Spoilers II
December 11th, 2018
Yeah, Joe can understand why Bucs fans have thrown themselves into the capitalist holiday spirit of draining their bank accounts.
Sometimes, worrying about not having money is preferable to watching the team that calls the Den of Depression home lose yet again.
And after choking away a two-score lead to perhaps the best team in the NFC on Sunday, ending any real prayer of a wild card chase, Herbie Teope of Yahoo! Sports believes Bucs fans have something else to look forward to other than free agency in March and the draft in April.
Despite the loss, the Buccaneers have played inspired football the past three games, going 2-1 in that span, behind quarterback Jameis Winston, who threw two touchdowns Sunday, and a capable defense, which recorded an interception for a third straight game. Over that span, the Bucs have seven interceptions after totaling just one through the first 10 games. With Winston and an improving defense, the Buccaneers are in position to play spoiler in two of their final three games, as they face playoff hopefuls in the Ravens and Cowboys.
Just what Bucs fans want to hear as they cannot shake the echo of bells ringing from their ears: The goal now is to screw up other team’s playoff hopes.
Look, Joe always wants the Bucs to win, but that thrilling last-minute win over the Saints to close out the 2017 season sure looks damaging in retrospect. The Bucs may have lost out on a desperately needed total stud of a guard thanks to that win.
It’s starting to remind Joe of the 2006 season when the losing Bucs beat the Browns in the final road game of the season. As a result, the Bucs had to settle for the immortal Gaines Adams in the following spring’s draft as they missed out on a shot at Joe Thomas, who was taken one pick before Adams.
December 11th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
If the Bucs get blown out Sunday is there any chance Dirk get fired and Monken takes over for 2 games? yes, I know the Glazers don’t fire coaches during the season.
December 11th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
it was deja vu last year…I vividly remember the Thomas miss when a Left Tackle was needed very much and losing Nelson last year is gonna hurt for years..Just a bad luck team, period. Hate losing but a win now is gonna do nothing. Lose out and they might have a top 5 pick….
December 11th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
There is no good reason why Dirk Koetter, Jason Licht, or any player on this roster should care about the 2019 draft. Coaches and GMs can only get away tanking games if they know they have a job security.
Lovie Smith and Jason Licht had that kind of job security in 2014. It was a rebuilding year and everyone knew it, especially after losing the offensive coordinator to a heart issue before the season started. Dirk Koetter did not have that kind of leash in 2017 (nor should he have).
December 11th, 2018 at 2:11 pm
And last years meaningless win over NO on last play of game and missed out on a generational talent in nelson
The bucs should just play homecoming opponent to the best of their ability. Pretty sure the ravens defense is going to set the NFL record for sacks on Sunday
December 11th, 2018 at 2:15 pm
“This years last game vs atlanta will be the same situation
Atlanta will be tanking/sitting alot of players and wants a worse record than Tampa…
Bucs will win the last game to get to 6 wins”
Kobe Faker
December 11th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Good teams and good organizations don’t care where they draft. This is an exit interview for all of these guys. They better play to win and play with some G-D heart!
December 11th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
The Lovie tank job for Winston was and will always be one of the biggest black marks on this team. They threw the frickin game for that buffoon!, and I traveled thousands of miles to sit in the stands and watch that deplorable performance. Lovie will never get any love from this corner but if it’s Licht that pulled the trigger on that, frick him too!
December 11th, 2018 at 2:29 pm
At Balt > loss
At Dal > loss
Vs Atl > win
6-10
December 11th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
That’s exactly right, Bucsfanman.
December 11th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Bucsfanman Says:
“Good teams and good organizations don’t care where they draft….
…… They better play to win and play with some G-D heart!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amen, brother
December 11th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
would be a lot more excited for the Baltimore game if we had won sunday.
Gonna be there anyway. oh well 🙁
December 11th, 2018 at 2:43 pm
Joe, “the immortal Gaines Adams”????????
Have some respect for the departed, man. That just made me lose some respect for you.
December 11th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
“The Immortal Gaines Adams”
😮
December 11th, 2018 at 2:50 pm
This nonsense about draft position drives me nuts. Good teams trade up to get what they want. For cryin out loud, tanking to “because we missed out on a pick” is just illogical. Teams make trades all the time. If you really want a player, MAKE A FREAKIN TRADE AND GET YOUR GUY! Stop using a win as an excuse.
December 11th, 2018 at 2:50 pm
We’re still mathematically alive for a wild card… That’s crazy. But if I’m Koetter I’m preaching that. ONLY a three game win streak can save his job and it could POSSIBLY get us in the wild card. If we had 3 wins, then yeah I’d be more likely to root for draft position; but as long as there’s still a mathematical possibility the fan in me has too hope for a win on Sunday.
