The JoeBucsFan.Com Season Prediction
September 11th, 2020
Go time!
It’s an annual ritual every fan in which every Bucs fan engages on some level.
You’re asked by a friend or a loved one or that guy you can’t stand at work, “Whaddya think the Bucs will do this year?”
And the question must be answered. Every fan has a response and an opinion.
Joe has one, too. And it’s just as valuable as yours.
Regular readers and listeners to the Ira Kaufman Podcast know Joe struggled with the state of the Buccaneers running game until LeSean McCoy was signed, and then Joe really changed course with the addition of bruising and versatile Leonard Fournette.
Those moves, combined with the health of the team and very strong training camp signs from Tristan Wirfs, Jason Pierre-Paul, Shaq Barrett and Tom Brady, have Joe firmly believing the Bucs will and should win 10 games this season. And that should be enough for a playoff berth in a year the NFL added one playoff team per conference to the postseason dance.
Joe knows most fans are smelling a greater win total. So is Ira Kaufman.
Joe gets it.
But Joe can’t go there on paper on this fine September day. Despite reports, Tom Brady is still a human, one dealing with a learning curve after a butchered offseason thanks to The Sickness.
Like Brady said yesterday, we don’t know what works and what doesn’t yet. That could take a month.
Joe also has concerns about how offenses will adjust to Todd Bowles’ defense that features five very young defensive backs in a passing league.
The Bucs’ special teams were poor last year, and there’s little evidence yet that the team improved in that area. So it’s a question mark.
So Joe’s sticking with 10 wins when it comes to a meaningless but fun prediction.
If the Bucs break their seven-year streak – seven! — of winning three games or less in the first half of the season, that could leave them with a 4-4 record at halftime of the season. And Joe believes that’s a great place to gel fully and get hot with a 6-2 finish. (Heck, they were 5-3 in the second half last year.)
The would put the Bucs in the playoffs where Joe thinks there is zero limit to what the team could accomplish.
So there you have it 10-6 and a real shot at the Super Bowl.
As a side note, Joe will submit that if the Bucs can’t go 10-6 with this roster, then Team Glazer needs to erect a Raheem Morris statue at One Buc Palace for what the former head coach did with a no-name roster and a minuscule payroll in 2010.
Fired up Bucs fans on Sunday with @IKaufman76 for the Bucs-Saints game.
COVERED OUTDOOR seating @BigStormBrewing Clearwater taproom. Distancing, fresh air, Brady, Shaq, Lavonte and Bucs football with Florida's best craft beer.
And of course, beer and A+ food indoors, too. pic.twitter.com/jdNRUaCrGV— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) September 10, 2020
September 11th, 2020 at 7:52 am
10 – 6
September 11th, 2020 at 7:52 am
Looking at it reasonably……that would be a 3 game improvement from last year…
Our kicker lost 2 games….for sure. And you would have to think that the 42 turnovers contributed to at least 1 more…..so, there is your 10-6.
I’ll go with that.
September 11th, 2020 at 7:53 am
Sounds bout right joe…….for once
September 11th, 2020 at 7:55 am
Did anyone see Vernon getting torched yesterday? They kept going to him.
September 11th, 2020 at 7:58 am
Vernon “marshmallow” Graves will forever be toasted and burnt in turn NFL
He sucks and is slow…… and should just stay as nickle cb or a converted safety
September 11th, 2020 at 8:01 am
10-6 may not even make the playoffs. If they would have just taken care of the football and kicked a time or two better last year, they’d have had that record the loser QB and K who are now gone. They are much better this year.
I stick with my 12-4. Drop one to NO, and KC, then GB, and a clunker to someone. I could see 11-5 as well if they have two head scratchers. Think they start somewhere between 6-2 to 4-4 for first half depending on where the clunker happens. I will say this though. If they start 6-2, this team is unstoppable if they stay healthy.
I’m just glad most have some optimism. I expected 8-8 last year–not excited at all. And was one play away at the end from getting that.
Go Bucs!
September 11th, 2020 at 8:02 am
I wanted to keep Raheem.
I like him better than Arians, and I love Arians
September 11th, 2020 at 8:06 am
@TBBF, agreed. Winston alone lost at least 2.5 games alone–arguable he lost more. SF, CAR2, and he gets half “credit” on ATL2 (last game), where Gay gets the NYG loss and the other half of the ATL2. I can’t believe Tom Brady plus all the other weapons, plus the year of experience of our secondary and D. White, and having JPP to start the season, doesn’t add at least another game, probably 2 to the 10-6.
