Buying And Selling The Bucs
September 24th, 2025
Bucs are in good hands.
Joe’s telling ya,’ this is beginning to feel like 2010.
Led by Raheem Morris and Josh Freeman, the 2010 Bucs jumped out to a 2-0 record. Rah crowed how the Bucs were one of the best teams in the league and woe to any team that came into the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway and took the Bucs lightly.
Ruh, roh.
National pundits had a field day. Who did the Bucs play? They aren’t that good. Wait till they play a real team.
And sure enough, a real team came to Tampa. The Steelers and their Terrible Towel-waving fans took over the Bucs’ crib while the Steelers curb-stomped the Bucs badly. With Charlie Batch, if you can imagine!
Fast-forward to 2025. Yes, the Bucs are undefeated thanks to heroics by Baker Mayfield and his offensive friends. But Joe already is hearing: Who did the Bucs play?
That is a fair question. The combined record of the Bucs’ opponents through three weeks is 1-8.
The Dixie Chicks (Michael Penix’s lone touchdown pass this season was thrown against the Bucs) are in panic mode after losing to the Stinking Panthers 30-0 (!) on Sunday, already firing an offensive assistant and ordering their offensive coordinator downstairs from the coaches’ box to be on the sidelines.
And look who comes into The Licht House this Sunday: the defending Super Bowl-champion Eagles.
Joe is smelling 2010.
Without all the Bucs injuries, Joe would have laid cash on the Bucs. But man, these injuries. Sooner or later, they’re going to bite the Bucs in the backside. Eventually.
The point isn’t that Joe thinks the Eagles will blow out the Bucs. But it’s going to be awfully hard for the Bucs to overcome so much against the best team in the league.
Jeffri Chadiha and Marc Ross of NFL.com debated whether the Bucs are worthy of being undefeated. Last night on NFL Network, Chadiha said he is no longer buying the Bucs.
“Well, I’m [selling on the Bucs] for the same reason [selling on the 49ers],” Chadiha said. “Those health problems over there are a concern.
“I know Mike Evans is only going to be gone for a month, but that’s a big month. And you’re talking about this offense, missing three offensive linemen. I just don’t know how they stay [aloat and] keep this thing going.
“When you look at what they have going down the road with their schedule, I mean, they’re gonna see all these NFC West teams. They’re gonna see the Rams and the Seahawks. They’re gonna see the Lions. They’re gonna see the Bills. They got the Eagles coming next week.
“I just don’t know how you can survive that kind of gauntlet when you have so many guys going down.”
While Ross agreed with Chadiha on the 49ers, Ross said the Bucs are in a different category. He called the Bucs’ NFC South foes “JV teams” and said all the Bucs have to do is take care of business against Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans and they’re in the playoffs.
The 49ers, Ross said, have no such luxury in the NFC West.
“I’m buying [the Bucs], Jeffri, because they know how to win,” Ross said. “And you talk about that schedule, look at their division. I mean, they’ve got the JV teams, the other three, so they’re not going to [lose] any [division] games.
“So Tampa is really just playing to go win some games, win a division, get healthy towards the end of the season. Unlike the Niners, these Tampa Bay players are going to come back.”
Ross also said Bucco Baker Mayfield has “magic” with teammates that will get the Bucs over the hump.
“Just keep them in the game [and] that defense Todd Bowles has shown [will prevail],” Ross said. “He’s one of the best coaches in the league.
“So I’m buying the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning their division, getting healthy at the end, and scaring somebody in playoffs.”
You can see the full video of Chadiha and Ross below.
Joe is not counting the Bucs out Sunday. But Joe surely isn’t going to drop cash on them this week. Awfully tough task.
But if anyone can figure out a way, it seems as if Mayfield can.
Are you buying or selling these 3-0 teams? @jeffrichadiha | @MarcRoss | @TomPelissero
Read more: https://t.co/89FTgSf07G pic.twitter.com/dLoTnz2sS7
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 24, 2025
September 24th, 2025 at 9:13 am
Good, keep mofo’s off the bandwagon. Bucs play better as the underdog.
September 24th, 2025 at 9:19 am
Saw Freeman when he played with Kansas State. Saw what Morris did to the Bucs and seems to now be doing to the Panthers. Absolutely no comparison whatsoever between those two guys and our two guys. No excuses, if we lose then the Eagles are the better team. That’s the way Bowles and Mayfield are looking at it. We could easily lose, sure, and we can get better and maybe get another shot at them. But for now this team, for the first time since I’ve been following them, won’t surprise many winning any game on the schedule. I’m comfortable saying we could beat them alot quicker than they can beat us.
September 24th, 2025 at 9:19 am
Chiefs were barely beating teams last year and they went to the super bowl. Ppl need to stop with this nonsense that they have not beat a good team instead we should be impress that we are 3 and 0 with basically our whole offensive line playing out of position and our all pro tackle being out. These experts are impress with the colts but they beat the dolphins broncos and titans so I dont understand the difference. GO BUCS.
September 24th, 2025 at 9:20 am
The injuries can not be an excuse, like said before they are not going to cancel the season. I think you need to get into a shootout with the Eagles and they will fold in 4th quarter due to the heat. Bring in the dink and dunk, keep the chains moving play fast, no turnovers. They will start thinking about the last 2 trips into the Sauna and fade late.
