The strength of this team is clearly in their offensive skill groups. QB Burrow will be throwing to a very talented group of WRs, TEs and RBs. It will come down to if the Bucs front seven can overcome a very mammoth OL group. Orlando Brown Jr and Amarius Mim are big, big tackles. Diaby and Bain usually use power rushes but may need to change things up to overcome them with some spins and inside moves.
The interior Bengals OL is around league average these days in terms of relative size. This is where Kancey, Robinson and Vea need to make their mark along with a deeper DL rotation of Roberts, Capheart, Simmons and Roches.
Bowles made it a a clear objective to stop the run or be better at it this off season. Trotter Jr and Anzalone are bigger LBs and they will be challenged by Chase Brown, Perine and Brooks so the emphasis on stopping the Bengals WR trio is important too. But the reality is that this game will come down to if the Bucs can control the LOS defensively and stop the run.
Sample, Gesicki, Chase, Higgins and Iosavas are going to test the Bucs young secondary constantly and relentlessly. Parrish, Morrison, Garnes and Scott need to on point because any pass can become a big play with these opponents. Winfield Jr is the veteran in the secondary now and has to take clear command along with Smith to rotate everyone correctly.
Defensively the Bengals went all out to improve a defensive front that needed and overhaul.
They traded for Dexter Lawrence to man the middle and give them a chance of slowing down rushing attacks. Allen and Mafe are also in the mix to help stop the run but also generate pressure against the passsing game. They drafted Casius Howell as a reserve to rotate in so Wirfs and Goedeke will be tested along with the Bucs interior of Bredeson, Barton and Mauch.
Bengals secondary is a little more seasoned than the Bucs but this is where the Bucs WRs can overwhelm them. Bucs are so deep at WR that the Bengals run out of players to defend them all. Mayfield if given time is going to make them pay through the air. But that Bucs OL has to hold up against Mafe, Allen and Lawrence from collapsing that pocket.
Bucs have started out 2-0 under Baker/Bowles combo for the last 3 years
The Bengals started out 2-0 last year but 0-2 the 4 seasons prior to that.
Obviously no impact on Sundays game but just interesting
Most of us that have the Bucs at 9+ wins have the Bucs winning this game but at 3.5 point dogs on the road, it would be a solid win to say the least.
Not sure the Bucs win an opener in Cincy. Tough spot to open the season. That said, Tampa wins 12+ games.
Not sure the Bucs win an opener in Cincy. Tough spot to open the season. That said, Tampa wins 12+ games.
lol, so you have Tampa at worse....12-5
- that includes a not sure, call it Cincy loss per your statement
- Bucs are 5.5 point dogs at Baltimore. Would you agree that's a tough spot and likely loss?
- Rams are likely to be a loss as well.
- Bucs have not been able to do better than 4-2 in the division in their recent Brady/Baker years which included the worst division during that span. Surely, you dont have them at 6-0, but should we assume 5-1 for this take?
So that is 5-4 and having to 7-1 in the following games - V CLE, V MIN, V GB, @DAL (Prime time), v PIT, @CHI (Prime time), @Detroit, and V LAC
who are your 5 losses (at most) to?
I believe they lose the game in Cincy. That is not an easy place to win in and it sounds like the Bungals will have their full compliment of offensive weapons.
Their offensive weapons > Tampa Bay's defensive weapons. That said, I hope this defense rears their shoulders back and puts a thumping on Burrow. That will make me happy and really will determine the outcome of the game.
Bucs are 5.5 point dogs at Baltimore. Would you agree that's a tough spot and likely loss?
The Baltimore Ravens are toothless in 2026. If you are picturing the Bucs of the past on D or the Ravens on O, you aren’t very good at football.
Cincy is the only true threat in the AFC N to beat Tampa.
Bucs are 5.5 point dogs at Baltimore. Would you agree that's a tough spot and likely loss?
The Baltimore Ravens are toothless in 2026. If you are picturing the Bucs of the past on D or the Ravens on O, you aren’t very good at football.
Cincy is the only true threat in the AFC N to beat Tampa.
What about the rest of my post? Quite deflecting and give your losses
Many are predicting Minter as the coach of the year for the Ravens which is high praise and bold prediction. The Ravens do have a talented defense and their offense can compete. I mean they drafted 2 WRs and 2 TEs this off season to compliment their existing WR and TE group so they ae deep at the skill positions on offense. Ravens test will be how their lines hold up. They need Vega to be a day 1 stud and if he is the Ravens instantly become a tough out for any team in the league. Players like Sarrat, Lane, Hinber, Cuevas, Rivers and Young will be role players but that is a lot of young talent to pull from for this season and beyond.
The Browns revamped the majority of their offensive line and WR group. The Browns also need an OL rookie to be a stud day in Fano. But they also drafted Boston and Concepcion and both must contribute early to make Monken's offense work.
Defensively they lost MG but they gained Verse and Williams. Verse is not as good as MG but Williams is an elite coverage LB. Playing next to Schwesinger means the Browns may have the best 1-2 inside LB duo in the league or soon will be recognized.