September 11th, 2020 at 8:07 am
I think they will go 7-2 in the first 9 games and finish 12-4 #GO BUCS
September 11th, 2020 at 8:13 am
Just two days, folks, then we’ll know a little more
September 11th, 2020 at 8:16 am
I was very surprised last night for the half of the game I saw the football wasn’t so bad for not having a preseason. The first drive by HOU seemed flat but all upped their game. Didn’t see the second half, but looks like KC got back to full form. What does that have to do with this article?
Well, I was thinking the Bucs made major changes in major positions BUT SEVERAL ARE WITH HOF PLAYERS, and have NO VIDEO out there for the Saints to prep on. ZERO JACK! The best they can do is extrapolate how Brady will fare with last year’s BA/BL offense. Meanwhile, the Saints roster is largely unchanged and the Bucs have PLENTY to go on from last year for the both the Sainst O and D. I went from being worried about not running any plays against an opposition to actually feeling much better about Sunday in NO. If the Bucs can shock and confuse them for the first two drives or so and get 7-10 up on the Saints, early, Sunday could be a VERY VERY HAPPY DAY!
September 11th, 2020 at 8:17 am
Bucs could’ve easily been 11-5 last year.
They brought in players with an NFL winning tradition (Brady and Gronk) and have upgraded OLine, RB and Safety, and hopefully kicker, we’ll see.
Barring injuries, this is a 12-4 team.
September 11th, 2020 at 8:28 am
I’ll go 10 as well. I expect 3 weeks of sloppy football and our schedule has a few brutal games in it. Playoffs? Absolutely! Any thing less will be a serious downer, especially after the Bolts win the Stanley. As scary as the Chiefs were last night, I’d say we are just as stacked on Offense if not more so. The should be much more solid than previous couple of years.
September 11th, 2020 at 8:31 am
Sept. 13 at New Orleans w bucs are hungry for it
Sept. 20 CAROLINA w carolina has nothing
Sept. 27 at Denver w denver is injured
Oct. 4 L.A. CHARGERS w chargers are building, home
Oct. 8 at Chicago l tough to win an away Thursday game
Oct. 18 GREEN BAY w aaron rodgers is tanking for to be cut
Oct. 25 at Las Vegas w chucky is overrated
Nov. 2 at N.Y. Giants w team is in pieces
Nov. 8 NEW ORLEANS l new orleans wants revenge
Nov. 15 at Carolina w carolina still is waiting for 2021
Nov. 23 L.A. RAMS w their time has passed
Nov. 29 KANSAS CITY w someone has to beat them
Dec. 13 MINNESOTA l underrated team
Dec. 20 at Atlanta. l should be easy, but atl is tough
Dec. 26 at Detroit w detroit can’t figure it out
Jan. 3 ATLANTA w the bucs try to close the season strong
12-4. maybe 11-5 if they lose to kc. team should be too good to only reach 10 wins.
September 11th, 2020 at 8:31 am
Bucs could finish anywhere from 9-7 to 14-2. This team has a low floor and a very high ceiling. I can’t wait.
September 11th, 2020 at 8:32 am
High floor and very high ceiling….
September 11th, 2020 at 8:40 am
I certainly understand why Bucs fans and writers are picking the Bucs to loose 6 games this year(we are all jaded), but having the GOAT will make an enormous difference in my opinion.
Here is Tom Brady’s regular season record:
2001 11-3
2002 9-7
2003 14-2
2004 14-2
2005 10-6
2006 12-4
2007 16-0
2008 1-0
2009 10-6
2010 14-2
2011 13-3
2012 12-4
2013 12-4
2014 12-4
2015 12-4
2016 11-1
2017 13-3
2018 11-5
2019 12-4
When you see that above you see why the Bucs have had more money put on them to win the Super Bowl in Vegas than any other team.
This may be the most talented team Brady has ever been on, so as long as Brady stays healthy I see this team finishing anywhere from 10-6 and 14-2. So, I will go down the middle and predict a 12-4 record.
