A No-Playoffs Prediction For Tampa Bay
August 25th, 2025
“You seeing this, Mike?”
Joe is somewhat troubled by this because it comes from a guy Joe respects a ton.
The Czar of the Playbook, Emory Hunt, the CBS draft guru, college football broadcaster, NFL analyst and a friend of Joe, does not have the 2025 Buccaneers making the playoffs, per a detailed projection on CBS Sports HQ.
See the graphic below.
Hunt, a former college running back, is no hot-take artist. But man, Joe is flabbergasted by his NFC picks. Hunt was extremely decisive explaining his choice of the Bears to win the NFC North.
With his NFC Wild Card picks of Seattle and Dallas, Hunt likes the depth and quality of the run game in Seattle and what he believes is a top-10 defense there. As for the Cowboys, Hunt is a Dak Prescott guy and thinks their defense will mature enough by the end of the season to squeak them into the dance.
Hunt did not elaborate on picking Atlanta to win the NFC South.
As for the Cardinals winning the NFC West, the Joe typing here would not be surprised at all to see Arizona grab the No. 4 seed. That’s a very dangerous team, one good enough to spank the Bucs in Tampa on Nov. 30. The Cardinals also have the luxury of opening at New Orleans and then going home to play the Panthers in Week 2.
Joe definitely expects to grill Hunt on these calls at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
August 25th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
The Bears not just winning the division, but the 2-seed? And NO other NFC North teams in the playoffs? Yeah, that’s Crazytown.
August 25th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
There’s a cult-like thing with the Bears with most of the prognosticators, yet the Bears suck every year
August 25th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
yawn Emory
August 25th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
For some bizarre reason there is a ridiculous amount of hype and belief in Penix and this down attitude on Baker. Outside of James Pearce (Bucs will have to deal with him for years to come, he is good) Falcons have not improved. They have lost their starting right tackle and his back up. I will say this for Licht he builds a team of depth. Falcons and Saints have nothing behind their starters. Their loss of a single starter is death at that position for both of those teams. Bucs will win this division.
August 25th, 2025 at 1:49 pm
The Bucs are loaded to the gills with offensive weaponry. They will make the playoffs behind a much-improved defense.
August 25th, 2025 at 1:51 pm
The prediction is a reflection on Todd Bowles
August 25th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
1/10 troll post
August 25th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
Something must of hit his head before typing that. The bears in the 2 seed. He should have his credentials pulled for that alone. He has three teams on this list that won’t be in the playoffs. I hope he was hacked or something, because that shock jock piece makes him look a little special.
August 25th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
this is click bait lions and Bucs are both making the playoffs.
August 25th, 2025 at 1:56 pm
I respect all of these so-called anylysts opinions
That’s exactly what they are (Opinions) which leads to predictions. With that said, we all have an opinion, we all make predictions, at times. But, we are also wrong, the majority of the time.
We are not Nostadomius,
Even he was way off, the majority of the time
August 25th, 2025 at 1:56 pm
it shouldnt happen but it could. why not…the bucs backed in to the playoffs last year. they have plenty of weaknesses in the depth chart and a penchant for 4 game losing streaks. it isnt crazy at all.
August 25th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
Dang, NFL website has lions, niners, rams, bucs, packers as #3-7 in projected win total. This guy has them all missing the playoffs? Seems a little far fetched.
August 25th, 2025 at 1:58 pm
Seems for at least a couple years falcons have been hype machines for some reason. I know they have a few good weapons, but hopefully they continue to disappoint. I’m not ready to crown penix yet either
August 25th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
I don’t think the Cowboys are going anywhere besides down the toilet. New Head Coach, No Micah Parsons, Dak always blows it in Big Games. They won’t make it to the playoffs.
August 25th, 2025 at 2:06 pm
I’ve been starting to worry myself. The only things giving me hope are all of the injuries in San Fran, and I don’t believe Stafford or Penix either one, will make-it through the entire season… Actually, I don’t expect them to even make it halfway. Also, there are BIG injury-risks to Jayden Daniels, given his frame and style of play. And, I’m not completely sold on Detroit either, after their own ‘injury’ issues last season, and the cap starting to affect their overall depth, and their division (which I believe is THE ‘toughest’ on football), and most importantly of all, having to replace BOTH Stud Coordinators. Then, throw-in the Bucs Division, AND the final 10-GAMES of their schedule being “cupcake city” outside of just Buffalo (with a strong potential of it just being “Staffordless” Rams and “Penixless” Falcons squads), all you have is a BUNCH of Saints, Panthers, Patriots, Cardinals, & Dolphins games left… At full-strength, they should make ‘quick work’ of all of them, while finishing-up that stretch at 8-2, at a bare minimum. Otherwise, Bowles will be ‘dead-meat’ extension or not. Which I still think extending HIM was just stupid and pointless. He was going NOWHERE, and NO ONE was lining-up in-waiting to steal him away! Oh, well… Not my $$$$. Just thankfully, it doesn’t effect the teams CAP.
