thats a very optimistic view, BUT thats why I thought it worth mentioning that he was down on the Bucs last season
yeah, honestly, i think the ceiling is 10-7. Just judging how we can't surpass 4-2 in the division, struggle in prime time, struggle against teams like Detroit, Ravens, and Rams historically. We have the same head coach, improved coordinators, lost a step in leadership without Evans and David, etc. Even with a top 5 offense back in 2024, we still were only a 10 win team.
I think 9-8 would be us playing at a much better level than we were during the collapse last year and winning some toss up games needed. There's not many "gimmes" on the schedule. The one really winnable game is Cleveland at home. Other than that, you are looking at a bunch of toss ups - Cincy, Minnesota, Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Chicago, Chargers, etc. I have Bucs going 4-3 in those games but hell can't you see any of those games going either way.
I also have @DET, @BAL, and vs Rams as unwinnable. Hope im wrong but those teams seem to have our number.
To me the floor is like 4-13 which would match our winning percentage of our post bye week skid (2-7) and that included 4 losses to teams with losing records. Outside of the division, the Bucs play 4 teams with losing records the entire 2026 schedule - @Dallas, @Cincy, Cleveland, and @Baltimore. One of those games is prime time, the other 2 boast top 5 QBs in the league - hardly the likes of Cousins, Shough, Young, or Quinn Ewers
Emory Hunt at CBS (correctly predicted 2025 Bucs do NOT make playoffs) says 9 is the FLOOR for the 2026 Bucs
"Their floor for me is 9-8,” Hunt said of Tampa Bay’s 2026 season.
The Bucs’ drafting of Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst in Round 3 has Hunt excited, and Hurst likes how the Bucs have what he believes is the best collection of veteran talent in the NFC South.
Throw in edge rusher Rueben Bain and nickel cornerback Keionte Scott, Hunt said, and the Bucs can win 10 games if they find better consistency.
interesting that the floor is 9 wins but if they find consistency which they have not been able to do under Bowles....they can reach 10 wins.
Yeah, it's a pretty nonsensical take.
Emory Hunt at CBS (correctly predicted 2025 Bucs do NOT make playoffs) says 9 is the FLOOR for the 2026 Bucs
"Their floor for me is 9-8,” Hunt said of Tampa Bay’s 2026 season.
The Bucs’ drafting of Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst in Round 3 has Hunt excited, and Hurst likes how the Bucs have what he believes is the best collection of veteran talent in the NFC South.
Throw in edge rusher Rueben Bain and nickel cornerback Keionte Scott, Hunt said, and the Bucs can win 10 games if they find better consistency.
interesting that the floor is 9 wins but if they find consistency which they have not been able to do under Bowles....they can reach 10 wins.
Yeah, it's a pretty nonsensical take.
He actually says that with some consistency they could have "double digit" wins. He doesn't limit it to 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABww-UVs6CI
To be fair, the veteran defensive free agent additions, coupled with the draft, seems to have this defense upgraded. I don’t see how the defense won’t be better. That is assuming the secondary additions from draft in the last two seasons actually stabilize that area. The bar is kinda low for NFL average - it should be attainable.Emory Hunt at CBS (correctly predicted 2025 Bucs do NOT make playoffs) says 9 is the FLOOR for the 2026 Bucs
"Their floor for me is 9-8,” Hunt said of Tampa Bay’s 2026 season.
The Bucs’ drafting of Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst in Round 3 has Hunt excited, and Hurst likes how the Bucs have what he believes is the best collection of veteran talent in the NFC South.
Throw in edge rusher Rueben Bain and nickel cornerback Keionte Scott, Hunt said, and the Bucs can win 10 games if they find better consistency.
interesting that the floor is 9 wins but if they find consistency which they have not been able to do under Bowles....they can reach 10 wins.
yes it is a little weird in that way. it suggests a bigger number of wins is possible
I dont see how the floor is 9. Thats a very optimistic view, BUT thats why I thought it worth mentioning that he was down on the Bucs last season
If Zac Robinson can come close to the expectations of 2024 - I kinda actually agree with Hunt.
Then again, I’m feeling optimistic, not sure Bowles can screw this up. Didn’t say he couldn’t. Bowles has no excuses, he pretty much got everything needed to make the rest of the season be about game/time management issues.
To be fair, the veteran defensive free agent additions, coupled with the draft, seems to have this defense upgraded. I don’t see how the defense won’t be better. That is assuming the secondary additions from draft in the last two seasons actually stabilize that area. The bar is kinda low for NFL average - it should be attainable.Emory Hunt at CBS (correctly predicted 2025 Bucs do NOT make playoffs) says 9 is the FLOOR for the 2026 Bucs
"Their floor for me is 9-8,” Hunt said of Tampa Bay’s 2026 season.
The Bucs’ drafting of Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst in Round 3 has Hunt excited, and Hurst likes how the Bucs have what he believes is the best collection of veteran talent in the NFC South.
Throw in edge rusher Rueben Bain and nickel cornerback Keionte Scott, Hunt said, and the Bucs can win 10 games if they find better consistency.
interesting that the floor is 9 wins but if they find consistency which they have not been able to do under Bowles....they can reach 10 wins.
yes it is a little weird in that way. it suggests a bigger number of wins is possible
I dont see how the floor is 9. Thats a very optimistic view, BUT thats why I thought it worth mentioning that he was down on the Bucs last season
If Zac Robinson can come close to the expectations of 2024 - I kinda actually agree with Hunt.
Then again, I’m feeling optimistic, not sure Bowles can screw this up. Didn’t say he couldn’t. Bowles has no excuses, he pretty much got everything needed to make the rest of the season be about game/time management issues.
yes i agree with your take.
Because of the way things ended last season, the 2026 season has the potential to completly go south if things start poorly. This is why I said I don't agree with 9 as a floor.
I can also see them doing well because the margins of some of their losses were so small last season and the "fixes" relatively straight forward, at least to be competitive (8 or 9 wins). Stop ST giving up scores and field position. Competent front 7 play on defense. a competent run game, which to me is more about health than anything.