December 11th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
as i recall joe, you weren’t too sold on nelson last year….lol….i remember you saying you’ve never seen a G take over a game or have a major impact on a game…..
its all water under the bridge now….lol…
i dont think we need to tank now….we have dirk as our HC…he’ll screw it up somehow someway…..
KRIS RICHARD 4 HC!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
December 11th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
How is it that a first year HC and GM in Indy have turned it around in one year and our HC & GM have got us nothing in 5 years?
December 11th, 2018 at 3:22 pm
You guys begging for losses are pathetic. You are actually rooting to see this team stay bad and not learn to win.
Please Almighty you fans better stay on the bleachers. Don’t you dare try to coach any little league teams. This type of thinking does not need to be preached upon anyone…..like your doing right now to us.
Joe thanks for writing an article how we mathematically can get a WC. I’m going over there to reread it and cleanse my mind
December 11th, 2018 at 3:31 pm
Gaines Adams died from an undiagnosed heart condition. He never saw his 27th birthday—leaving us to only ponder about the player he would have become, or been, with a healthy heart. Consequently, referring to him as “immortal” is a little over the top—even for this website. And for all you myopic, tumbleweed brains out there, this isn’t about political correctness, it’s about due respect. Pick on someone that’s around to defend themselves, like me!
December 11th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
“The Buccaneers have played inspired football the last three games”
At least we can be comforted knowing moral victories are being won with our team. Good job Bucs!
December 11th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
A losing culture begins with losing games for a better draft position……a losing culture breeds loser fans…
I feel very sorry for those of you who don’t appreciate winning…..I can guarantee you that our coaches and players want to win….the Glazers want to win….most good fans want to win.
Lets go out and win all three and pick the best player available with our pick.
Let the picks fall where they may.
December 11th, 2018 at 3:46 pm
And getting Joe Thomas back in that draft helped the Cleveland Browns so much afterwards. Just imagined what it would have done for the Bucs. We’d have just as many Super Bowls as the Browns have won during that time.
December 11th, 2018 at 3:48 pm
I also don’t believe in tanking but if I could I would take back that win in NO last year 100% of the time. We could’ve had a stud in Nelson or possibly a guy with 12 sacks already as a rookie with 3 games to go.
It’s a Bucs Life stuck in Succaneer Cove.
December 11th, 2018 at 3:50 pm
“The goal now is to screw up other team’s playoff hopes!”
Joe, this should be the goal every single game one win at a time. The only way we can not have another NFC South team make the playoffs is to win our division by sweeping all three teams. Then win 5 more against teams outside of the NFC South. Simple plan right?
December 11th, 2018 at 3:50 pm
As far as Ownership…
I will take the Glazers ANY day of the week over that
human piece of garbage, Stu Sternberg.
December 11th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
TBBF that is a noble statement but who is going to pick “the best player at our pick”?
Our GM doesn’t appear to have a great deal of success with that objective.
December 11th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Joe Blahak, that was definitely an organizational decision. Not only that, it was very evident that with all the decisions made that season a plan was set in motion to tank for the #1 overall pick.
Besides, the team was 2-13 at that point. Why would you travel thousands of miles to watch that team against a 6-9 Saints team? That’s a terrible football game. That season was lost the day Jeff Tedford took a leave of absence.
December 11th, 2018 at 3:54 pm
of course we will beat atl and cost us 4 spots
December 11th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
@bucsfaanman… you are right but we are neither.
December 11th, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Baltimore defense will crush Koetter like the amateur game planner he is. Dallas will stifle the passing game as well knowing Winston is the only rushing threat. I heard it and it will be national news that mike Smith was fired after the first Atlanta game, Koetter will be fired after the second and it makes sense it’ll go down that way
December 11th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
@Joe That’s exactly how I felt when Jameis threw that touchdown. But isn’t the head coach and general manager’s job to know all of those scenarios? And we go from #3 or #4 to 12 or #13. I’ve never been to football school, but even as a loyal fan of the game….even I knew that. It’s a Bucs life I guess.
December 11th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
I will work on my attitude in the offseason but at this point I am sick of Dirk Koetter sound bites saying if he knew how to fix this he would. Spoiler is great for t6eams that make the playoffs every 10 years or so but we never do.
