NFC Shakeup Changes Home-Opener Perspective

September 18th, 2016
CaseKeenum

Bucs killer Case Keenum is up next

The biggest upset on the NFL board today was the Rams out-muscling the Seahawks en route to an old school 9-3 victory in Los Angeles.

And those Rams head to Tampa next week for the Buccaneers’ home opener.

What a difference a week can make! Bucs fans know that too well after getting humiliated by the Cardinals in Arizona today.

Case Keenum remains at the quarterback helm for the Rams, and he torched Tampa Bay last season. The Rams seem to manhandle the Bucs every year.

The Falcons bounced back with a shootout win in Oakland, and Carolina dropped 46 points on San Francisco. So there’s a three-way tie in the NFC South, with the Saints remaining winless.

There are must-wins for NFL teams throughout a season. And now the Bucs have one coming up. Y

ou just can’t drop a conference game in your home-opener to a team like Los Angeles, which will be riding a big confidence high. Because if you can’t beat the Rams, well, then up next are Denver and Carolina, last year’s Super Bowl contestants.

Joe is confident Dirk Koetter will get the message through to the players — the one that didn’t get through before today’s game.

 

19 Responses to “NFC Shakeup Changes Home-Opener Perspective”

  1. Tampa Tony Says:

    Defense is gonna have to prove they can stop the lower tier QB’s to give the fans any confidence going forward. Rams traveling east after a big time win and they might be over looking the Bucs. This is definitely a must win.

    Bucs are technically still in first since they are 1-0 in the division

  2. Arealbucsfan Says:

    I’m not mad that we lost. I’m jus mad at how we lost. I thought this would’ve been a kinda close game to help show we can compete. But we scored a single digit. Not even half of what they scored!!!! I mean I’m Bucs lifer, but this makes wanna rethink this whole situation. I like JW, and he will have bad games cuz he’s a gun slinger, but dam dude. This was the game to prove we are becoming something real and we shat the bed. Now I could say I view is no better than LA.

  3. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    I agree we need to win Sunday for many, many reasons. Not the least of which is our fans!!! It’s time to retire the moniker “Den of Depression”. If we lose to the Rams that name remains.

    Everyone whined about our strength of schedule before the season. I’m pretty meh about strength of schedule because things tend to even out.

    So let’s look at it. The NFL schedulers hosed the Bucs big time in terms of our mental fragility. We opened with two games on the road…3 of our first 5 are on the road and we play the two best teams in our Conference on the road and host the SuperBowl Champs in the other. YES that is brutal.

    But then look at the remaining 11!!!! We have only the Panthers and that at least is the final game and in our house. We have a lot of winnable games after these first five.

    Our team…barring major injuries will be getting better with experience and familiarity in Smitty’s defense.

    The palpable panic here tonight is just silly. It was a horrible loss! It was ONE loss though.

  4. Mike Says:

    The Rams are averaging 4.5 points a game

  5. LifeOfABucFan Says:

    StPete, again, your wisdom and vision is a breath of fresh air with all the negative Nellies today.

    On point, I bow down in agreement..

  6. Chris Says:

    God, how can you be so oh well, get em next time. I can take a loss, but not to compete? Like DB says, no hit em in the mouth? Verner came to play, Humphries cam to play, Evans gave up on the first pic, Jackson was like ehhh, same as last game. Looks like he might want to be retired. That’s troubling , Koetter talked about this attitude during pre season. We’ve had years and years of this . Will you ever get pissed at this team St Pete. Or do you like being the best in sportsmanship but last in the NFC South for the next ten years? The pick of the kicker was dumb, it’s the kind of moves we’ve done for 40 years.

  7. Chris Says:

    No we need the win Sunday not to ease the panic, but to stop the real possibility of being 1-4 after five games.

  8. c-spann Says:

    Im like St.Pete. I am not in panic mode. I was pleased that the oline held up against pressure. JW was way inaccurate not sure why that was, because the oline gave him time. The defense started out well but seem to play soft after some of the TOs. I would like to see more attitude on defense. I do think Conte needs to go. The touchdown before have was what killed us

  9. Flmike Says:

    The Rams are not the Cardinals, they are the Rams, they know how to beat one team, the Seahawks, they do it every year. I have no fear of the second worst coach in the NFL nor his team, especially since we’ll probably get Jared Goff in his pro debut, and how bad is he that you would start Case Keenum for two games before you start your first round pick.

  10. Mike Johnson Says:

    Please don’t kid yourselves Buc fans. This Rams Defense? its very very good. These guys play like..Bats outta hell and they are scrappy. They work as a unit and know how to get QB sacks. Should be a good game next Sunday. We had better be ready cause I’m sayin it now…This next game is a..MUST WIN for the Bucs if..they are to keep their heard about even with the water. Our schedule does get tougher. We need to play..lights out next Sunday. Nope. No rest for the weary. Injuries and all its..Next man up baby!

  11. BigStinky Says:

    I thought we would beat the Rams, not so sure now. Depends on JW!

  12. LargoBuc Says:

    The Rams have beaten us four years in a row. I pray we don’t make it five.

  13. FLBoyInDallas Says:

    I smell 1-4 coming up followed by howling from “fans” to fire this or that guy and sign this or that player. In other words, the usual.

  14. Bucs Fan #7423 Says:

    hopefully rams score 4.5 points and we win

  15. Tampa Tony Says:

    Mike Smith is gonna have to prove his d is not Lovie 2.0 and stop rookie QB’s and career backups

  16. Dee Says:

    If we lose to the Rams, the year is done.

  17. Shane Says:

    Despite the turnovers mostly on tipped ballsand one where Vincent Jackson isn’t even looking for the ball (The hell is wrong with him) , the defense is still pretty bad. Not much of a pass rush for the most part of the game

  18. BigHogHaynes Says:

    YOU LIKE DAT!!

  19. teacherman777 Says:

    Jameis needs to protect himself from the “evil eye”

    And stay away from the media!!

    All that hype cursed him!!

    Too many vibes on him!

    Lay low bro!