“I Don’t See How They Can’t Win 12 Games”
May 29th, 2025
The Bucs’ schedule seemingly has 75 percent of everyone who truly knows the team drooling with delight.
Take 2023 & 2024 Bucs running back Chase Edmonds. He wants to keep playing after missing last season with a unique knee issue, but he’s also jumping into media, even co-hosting Good Morning Football recently.
Edmonds sat down for The Sick Podcast — Pirate Parlay and shared how bullish he is in the Bucs for the 2024 season.
“Twelve wins,” Edmonds said. “Maybe they lose at Houston on the road Monday night. Ok. Maybe they lose to Philly. Maybe they’re 2-2. And maybe they lose at the Lions. … Week 13 to 18, again, if they play their right ball, they can literally go 6-0. … I don’t see how they can’t win 12 games.”
Edmonds went on to explain how he thinks only the Lions and Philadelphia are teams better than Tampa Bay in the NFC.
Joe could agree with the notion that the Bucs are the third-best team in the NFC, though it’s hard in May to think they’re better than Washington.
History (not spin) says the third-best team in the NFC finishes with 12 wins. Still, it’s tough now for Joe to see the Bucs as a 12-win team.
There’s so much unknown with new playcaller Josh Grizzard and Joe does get stuck on the Bucs trailing 19-13 last season in the fourth quarter of a Week 18 game against the half-tanking Saints. It was a must-win at home. How did the Bucs let that happen?
May 29th, 2025 at 8:35 am
12-5 is my official prediction.
Followed by a Superbowl run.
May 29th, 2025 at 8:42 am
He’s bullish on the Bucs 2024 season? Does he have a Time Machine?
Saints game week 18, how did the Bucs let that happen, was Joes question.
Answer, it’s the HC\DC. Without the putrid division we’re in, imagine how bad the record would be.
May 29th, 2025 at 8:53 am
This is shaping up to be a troll day.
May 29th, 2025 at 8:58 am
This Team is probably the most solid team that we have had since the Super Bowl year. Very few weaknesses other than that hopefully now much improved Pass Defense. Go Bucs!!
May 29th, 2025 at 9:02 am
SUPERBOWLLLL
May 29th, 2025 at 9:14 am
And they followed up that gem of a game against the Saints with a loss at home against the Redskins. Fair to compare these paper champs with last year’s dud finish. Barton said it best, the playoffs bring a different sense of urgency and in the end, they didn’t meet the moment. Collectively. So is it twelve wins? Nine? Eleven? The real question is how many playoff wins will they have this year?
May 29th, 2025 at 9:14 am
I like to think they’ll win 12+. First 8 games before Bye challenge — they’ll have to come out of the gate strong.
May 29th, 2025 at 9:15 am
SUPERBOWL BOUND!!!!
May 29th, 2025 at 9:20 am
Too much is being made of Griz’s youth and “inexperience”. The experience he does have is the best.
First with the Dolphins which had one of the NFL’s most productive offenses during Grizzard’s tenure. In 2023, Miami ranked first in yards per game (401.3), passing yards per game (265.5) and yards per carry (5.1) while finishing second in points per game (29.2), yards per play (6.5) and yards per pass attempt (8.0).
Even more valuable his time with the Bucs. The obvious advantage is the continuity, he knows exactly what the players are capable of executing. It means in effect that Baker won’t have his 3rd OC in as many years. Technically yes, but practically no.
He and Bucky are two ingredients that made El Serpiente look good. Not all of the ingredients but the cupboard is well stocked and there’s no need to fear Griz’s “lack of playcalling”.
People here love ’em some Jon Gruden, do we not think that he is just ONE resource backing up Griz.
If you must worry, worry about Trask and what happens if/when Baker goes down. That is the ONLY thing IMHO that could slow the Bucs offense which is now incredibly DEEP as well as talented.
The one thing I do agree with the Bowles haters on is the need to improve the D. If enough talent has been added, and if Winfield remains healthy I’m optimistic there as well.
May 29th, 2025 at 9:26 am
To the troll who posted… “imagine how bad the record would be.”
No thank you. I’m not an idiot who specializes in negative thinking. You’re probably here to get us all peoed, or maybe vent your anger, or your racism, doesn’t matter the reason, you are actually preaching stupidity.
Find me some example of famous or smart people who preached negative imagination.
And here is the beauty for us. You’re a loser as in the scoreboard indicates you do not know what you’re talking about.
NOBODY gets asterisks on their record. IT IS WHAT IT IS. So the Brady Bucs didn’t even win the “the putrid division” we’re in” yet won the Super Bowl. Does that in your opinion mean we shouldn’t celebrate a “tainted” Lombardi?
We have a reverse fanbase among some of you. Most fans exaggerate a team’s success not look for reasons to denigrate it.
May 29th, 2025 at 9:33 am
it’s funny sheesh how coen doesnt get credit (from some) for bucky and or baker success last year (when anyone who was paying attention read about all of the positive comments that baker and others had about coen BEFORE LAST SEASON STARTED about what coen was rolling out).
if the bucs are lucky grizzard is half as good as coen. we had a great team and a great OC. the people who think “nothing changed” when coen left probably think “nothing changed” when arians left.