September 11th, 2020 at 8:41 am
Just having Brady will give us at least five more wins than last year. Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on. BA is not BSing. He made a statement when he let Winston go, brought in Gronkowski (wink wink OJ) got rid of Matt Gay, put Mike Edwards in “time out”, n replaced with Antoine Winfield who will
“ball out”. This is a zero tolerance season for bonehead plays. We gave up multiple wins n points last year thanks to Matt Gay, Winston n OJHoward, bonehead plays. I won’t bash the secondary too much due to youth, inexperience, n new defensive scheme. My belief is after good riddance of Hargreaves along with maturity n gelling of the secondary the second half of the season is evident that they have improved. No way a healthy Succop miss (let’s not talk field goals) give or take, “five extra points”. Sorry Drew, we’ll take that baton, thanks. This team is on a mission.
September 11th, 2020 at 8:50 am
Off subject but my thought watching the game last night is why…..why in he!! will we not have fans in the stands for our first two games…
There was plenty of time to prepare for this……there is no excuse….someone should stand up and be accountable.
September 11th, 2020 at 8:56 am
12-4…..imho
September 11th, 2020 at 9:02 am
TBBucsfan-
There were 2 job fairs at Raymond James in August.
Bucs had planned for 15,000 fans per game.
Jaguars and Dolphins will have fans.
I’ll leave it up to you to figure out who is keeping fans out.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:15 am
11-5
September 11th, 2020 at 9:22 am
Solid prediction Joe, although we could easily be plus-or-minus 2 wins either side of that IMO. I think 12 wins would win us the division, UNLESS 2 of our losses are to the Saints. Also think that 10 wins could get us to the playoffs this year, but probably as a wildcard. Once in though, anything can happen.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:23 am
Brady was in 4 of the last 6 Super Bowls and won 3. Don’t forget that!!! It’s ALL on this defense in my opinion. Did our DB’S play better the 2nd half of the season because of better communication or because they were weaker teams? Defense has to get better and Brady can keep his promise to Godwin. Five of seven!!!
September 11th, 2020 at 9:24 am
13-3
NFC South Champs
SB bound
My money is riding on it (with many different bets).
Took KC -10 on a parlay (too easy to pick) and won that so far. Now I need Raiders -3.5, Baltimore -8, NE -6, and of course my Bucs +3.5 …..turn 10 into 268 isnt too shabby.
@Roy, Watson looked pretty bad 2nd half. Cant believe he’s the 2nd highest paid player out there. There were some drops from his targets though. But he way overthrew a lot more than I expected.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:28 am
Joe Joe Joe 10-6??? Cmon man! Look at all the weapons we have not only on offense (which is like an all star team) but the D as well! You say 10-6? More like 11-5 or 12-4 in my opinion.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:31 am
Joe Says:
“It’s an annual ritual every fan in which every Bucs fan engages on some level.”
—————————————————————————————
It’s a good thing you’re good at math, but your 10-6 doesn’t add up, much like this attempt at a sentence above.
They won 7 games last year, without the supreme addition by subtraction, adding Brady and dropping Winston. JW3 gifted opponents with SEVEN pick6’s. A free TD SEVEN separate times. That doesn’t even count the Tenn game, where two INTs were returned to the 6 and 10 yard lines, and numerous other bonehead plays , too many to count. I agree with Smashquatch, 10-6 seems the floor.
Which six teams are going to beat this vastly improved Bucs’ team?
The toughest opponents are likely injuries and coronavirus. JMHO.
tickrdr
September 11th, 2020 at 9:33 am
@Defense Rules:
Very glad to see you are back!
Hope all is well with you and yours.
tickrdr
September 11th, 2020 at 9:35 am
11-5
and
no superbowl
September 11th, 2020 at 9:36 am
I swear, I need to just sell my condo and put all of the proceeds on the Bucs making the playoffs. I risked 50 to win 27. I could turn 300k into 460 so easily LOL. OOHHHH this is too easy! But you just never know. Thats why i only gamble small and with a small gambling amount in my account. Never get caught up in that stuff too much. I only play with play money…pocket half the win, play with the other half, and so on…. that way I always leave with something.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:38 am
12-4
GO BUCS!!!!
September 11th, 2020 at 9:40 am
mahommes cooked the texans entire secondary…..lol….
#21(roby) got beat for 2TDs….they continued to target him….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 11th, 2020 at 9:41 am
i wonder what jenna thinks…
September 11th, 2020 at 9:51 am
Any Poll, Joe?
I go 12-4 with the analysis of Ocala
September 11th, 2020 at 10:02 am
If we beat the Saints Sunday, then 10-6 is too low.