December 11th, 2018 at 4:17 pm
You play to win. Like Tbbf says tanking reinforces a losing culture which in my opinion has contributed to some of the Buc’s loses over the past few years. The draft is a crap shoot anyway so why sit your good players at the end of the year so they can go through the entire off season knowing their management was trying to get a higher draft pick. Win out this year and build a little self respect if nothing else. And like so many of you like to suggest we will have a whole new coaching crew next year anyway. Besides say what you will 4 or 5 of the loses this year could have easily been wins. We need a winning “Spoiler.” attitude to build on next year.
December 11th, 2018 at 4:21 pm
Hire John DeFilippo (just released) as the New QB’s Coach!!!
Give’em a three-year contract
#Bargain
Sidebar: How many OC’s have Zimmer fired now? lol
December 11th, 2018 at 4:33 pm
TANKING IS FOR LOSERS!!!
December 11th, 2018 at 5:06 pm
Crying about that Saints win last year is as unintelligent as it gets. Any fool can see that we got a great draft slot last year.
Because of our draft slot we were able to trade and come away with a top 15 pick and 2 second round choices.
With as many top picks as we had we could have transformed this football team. But Licht botched away all his selections and we are left to figure out how.
December 11th, 2018 at 5:09 pm
Too bad Licht couldn’t find us a rookie beast at RG, a ballhawk DB……..and maybe a fiery RB with those 3 picks.
I do believe if he had nailed this past draft we could be on the Seahawks level(at least) right now.
December 11th, 2018 at 5:23 pm
Tanking is a loser mentality, don’t care how people try to sugar coat it
December 11th, 2018 at 5:26 pm
Well said Jimmy
It doesn’t matter where you pick. Good teams can find good players that know how to win no matter where they pick.
Tanking is for losers. Period.
December 11th, 2018 at 5:37 pm
The majority of HOF players taken in the 1st round were selected OUTSIDE the Top 5……..And that’s a fact Jack!!!
December 11th, 2018 at 5:39 pm
The Bucs have owned tons of Top 5 picks. And the greatest player they ever drafted was drafted outside Top 5.
December 11th, 2018 at 7:36 pm
Jimmy Jack I think you are misinformed about the HOF Bucs –
Leroy Selmon – !st Pick
Warren Sapp – 12th Pick
Derrick Brooks – 28th Pick
All first rounders! That’s how we roll!!! We should have not won the last game against last year and could have had Nelson at guard instead of the turnstile Bennock!
December 11th, 2018 at 7:51 pm
JimmyJack – do you mean Trent Dilfer? Because HOFer Leroy Selmon was an overall #1
December 11th, 2018 at 8:33 pm
Let me make it simple….It’s not where you pick….it’s who you pick.
And folks can whine all day long about winning against the Saints and not getting Nelson……but the truth be told….they have no idea if Licht would have picked Nelson or traded away the pick and ended up exactly where we ended up. You have no idea……you are simply speculating. So, get over it.
December 11th, 2018 at 9:12 pm
You can’t argue to promote Monken and fire Koetter after Monken got shut down in the 2nd half against the Saints. You guys are out of your freaking minds
December 11th, 2018 at 9:35 pm
LT Greg Little will be available at our draft spot in the first round. CB in the second round.
December 11th, 2018 at 9:37 pm
Pretty sure we straight up cut a nasty guard who is starting for the team that leads the league in rushing…
Simple as that.
December 11th, 2018 at 9:57 pm
^^Round 2: CB Julian Love (Notre Dame).^^ Smaller, off CB (not 15 yards) replacing Grimes opposite of large, man corner, Carlton Davis.
December 11th, 2018 at 10:11 pm
Not just Quenton Nelson, the Bucs would’ve gone from pick #7 to pick #5 if Jameis doesn’t connect with Godwin against the Saints..
Who was surprisingly on the board at #5? Bradley Chubb.
December 12th, 2018 at 8:01 am
Kansas95Buc Says:
“Tanking is a loser mentality, don’t care how people try to sugar coat it”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perfectly said, man.
December 12th, 2018 at 8:30 am
AGAIN. – If you are rooting for us to lose, just for some phantom draft pick, it is a complete LOSER mentality that we do not want.
We are trying to change the losing culture here, not F’ing BATHE in it.
December 12th, 2018 at 9:53 am
@tampa demon… I agree with you about cheering for loses but I think the exception is the final game of the season… if meaningless thenwho cares, treat as a preseason game and don’t get anyone hurt.
December 12th, 2018 at 10:15 am
^^ With all due respect, miken, I only agree with that in the scenario that it is a team headed to the Playoffs with no ability to change where they will seed. Otherwise, I feel you give everything you have got to win every game on your schedule.
December 12th, 2018 at 11:17 am
I hear you . I feel like the saints game in 2014 to end it, we wisely didn’t try and got the#1 pick and that was smart.