May 29th, 2025 at 9:34 am
Yes – 12 wins is possible.
We lost 2 games in overtime and 5 games by one score or less last season.
I believe we have better depth and roster this season but we have to learn how to win the close games…
Go Bucs!
May 29th, 2025 at 9:35 am
Last year, 10 wins that with even mediocre coaching should have been 12 wins, and could have been 14 wins.
The team has improved, so have others. If the half time Head Coach can work with his half time Defensive Coordinator to shore up holes, reduce coverage bust rates, and significantly improve end of game decision making and use of time outs, 12 wins should be doable.
May 29th, 2025 at 9:58 am
I see 11-6
May 29th, 2025 at 10:01 am
The Bucs can definitely win 11 or 12 games.
May 29th, 2025 at 10:08 am
Every game is tough. Even “tanking” teams. The guys on the field are playing for their jobs and want to put out good film. A win is a win, whether it’s 1 point or 20.
May 29th, 2025 at 10:38 am
Bowles is good for two or three losses in winnable games by himself.
So, no matter what you see on the schedule as possible wins, subtract two at a minimum.
The margin for wins vs losses in the NFL is too thin for a coach like Bowles, that historically can’t protect tight leads at the end of halves. If the opponent has the ball last with a chance to win/tie at the end of a game, the odds favor that team pulling it off.
May 29th, 2025 at 10:43 am
If the Bucs go 5-1 or even 4-2 between weeks 6 and 11 I might consider them a contender. All of the teams ranked higher by ESPN would probably go a minimum of 5-1 in the last 6 games of the Bucs season and half of those going 6-0.
Eagles went 12-1 after a week 4 loss down 2 WR’s. Left no doubt who the team to beat in the NFC was.
Even good teams are one of the 4 or 5 to be out of playoffs the following year. With the Bears, Falcons, 49ers, and Seahawks to be at least one of the 11 wins might not be good enough. 10 wasn’t enough for the Seahawks in 2024.
May 29th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Preseason optimism. Bucs have fragile defense with inexperienced or poor defensive backups and a coach that is supposed to be a defensive mastermind but always finds a way to screw up the big games. I don’t think the defense has improved enough to warrant 12 wins. Maybe 10 wins would be optimistic.
May 29th, 2025 at 10:44 am
Ten wins last year but two losses to Atlanta. That can’t happen this year, the Bucs are good enough to not only sweep the division, but dominate in those games and stomp the division.
Close games, and night games, need to be much better. The Bucs need to take a hard look at themselves in those losses, figure it out, and get it done this year.
Injuries hurt the defense last year, but it appears we have some good defensive rookies, and it’s just a matter of getting the rookies on the field early in the season so they can impact games.
May 29th, 2025 at 10:45 am
They will win 7 to 10 IMO
May 29th, 2025 at 11:02 am
the reason it’s hard to think of Bucs as 12-win team is Bowles. it’s easy to think of our players as a 12-win team. Bowles is just a 10-7 guy when he has a good roster, so any outlier, good or bad, seems far-fetched.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:07 am
Two very strong and improving lines. Lots of weapons. Resilient QB with near MVP stats last year. Maybe I am delusional.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:29 am
I, like many of you, question our HC/DC and his ability help us win games with his in game management.
On paper without the coaching variable, I like this Bucs team as much as any in the league.
Washington does not have a better team. They rode the excitement of a stud rookie QB playing great ball and outcoached/executed better than the Bucs in the playoffs. Bowles was not a problem in that game but the aggressive gameplan out of Wash still out did him and our guys.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:30 am
Injuries, Injuries, Injuries…. What team will get hit with injuries. This team started out with injuries and seemed to never get over the hump. More depth this year and hopefully this defense can first tackle and 2nd put up some pass defense at least 50% of the time. This offense will score a bunch of points this year, so yeah 11 to 12 games should happen.
May 29th, 2025 at 11:46 am
WINS BY YEAR
2022 – 8
2023 – 9
2024 – 10
2025 –
You don’t have to be a rocket surgeon to predict a total number of wins.
May 29th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
I won’t advertise another site on Joe’s but there was an excellent post on another Bucs site that dove into the four issues from last year: 1) sucked at taking the ball away on defense, 2) sucked at turning the ball over on offense, 3) sucked at 4th down conversions on offense and 4) sucked on letting offenses convert on 4th downs.
1) – I think we’ll be better
2) – if Mayfield can cut down on the picks we’ll be much better
3) – this was due to lack of attempts. If Todd can get out of his defensive mindset and stop punting and/or kicking in certain situations this will help keep the offense on the field. Don’t have to be Quinn or Campbell but you have to be more aggressive.
4) – with better depth and more health Todd should be able to get this right.
If 2 of the four improve 12 should be right.
