“I Got’em At 12-5”
May 25th, 2025
A reasoned and seasoned three-time Pro Bowl guard thinks the Bucs are among the class of the NFC while his sidekick thinks they have a shot at the conference’s No. 1 seed.
Retired Bears star Kyle Long was gushing Bucs love on CBS Sports HQ. He’s firmly in the Bucs’ camp.
“When you hear my record for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, you’re going to kind of pause,” Long said. “But I love this guy Baker Mayfield. I love the way that this group has been able to adjust to multiple guys at the [offensive] coordinator position. Leadership is unquestioned in that [Mayfield] can handle anything. Even if the sky is falling around him, he will compete, he will find a way to win games — at home, in enemy territory. I love the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I got’em at 12-5.”
Long added that he expects improvement from the Bucs’ secondary, claiming it was only thing holding the team back from “making that big run last year.”
As Joe tried to stop panting, CBS colleague Will Brinson chimed in to say the Bucs should have been 12-5 last year. He thinks the Bucs will be undefeated in the NFC South this season and run their final record to 13-4. Whoa!
Joe sure hopes Todd Bowles has mastered coaching from a “favorite” position this season, at least out of the gate.
That’s been a challenge. Bowles’ Bucs teams have played better when less is expected of them.
Today, the Bucs are the betting favorite to win the NFC South, and most analysts think the Bucs are better than the projected 9 1/2 wins total dropped on them by oddsmakers.
Joe would make that bet, but the Joe typing here cannot call the Bucs an elite team like Long and Brinson are. Too early for that.
Joe is still healing from the Bucs trailing the miserable and half-tanking Saints 19-13 at home in the fourth quarter of Week 18. That was a must-win game with the division on the line.
Ira Kaufman Talks Offensive Coaches, Eye-Opening QB Coach Emphasis, Todd Bowles Getting Personal, Tush Push Contradiction, Bucky Irving Load, And More
May 25th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
I can see it but like Joe says Bucs do Buc things like trailing the saints in a must win while there half tanking but I can see this happening 12-5 Would be great
May 25th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Must win game with the backfield riddled with injuries but no biggie
May 25th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
You have to beat the teams you’re supposed to beat.
Tim’s and time again the Bucs Defense is guilty of 1 of 3 things:
1. Total collapse – like watching a 3 stooges clip of “who’s on first”.
2. Bowles takes his foot off the gas and plays too conservative – like putting safeties 30 yards down field or having the offense run 3 plays up the middle for 1 yard each.
3. Bowles plays guys that suck because he’s ‘loyal’ and likes them (JTS/White).
Bowles may be a great guy but that doesn’t make him a good DC / Head Coach
May 25th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
boomer – so he’s a bad defensive coordinator towards the end of games and loyal to a fault. is he a bad head coach?
May 25th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
Ready set go -here comes the negative trolls
May 25th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
More praise for Baker from football players not guys who majored in journalism. O line still has to do a better job pass protecting. Many of Baker’s scrambles last year were because protection broke down. Many will say that Baker holds the ball too long going through his progressions. Might be some truth to that. Need to have a check down outlet on all pass plays. I vote for White or Otton as check down candidates. I am sure Grizzard will cover this so Baker doesn’t get mashed.
May 25th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Well said Boomer. Maybe he Has Had a warmth from under and perhaps he realizes he HAS TO train ALL of these men to finally come up with SOME form of communication that everybody can understand.
And Finally come up with formations that these men can execute and dumb it down a bit if necessary for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th stringers if they Have To be called upon. Bowles, like ALL head coaches, IS REQUIRED TO have ALL OF THIS sorted out BEFORE the start of even the first game of the season and to a perfection, no later than mid season….. He has Not accomplished this even Once! Other Head Coaches praises are Sung for Their Ability to do just that as if not to miss a beat…
Let’s hope that THIS IS the year that he GETS IT and ACHIEVES IT. Because if not then it is time for a change.
It was so blatant last season…… I have a very small amount of confidence that things will change. However, he has his last shot and if he can improve AT LEAST 50% then I’ll lay off my criticism. I’D RATHER BE WINNING THAN WHINING !
SUPER BOWL OR BUST!
May 25th, 2025 at 3:14 pm
12-5 is certainly possible with our talent and coaching.
If I were predicting I’d say 11-6.
NFC south champs AGAIN.
From there it’s a simple 3-4 game win streak to bring home the ultimate prize 🏆 🏈
May 25th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
I got them at 10 wins, but I hope he’s right.
That week 2 game in Houston will tell me a ton, that’s a game I assume Stroud will dominate and throw for 500 yards, but if Bowles isn’t having his defense stand around in zone as they’re completely inept, that will tell me a ton and make me a lot more optimistic on the season.
May 25th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
Just saw on NFL network that they are showing every championship season…except the 02 Bucs season. Not surprising! NFL hates the Bucs, especially the Chucky coached teams!
May 25th, 2025 at 4:01 pm
Finally, some folks who have a clue of what they’re saying. We stay healthy this year and we’re the #1 seed in the conference. This team has every reason to be confident. They’ve earned it. Patience is hard earned and ain’t nothing worthwhile easy. We’ll lose some games this year. But hardly any.
May 25th, 2025 at 4:07 pm
Hey Boomer. It was Abbott and Costello, but I agree with your point. lol
May 25th, 2025 at 4:13 pm
Whitehead, Edwards, Hayes, Funderburke….. Replacing retiree’s and practice squad talent with actual “ready for primetime” players in the secondary might help 🎟️
Aside from devastating injuries my biggest concern is ILB. Hopefully Walker is as good as LVD thinks and SVD stays healthy and balls out.
Todd is our coach like it or not, for at least another year, no matter how many times turd hunters repeat “Swiss cheese defense” or accuse people who defend him of being poly positive cupcakes.
Do tell (again) how great a job Dan Campbell (or Mike McCarthy 🤣) would have done under the same circumstances.
May 25th, 2025 at 4:41 pm
i still got ’em at 11 winnebagos…
i’ll take 12 in a heartbeat tho…
and anything less than rod’s 10, and it’s a disappointing win total
May 25th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
Hoping for 11 or 12 wins 🏈
May 25th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
We should be happy about seeing Houston early as well as the Falcons and bodes well for us starting 2-0.
Texans are breaking in a bunch of new OL pieces and WRs with a new OC. If the D is healthy and have their heads on straight, they should be able to give Stroud problems.
May 25th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
I see 11-6, on paper this is a 13-4 team if healthy but 11-6 seems appropriate for Bowles and his 1 game improvement trend continuing. I like the team to start 3-0 so 11-6 should be very attainable.
May 25th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
11-6 seems solid. Not sure where the 12th would come from, but looking at the schedule it’s likely 11 dubs.