August 25th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
And that’s why they play the games. There are so many variables involved each year that make it nearly impossible to predict all the teams that will and will not make the playoffs. I think the only ringer this year is the Eagles. Detroit lost both of its coordinators. Everyone now has a lot of film on Daniels at the helm of the Commanders. And on and on. There are a ton of teams in the NFC that look damn good on paper, but who knows how the will perform. Let’s just play the games!
GO BUCS! BEAT ATLANTA!!!
August 25th, 2025 at 2:08 pm
Which is worth more……this prediction or a preseason game?
August 25th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
There’s always a couple team most expect to be good that drops out of the playoff picture then a couple surprises. He took San francisco, Minnesota, Detroit, and, of course, Tampa Bay out of the playoff picture opposing a lot of other analysts. He’s just trying to get ahead of what shocking changes might happen. I guess we’ll have to see. I think he went a tad too far.
I think the Cowboys and Bears in the playoffs is going way too far. LOL
The Bucs will win the South barring injury.
August 25th, 2025 at 2:17 pm
“Godlovesbucs” – yeah, I can see all of those teams NOT making The Playoffs” (LoL, as I just layed-out). I would not be shocked at all. Except for Green Bay… I guess, the only situation I don’t see them make-it, is if Love gets ‘knocked-out’ for the season, OR maybe just due to their Division. I’m pretty sure they WON 11-GAMES last season and return most everyone, while upgrading at WR (and seemingly, more healthy there as well, as of right now)… I think they’re going to be just fine.
August 25th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
Atlanta, Atlanta, Atlanta – well, we shall see in 2 weeks.
They have a lightly experienced left handed QB with a 58% completion rate who throws as many INTs as TDs. There isn’t a good experienced Right tackle on the team, as both the starter AND the backup are injured.
We have a better team than last year, and will start showing the league that in the first game. We will win the division again, and make the playoffs.
I mean – the Bears – really? I’m not buying anything from this guy….!
August 25th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
Teams not making the playoffs the following year is about the same as coaches getting replaced and that is roughly 6-8.
Having 5 turnover in the NFC alone tells me he might be off. If he is correct it does not leave room for many AFC Hopefuls.
Current Playoff Streaks are Chiefs (10) Bill (6) and Bucs (5). Eventually the luck runs out or the other teams in their Division get better. Maybe a combination of both.
Second Place in a Division @ 10-7 would not have been good enough in the NFC in 2024.
Seven Divisional match ups in Week 1 could be pivotal games in their respective Divisions. Bucs vs Falcons included.
August 25th, 2025 at 2:29 pm
I just now looked at the list and read the article LoL. I do believe that Arizona could be the ‘shocker’ this season and could really sneak up and surprise some people. I think they will be a lot better, and wanted to include them in my own playoffs projections, a long with ATL, but just could not go there, yet. I think the NFC is soooo ‘wide-open’ right now! It is such a shame the number of Buc injuries to ELITE players at such PREMIER positions… And, for having such a weak Defense too, of course haha.
August 25th, 2025 at 2:32 pm
The only way this is real is if there is a lot of injuries.
If the Bucs stay relatively healthy then the Bucs are a lead pipe cinch to make the playoffs
August 25th, 2025 at 2:39 pm
I was a Brears fan in the 70s, 80s, 90s. Switched to a Buc’s fan in 2004. I have not regretted that. The Bear’s owners are very poor assembling teams from the front office down to the coaches. Many Bear teams have had outstanding talent but couldn’t win a game if their life depended on it. They now have a franchise QB, and surrounding cast to do something good. Winning culture??? Don’t bet your savings on it. Their division has Green Bay who beats them about 75% of the time since Brett Farve was QB, also Detroit! They will be lucky to win their division yet alone make the playoffs. IMHO.
August 25th, 2025 at 2:52 pm
There are 4 teams on that list that will not make the playoffs and the Bucs is not one of them. Arizona, Commanders, Atlanta and the bears.
August 25th, 2025 at 2:59 pm
Arguably the best division in football is gonna send the Bears and only the Bears!? Won’t catch me giving the Packers love but they don’t suck and Lions Vikings are gonna be good again.