May 29th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Jimmy , Coen was very good but he did need Baker to run for his life to make some of those plays he called work ,,, Coen will be judged by what he does w Lawerence ,,, if he can scramble and make plays like Baker did then they will do good and he will be judged accordingly !
May 29th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
@stpete
You know who that troll is right?
@aqualung
Please tell us what evidence you have that Todd isnt able (or willing) to delegate responsibilities to his assistants and is therefore overworked by doing too many jobs.
Have you been hanging out @ Bucs hq? Maybe you’re sitting in on meetings? Or you have sources in the building?
May 29th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
“but always finds a way to screw up the big games.”
Wow it’s just amazing. I get it’s a sports blog and some hyperbole is expected but geesh…NEGATIVE hyperbole insulting the team and it’s head coach?
AGAIN…was the Super Bowl a big game? Who was the DC for the Bucs?
Was the crushing of Philadelphia in the playoffs 32-9 a “big game”. Wasn’t that the same team that won the SB.
Every season is different. The Bucs have been competitive through EVERY season Bowles has been HC and in fact have actually gotten better EVERY season under Bowles. Yes the loss to Washington was disappointing but the Commanders also beat the snot out of Detroit the next week.
The do not ask how, which Division you play, they simply count W’s and L’s.
Thankfully the “opinions” of our negative nellies count for ZERO points, wins, or losses.
May 29th, 2025 at 2:37 pm
Please don’t bring up the Super Bowl as an example of Bowles’ prowess. He reported to an outstanding HC who could and did give valuable performance feedback. Now the half time DC reports to a half time HC – himself.
What could possibly go wrong when you believe the hype about yourself despite results far to the contrary?
May 29th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Going off of Todd’s past, I just can’t see the Bucs winning more than 10 games. He has had more losing seasons than winning seasons. I don’t know if a 12-5 record is obtainable with Todd as HC.
May 29th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
It’s cute when the powder puff cheerleaders hold hands and sing kumbaiya.
May 29th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
Almost everyone thought the Titanic was unsinkable , until it wasn’t . Better to wait until after the team is finished being constructed and tested, to see if there are any major leaks in the Bucs Flagship.
May 29th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
I think the “Bowles Trolls” are probably just racists. Can think of no other reason to be so down on him when the team has been getting markedly better every year for a while now. And we had a buttload of injuries last year which certainly costed some wins. Several of them, in fact. Even the defense’s apparent passivity can be chalked up to inexperienced players and playing it safe. Our defense was *plenty* aggressive when we won the Super Bowl.
May 29th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
I’d put the Bucs as better than Washington and tied with the Rams.
I think Coen may have a harder time with Lawrence than he did with Baker for two reasons. 1) Baker is a much higher energy competitor. 2) I’m not all too sure Lawrence has the football IQ that Baker has (that’s the nicest possible way I could say it).
May 29th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
St Pete correct. An injured baker scares me…I’m a Tannehill fan. Could he be had off the couch?
May 29th, 2025 at 5:57 pm
Thought this is a football site… all this talk about trolling makes me want a mahi mahi or cobia sandwich.
May 29th, 2025 at 7:22 pm
DC Bowles in order to get above 10 wins will have to rely on the new Defensive assistants he has hired. He need to give authority to speak up when they see the situation arising, to help him anticipate the needed sinnerio and make that quick decision. Bowles has to trust in his D assistants and let OC make those offensive game winning decisions as well. In Licht, Bowles we trust. Go Bucs Go
May 29th, 2025 at 9:20 pm
Powder puff cheerleaders vs cutepie poo slingers!
Dude, your 1 note arguments have been exposed repeatedly. And every time you just abandon your talking point and resort to name calling.
What a coward and a loser. 😔
Kumbaiya mf 🤣
May 30th, 2025 at 12:42 am
The defense has gotten worse every year since 2021. The team won 8 games in 22, 10 in ‘23 including a playoff win against an already quit Eagles team, and 10 wins in ‘24, including a playoff loss to a rookie QB they never made punt and 4 regular season losses directly attributable to awful pass defense and worse game management. Coaching matters.
It’s what happens when the fox guards the henhouse and there are no checks and balances. When other teams have a 90 hour a week guy doing head coaching, and another 90 hour a week guy doing defensive coordination. Our bi-coachal guy has 90 hours to spread between both. That’s simple fact, no argument to it.
But it is cute when powder puffs try to be bullies. It’s hilarious actually, not to mention hypocritical. Those are big words for small brains. No matter. We will hope for better in 2025.
May 30th, 2025 at 1:09 am
Joe,
You always mention the Saints game. I get it, but it’s prob one of our biggest rivals and a divisional game. Those games are different. Records are less informative of the outcome.
May 30th, 2025 at 7:52 am
Baker is the OC. Grizz is along for the ride to generational wealth.
May 30th, 2025 at 9:30 am
The Vegas over/under line is set at 9.5 wins….im pounding it like I did last year when what I thought a easily covered 7.5 games won it, all we had to do was not even go .500 to cash!$ this year I see at least 10 wins, whose with me!$$$