the Bucs can change my mind if they still 1 of the next 2 games but.....until that happens, hard to take this team seriously. They will be known as being in a weak ass division and pretenders.
Conceding up front that this is a fan's take, the other scenario is that a rough patch in the middle here combined with the return of a couple players nad maybe easier division opponents has the Bucs coming on strong at the end of the season.
who knows?
The expectations sky rocketed that we thought we had a chance of a #1 seed and actual Super Bowl contenders.
the Bucs can change my mind if they still 1 of the next 2 games but.....until that happens, hard to take this team seriously. They will be known as being in a weak ass division and pretenders.
Because of expectations ("we thought we had a chance of a #1 seed and actual Super Bowl contenders")
FWIW, SR goes on to predict they win 1 of the next 2. I do NOT see that, especially after the Bills getting thumped by Miami. DH made this point last night, I think.
But, the Pats loss is a bad loss no matter what. It was also a bit of a trap game. Coming off a bye, the game they were "supposed to win" of the three etc.
well yeah, if before the season, you would have said we'd have all these injuries and finish 11-6, which would be our best record since the two good Brady Years...yeah we'd take it.
but that's loser mentality talk to be honest and just coping.
At 5-1, were we all not thinking higher hopes this year?
the Patriots game should have been a win. They are not a great team despite their record. They had 3 long TDs which is uncharacteristic of our defense, particularly, the run defense? I had saving private ryan flash backs to our 2008 collapse where Carolina ran all over our defense that one game. Let's hope we all of a sudden didn't forget how to stop the run like we have had since 2020.
We need to at least put up 30 to beat teams like Buffalo and LAR. I dont see how we beat a Buffalo team that will be hungry for a win or a prime time game against LA....both on the road. Yes, if we win one of those, count me back in
if we win both of those, buy me a super bowl ticket
but, if we had to bet, would you not bet what this team has been under Bowles?
the Bucs can change my mind if they still 1 of the next 2 games but.....until that happens, hard to take this team seriously. They will be known as being in a weak ass division and pretenders.
Conceding up front that this is a fan's take, the other scenario is that a rough patch in the middle here combined with the return of a couple players nad maybe easier division opponents has the Bucs coming on strong at the end of the season.
who knows?
oh i have no doubt the Bucs will go on a run to end the season...or help, that's the bare minimum they should do
my expectations are 6-0 as we will be favored in every game, but 5-1 is most likely with a dud game we lay against a division opponent; would guess either Atlanta or Carolina; particularly after a win streak as we can't win more than 4 games in a row
so at 6-5, winning 3 in a row versus Cardinals, Saints, and Falcons; yeah bet the house on that Carolina road game being a loss.
the Bucs can change my mind if they still 1 of the next 2 games but.....until that happens, hard to take this team seriously. They will be known as being in a weak ass division and pretenders.
Conceding up front that this is a fan's take, the other scenario is that a rough patch in the middle here combined with the return of a couple players nad maybe easier division opponents has the Bucs coming on strong at the end of the season.
who knows?
oh i have no doubt the Bucs will go on a run to end the season...or help, that's the bare minimum they should do
my expectations are 6-0 as we will be favored in every game, but 5-1 is most likely with a dud game we lay against a division opponent; would guess either Atlanta or Carolina; particularly after a win streak as we can't win more than 4 games in a row
so at 6-5, winning 3 in a row versus Cardinals, Saints, and Falcons; yeah bet the house on that Carolina road game being a loss.
yes that is probably right, but that could mean -- again, being optimistic - that we head into the playoffs hot.
It was a trap game because we didn’t have the tools to effect the outcome - but the Pats defense wasn’t rolling over and letting us score. We actually turned in a better run game than expected and nearly as effective as Buffalo in their loss to the Pats. I still contend, a healthy Bucky would have made a difference in this game - especially from a balanced offensive perspective.
Grizz was better, just not consistent. Baker still can’t run his scramble drill, and never really tried. I believe Baker isn’t running, or able to avoid sacks due to injury (maybe his knee?), maybe some of it was Pats defense, mostly it’s due to Baker purposely not scrambling?
O-Line is looking better, except for the guard personnel. Don’t like losing Bredeson, but that can be overcome. Getting Haggard back could offset that.
Defense giving up big run/pass gash plays. Bigger issue: and as SR said - why is Morrison in so much at Dean’s expense? That was unexpected. Defense also only had one late INT/turnover, right? That was also unexpected.
Injuries are definitely effecting win/loss - but it’s not like we don’t have SOME of horses coming back.
The sky is not falling.
I’d say if we played Buffalo with the same active players as we started against the Pats, it’s a toss-up, but I’d feel confident the Bucs could win.
Add Bucky to the mix, I’d feel very confident and say the Bucs will win.
Pats are a good team, consistently better than Buffalo, and our score totals against the Pats are similar. Adding Bucky would be like adding water to Sea Monkeys.
It was a trap game because we didn’t have the tools to effect the outcome
With that definition, couldn't you define every game the team has played this season as a trap game?
I wouldn't define a game where the opponent is 7-2 and Nance & Romo are in town to call it as a trap game. I don't think the team was looking beyond the 7-2 Patriots, as that would be an excuse. They just got beat.