I understand that Brady said it might take 3_4 weeks to really know what they are good at, but if just good enough beats the Saints, then this team could easily be 14-2.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:03 am
What does Realist think?
September 11th, 2020 at 10:03 am
19-0 A team that will go in the history books. Brady has one undefeated regular season already so this is not unprecedented.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:03 am
9-7 if this offense line can not stop defenses that will be fired up to sack Brady.
Other teams will attach this young secondary with hot deep curls and deep slants across the middle. If the Linebackers can get back in coverage and remain healthy. I agree with Joe’s prediction. Go Buc’s
September 11th, 2020 at 10:07 am
11-5 should be very doable now that bonehead JW has walked the plank.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:16 am
I kept saying to my wife before the game last night started. That the NFL needs to start talking more about football and less BLM. The whole pregame that’s all they talked about. Equality and justice and BS.
Then the game starts and they have to have a show of unity and more BS.
BLM on helmets and more BS.
I watch football and sports to get away from all that BS.
It’s no wonder the 17,000 fans in the stands booed the players when they started doing that unity BS. I guess I’m not the only one that’s sick of the BS.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:18 am
Ocala
Having been a Buc fan forever and witnessed all the crazy, mostly heartbreaking things that always seem to happen to this franchise ( I believe Murphy’s law was actually written about the Bucs), to your point, I wonder how the Brady effect changes that.
DR… there you are! Glad to see you back.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:24 am
A Raheem Morris statue… Maybe Josh Freeman too? 🙂
September 11th, 2020 at 10:32 am
HAHA 1987, dont even get get me started on that marrrxist organization, lol. I’ll get banned.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:53 am
“2020 PROPHET KOBE FAKER VISIONS
Shaman Kobe Faker performed nonstop 48 hours spiritual ritual to the Gods to recieve the secrets of the 2020 tampa Buccaneers future
Chicken feet, goat blood, the whole nine yards
The ouija board screamed out numbers
10, 3, 2
#10 – 10 wins and playoffs for the 2020 bucs season
#3 – 3 times the Bucs and Saints will play each other this season
#2 – the winning quarterback of the final 3rd game in the playoffs will be wearing the #2 uniform
The Divne Kobe Faker has spoken
And it shall be”
Kobe Faker
September 11th, 2020 at 11:00 am
13 & 3
September 11th, 2020 at 11:06 am
11-5
If they dont win that many injuries or Brady goes noodle arm. They are too talented.
September 11th, 2020 at 11:26 am
how the hell did josh freeman never really play football again…
they gotta do a true 30-30 story on freeman…it’s about time…
he could still be playing today…
September 11th, 2020 at 11:37 am
Ok Joe Buc 10 wins gets them in the playoffs, but just one or two more gets. bye and real Super Bowl possibility. Let the games begin! GO BUCS!
September 11th, 2020 at 11:52 am
13-3 and just for the record even if we had the same quarterback from last year my record prediction would have been the same. Last year the first half of the year our entire secondary was pretty much made up of first year and second year players, there was no JPP and we had the dreck of all secondary players in Vernon Hargraves starting. In addition it was the first year in a brand new offense for the entire team and we had the great Peyton Barber starting at running back and DeMar Dodson starting at right tackle and a rookie kicker. This year we improved our running back immensely with Leonard Fournette we should hopefully get equal or better play over the long run from the rookie and with the new kicker we’ll obviously be better than horrible and our defense is mature and they’re in the same system there’s no reason this team should not win 13 games.
Well of course we do have the same head coach which is an obstacle in and of itself though I do love Bowles and I’m hopeful with Leftwich.
September 11th, 2020 at 11:52 am
My guesser is out of order. Just have to watch and see what happens. GO BUCS!
September 11th, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Well Hell — Might as well
11-5
Go Bucs!!!!
September 11th, 2020 at 12:29 pm
DR
Glad to see your back
September 11th, 2020 at 12:34 pm
i agree with npuppys take (mostly)
last years weaknesses have been addressed, for the most part. i am still sketchy about the secondary as a whole. i am not sold on them. kicking should improve and rt as well. having the defensive from 7 healthy is great! hopefully evans is a go for sunday.
NPUPPY, DID WE JUST BECOME BEST FRIENDS???
September 11th, 2020 at 12:39 pm
Yes! Raheem Morris did so much, with so little!