Wild.
Count me out on Dallas as well unless Parsons is motivated to play but still don’t like them.
August 25th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
This guy is a real idiot.
August 25th, 2025 at 3:02 pm
I don’t care what he’s done in the past to earn your respect, but this is a joke.
No Detroit, Green Bay, Tampa, San Fran but 3 teams from the NFC East? LOL
I don’t even give this one grain of salt.
August 25th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
Da Bears FINALLY, ‘shelled-out’ the BIG-$$$$ for a COACH. It looks like they now have one, and a true Franchise-QB (he’s starting to look like one). Their roster is pretty loaded, especially on Offense. They have two or three really good receivers, and two TE’s, that I expect to see BOTH on the field together, at the same time. If Williams can get comfortable playing more under center, then lookout!!!! I think they could be really good. I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from them this preseason. There is an ADULT now, leading this team.
August 25th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
As long as Bowles is the Head Coach, the chances of making the playoffs will always be 50/50
If the NFC South could ever muster a decent team, the Bucs are in trouble. Bowles is struggling to win the division against very poor competition.
August 25th, 2025 at 3:20 pm
Falcons and Bears and Seahawks all get too much love, imo.
Darnold is the most proven qb in that group and he’s had one good year and several bad ones.
Bowles and Mayfield should feel insulted. It is all about qbs and head coaches for the hot take prognosticators.
August 25th, 2025 at 3:21 pm
🤡
August 25th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
The Bears, Cowboys and Seahawks are NOT making the playoffs. The Seahawks got the Jets version of Sam Darnold, not the Kevin O’connel version of Sam Darnold.
August 25th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
Wow ,,, any believers in this can get mega $$$$$$s parlaying the 4 division picks , 1 favorite and 3 Non Favorites
August 25th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
When your Head Coach has a career losing record and struggles to manage the clock or scheme up a competent pass defense, I have no problem with this at all.
Bucs need to prove they can be average defending the pass and that Todd can actually manage the clock and the game before you get respect
August 25th, 2025 at 4:38 pm
If the Bears, Cowboys and Cardinals all finish with a better record than us, then we don’t deserve to make the playoffs anyways… Simple as that.
August 25th, 2025 at 4:39 pm
Trask hasn’t gotten any better in 4 years don’t think he’s gonna! Move on if you can get something for him
August 25th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
The Bears are dang sure getting better and the Lions and Vikings are getting worse. Seattle is okay and so are the Cardinals. Not sure about Philly. San Fran, no. Green Bay, maybe. We’re going to have to stick together, block, tackle, and take care of the ball. And of course finish strong. Also, let’s have some fun! I didn’t mention the Commanders and I think Daniels is or is shortly gonna be the best QB in the league. They should get anybody’s attention. I didn’t mention the Cowboys because I’ve seen Dak in high stakes playoff games. If we can finish strong and make the playoffs we have a chance. Pause… we’re going to take the league by storm!!! What kind of an idiot picks us not making the playoffs!! This whole article, starting from the title, is B.S.!! Number 1 seed coming out of the NFC in 2025, representing the franchise’s 50th anniversary, are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers!!! Get with the program, people!!
August 25th, 2025 at 5:04 pm
Oh, the Rams. Who cares? I mean, really.
August 25th, 2025 at 6:36 pm
If a few more jump on the Falcons bandwagon maybe I can win another nice bet for the Bucs winning the division again.
August 25th, 2025 at 6:57 pm
Gotta win !! Let’s go Bucs!! It doesn’t matter what anyone says it’s what the Buccaneers do !!
Go Bucs 2025 !!
August 25th, 2025 at 6:59 pm
These predictions look like from someone that doesn’t watch current nfl football
August 25th, 2025 at 7:39 pm
Baaahaaaaa! Bears and Falcons! LMAO!
August 25th, 2025 at 8:58 pm
He has 5 new playoff teams in the NFC. I wonder when that happened last. Seems unlikely.
August 25th, 2025 at 11:31 pm
The one good thing in that scenario would be to see the stupid Lions fans get crushed. Talk about awful people, they think because they’ve been losers for so long they’re owed something. But they’re from Detroit, the Cleveland of the north, and they’ll never win anything.
August 26th, 2025 at 9:10 am
I still remember this clown saying JTS was the best pass rusher in his draft class lol.
August 26th, 2025 at 4:35 pm
Without a few miracles, Bucs would have missed the playoffs each of the last 3 seasons. Can’t really argue the point, Bucs are coached by a mirage.