The Steelers added DK Metcalf last year and this year added Pittman Jr giving them a legit 1-2 punch. They also drafted Wetjen and Bernard at WR as reserves so they are looking to change their image as a run oriented team.
Defensively they added Dean to play opposite of Porter Jr. Jenkins and Brisker round out a more veteran laden group with Ramsey in the slot. If the Steelers front seven feasts then the veteran backend will make splash plays (well except Dean lol).
So in summary I do not see the AFCN as a cakewalk as they are a physical division. Best chance for the Bucs to steal a victory will be against the Browns who have new schemes and Watson looks off for now.
What about the rest of my post? Quite deflecting and give your losses
One thing you never do in football is look at last season or any other previous season as a gage for how good a team will be the next season. So while there are many reasons to think we will lose more than 5 games there is also reason to believe this defense will be largely improved.
Fine, losses to Cincy, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Rams.
So you are thinking (by your losses) that we sweep the Falcons, Saints, and Panthers all 3? I am fairly certain that has never happened and won't happen this year. In most years, they split those games.....so that would make them 9-8. I think they lose more than that.What about the rest of my post? Quite deflecting and give your losses
One thing you never do in football is look at last season or any other previous season as a gage for how good a team will be the next season. So while there are many reasons to think we will lose more than 5 games there is also reason to believe this defense will be largely improved.
Fine, losses to Cincy, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Rams.
What about the rest of my post? Quite deflecting and give your losses
One thing you never do in football is look at last season or any other previous season as a gage for how good a team will be the next season. So while there are many reasons to think we will lose more than 5 games there is also reason to believe this defense will be largely improved.
Fine, losses to Cincy, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Rams.
thanks and appreciate the moto anything can happen.
but...the Bucs have never gone 6-0 in the division in it's entire existence and actually went 4-2 in their Super Bowl years and Brady years. I'm not saying there's a ceiling, but there appears to be a ceiling. Since you have us dominating this year, i think best case would be 5-1. Just trying to be reasonable here. I personally have us at 4-2 on our way to 9-8.
Good to see you have us struggling in prime time again. That's reasonable.
don't quite agree with you on Baltimore but that's ok. Their down year was last year. Have a new coach.
Remember when we had a top 5 offense, were 4-2 back in 2024. We had that statement game against Baltimore. it was a statement all right. we got our asses kicked. It was 34-10 in the 4th quarter and we sacrificed Godwin to make it respectable in garbage time. I'd like to think Baltimore will be closer to 2024 then they will be 2025.
Shit man, are we already 10-7 at best?
So you are thinking (by your losses) that we sweep the Falcons, Saints, and Panthers all 3? I am fairly certain that has never happened and won't happen this year. In most years, they split those games.....so that would make them 9-8. I think they lose more than that.What about the rest of my post? Quite deflecting and give your losses
One thing you never do in football is look at last season or any other previous season as a gage for how good a team will be the next season. So while there are many reasons to think we will lose more than 5 games there is also reason to believe this defense will be largely improved.
Fine, losses to Cincy, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Rams.
We will have 5 losses or less.
So you are thinking (by your losses) that we sweep the Falcons, Saints, and Panthers all 3? I am fairly certain that has never happened and won't happen this year. In most years, they split those games.....so that would make them 9-8. I think they lose more than that.What about the rest of my post? Quite deflecting and give your losses
One thing you never do in football is look at last season or any other previous season as a gage for how good a team will be the next season. So while there are many reasons to think we will lose more than 5 games there is also reason to believe this defense will be largely improved.
Fine, losses to Cincy, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Rams.
We will have 5 losses or less.
Hope you are right. i just dont see it
we had an offense that averaged nearly 30 points a game in 2024 and still were sitting at 4-6, taking a rally at end of year to end up with a mid record of 10-7. Have the same head coach, same quarterback and for what we hope is an offensive coordinator that can match Coen
sure we upgraded our defense, but still dont see it magically becoming the Seahawks defense because of Bain
Offense has got to be better, right?
it's the schedule which is brutal. @Cincy, V GB, @Dallas (prime time), V Pitt, @Chicago (prime time), @Detriot, v LAC, @BAL, v Rams. 9 Games there in which i find it hard to believe Bucs leave better than 4-5 at best. Considering Bowles/Baker combo is pretty anemic in prime time as well.
throw in 2 wins for Minny and Cleveland or we are in real trouble.
this doesn't even factor in division games where 6-0 has been elusive in our history
Baker got an extension. Gainwell is an upgrade. Ted Hurst is found money in a deep WR room. Oline is healthy and the best in the league. Kieft is healthy (if he was healthy last season, Grizz is still here).
We are as talented as any team in the league top to bottom. The changes we made on defense are very important to our improvement.
Stop hating on Bowles and enjoy a good football team.
@theknees if you’re right and we’re as talented as anyone in the league, then Bowles should lead this team deep in the playoffs. I’m looking forward to it.