September 11th, 2020 at 12:40 pm
JW with the additions we made to this team minus TB & GRONK, we’re 8-8…lol…
if JW was starting he’d go from throwing 30INTs last year to 22 this year and clowns like nmutt would be saying he improved….lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
September 11th, 2020 at 12:45 pm
Lotta really low expectations around here. I expected LAST YEARS team to win 10 games and if not for bad kicking and 30 interceptions they would have. Just fixing those two issues alone should get us to 10.
13-3 is my prediction.
September 11th, 2020 at 1:15 pm
Updated record prediction to 11-5.
All that really matters is if this team can get to the Super Bowl. Anything less than a Super Bowl appearance will be a disappointment.
An 11-5 season with a Super Bowl will be more rewarding than 14-2 and bounced out along the way.
If they don’t make the expanded playoff field then everyone on staff and the GM should get their walking papers. There is literally no excuse this year.
September 11th, 2020 at 1:27 pm
The one thing I will never understand is watching fans of this team address last season and only mention the kicking game and turnovers. it’s like you didn’t even watch the first half of the year, I mean guys I know you hated Jameis and the kicker sucked but the defense was horrible, flat horrible! Do you remember the Giants game, the first Saints game, the Seahawks game they were god-awful how can anyone address last season and not act like they weren’t the worst thing on the field every single week? That is the biggest opportunity for growth on this team is just having a defense that isn’t an absolute sieve to some of the worst quarterbacks in the league. That is why they should be better This defense won’t be just flat out horrible and hopefully they kicker will actually make kicks. That alone should add three wins then you throw in a good running game and hopefully a team has a better grasp of the offense and this team should be much improved.
September 11th, 2020 at 1:44 pm
12-4.
Joe always makes cautious predictions.
Teams will have to adjust to this Brady run offense. We won’t be turning the ball over and teams won’t be ready for that.
Our defense will surprise many.
September 11th, 2020 at 1:58 pm
I don’t think there is any such thing as a cautious prediction. What does Joe have to be cautious about? There’s no such thing as jinxes or curses so whatever he writes has zero impact on the field.
That said, it appears all of your predictions for a deep playoff run may finally come to fruition this year after many years of being way off, but who’s keeping track? 😀
I agree with Joe that if the Bucs win less than 10 games then they should erect a statue honoring Raheem Morris and publicly apologize for firing him.
September 11th, 2020 at 3:59 pm
Agreed on the record, and statue of Raheem if it’s anything less than 10 wins!
September 11th, 2020 at 4:15 pm
13-3 and the top seed in the conference. This is Tom frickin’ Brady we are talking about here. I am SOOOOOOO excited for hopefully a Super Bowl winning season ending with Brady and Arians hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in our own stadium! GO BUCS! And win the whole dang thing.
September 11th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Fair prediction. I’m thinking 11-5. If Brady goes down though, we are screwed. 😜
September 11th, 2020 at 4:30 pm
12-4 with a healthy Brady and key players.
September 11th, 2020 at 7:33 pm
11 dash 5. Tie breaker with the Aints for who gets tge NFC South title and a wildcard.
September 12th, 2020 at 12:53 am
6-10
There is a reason the Patriots moved on from TB12.
Hes 43 his time is over. Sorry but you build a winner by drafting Mahommes……..not picking up a 43 year old QB who has no upside.
same ole bucs……….
September 12th, 2020 at 8:38 am
Fair assessment. And you’re right about Rah. Today 10 wins seems so insurmountable. Six or less losses? All season? We have losing streaks longer than that and we’re talking 6 losses all season? Lbs
September 12th, 2020 at 2:10 pm
Brady went 12-4 with considerably less talent on both sides of the ball last year. Our division isn’t great. Atlanta and Carolina are down. Yes, our secondary is young. So what? The 81 49ers secondary was full of rookies. Didn’t hurt them. Talent is talent young or old. This is an extremely talented group. At absolute worst this team is 10-6. I’m looking at my win total at 11.5. Still tempting to take the over.
September 12th, 2020 at 11:44 pm
19-0 if we lose it might be to New Orleans. The chiefs and Green Bay will hit the injury bug before we play. History fellas! That’s the drop the mic moment for Brady. The Giants messed it up. You think Terrific forgot that 18-2 ish. WE ABOUT TO CRUSH EVERYBODY. SAC BUC!
Tom wanna stop them 72 Dolphins from toasting every year. Perfection!
September 12th, 2020 at 11:50 pm
To be honest I don’t care what the record is just get in the playoffs and win the whole dam thang. We deserve it! ITS OUR TURN