It will be really sickening to see this team lose 5 straight. Win the home games, the divisional games and get to the back end of the schedule and make a run into the playoffs.
September 24th, 2025 at 9:22 am
Not Panthers. I meant to say Falcons.
September 24th, 2025 at 9:28 am
3-5 a coming!
September 24th, 2025 at 9:30 am
Bowles will get back to 50 percent one way or another.
September 24th, 2025 at 9:43 am
If they can run the ball effectively’ get the short pass game going. Get a turnover or 2 they have a chance. Defensive stays stout. They can keep it close.
2 most likely scenario s. The bucs get another 4th quarter comeback win. Or the eagles bury em.
September 24th, 2025 at 9:45 am
3 or 4 game losing streak loading now…
The 4th quarter proved how bad of a coach Todd Blows is
He coaches so scared that even a 17 point lead is not safe. Todd complained about NO KILLER instinct, but he has NONE
If the Bucs were fully healthy and had a competent defensive coordinator or head coach they’d be a threat, but they are NOT healthy and they are lacking in the defensive coordinator area and head coach area
Bucs will beat Carolina (twice) Aints (Twice) Dolphins Cardinals and Patriots
Get to 10 wins and lose in the first round, this is Todd Blows ceiling
September 24th, 2025 at 9:48 am
Winning the NFC south is like getting a participating trophy. If we don’t stack up to the rest of the NFC what good is it? How well we play against Philly will be telling.
September 24th, 2025 at 9:52 am
They all made valid points. If the Bucs can be at .500 or better at Thanksgiving, they are going to the playoffs. A 15-2 season would be nice, but very unlikely. The 2025 Bucs, assuming better health, will be the classic “team no one wants to play” in January.
September 24th, 2025 at 9:54 am
Damn… For the life of me, I can’t understand how someone can wake up with hate on their heart. Ready to watch the world burn. We are 3-0 and still the same Goofy posters come on here sounding just like.. well, Goofy. Trolls or whatever you are, go hug your mom. Us grown folk are trying to talk Bucs. Behave 🤣
Go Bucs
September 24th, 2025 at 10:01 am
you clowns will be eating crow!!!!!
4-0!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
September 24th, 2025 at 10:03 am
‘Scare somebody in the playoffs.’ *eyeroll* jakoff motion when I read that. Buddy if the Bucs get healthy they’re going to do a little more than that
September 24th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Ok Joe that 2010 team had nowhere near the talent or moxy this team has. Start with Freeman his numbers were good but honestly would you trust him leading any team down the field with less than 2 minutes on the clock. Morris as a head coach never instilled any confidence he’s overly emotional and I don’t trust his decision making. I don’t remember the rest of the coaching staff but guarantee the o line coaches couldn’t touch the current staff. If you look at the personnel aside from Blount-who was a beast-you had two head cases at receiver Winslow and Williams. D line was mediocre aside from McCoy-Miller and Stylez White who combined for like 6 sacks (McCoy had 3.5 that year). The linebackers were terrible. The strength on that defense was probably the 2 corners Ronde and Talib (another head case). This team’s defense is far superior and the character on this team is off the charts.
September 24th, 2025 at 10:17 am
“He called the Bucs’ NFC South foes “JV teams” and said all the Bucs have to do is take care of business against Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans and they’re in the playoffs.”
Patriots dominated the garbage heap that is the AFC East for about 20 years, beating up on poorly built teams like the Jets, pre-Josh Allen Bills, & the Dolphins. Nobody made this case about that being a doubt about how good the team can be.
Nobody said, “Brady basically gets spotted 6 wins a year just being in the “AFC East” but here we are having our turn atop the NFC South and it’s used as way to doubt us?
It’s madness.
September 24th, 2025 at 10:17 am
wutdabuc
i hear ya buddy!!!!
some of these posters cant tell the difference between a knee pad and a maxi pad let alone a good team vs bad team or good coaching vs awful coaching….
obviously, they recently became bucs fans once brady arrived….they werent here for the Rah & freeman years, lovie & mccown years, dirk, smitty & winston years lol…
i remember losing 5 straight our SB winning year with BA and folks gave BA all the grace and every excuse in the world lol….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 24th, 2025 at 10:25 am
Marc Ross … “Just keep them in the game [and] that defense Todd Bowles has shown [will prevail]. He’s one of the best coaches in the league.”
I can’t believe an analyst with that mindset is still employed by NFL dot com. I can think of several frequent JBF commenters who must’ve been livid reading that. “One of the best coaches in the league?” I mean with all the other great head coaches to pick from, like Raheem or Canales, and this guy picks Todd Bowles? The audacity! (aw heck, couldn’t resist)
September 24th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Really dumb take to be honest the Rams and Bills game is after the bye. A lot of people should be back by then. Evans, Godwin, Wirfs, McMillan and maybe Luke.
September 24th, 2025 at 10:52 am
Our defense has been lights out and we have the second best backfield only to the lions. Make the games ugly and end with the ball in your hands. Thats been the recipe and will work. The eagles are coming off of a tough game and we see the lions after they play the chiefs. Those games are tough physically. We have a shot at 3 wins of the next 4 then we are healthy.
September 24th, 2025 at 10:53 am
There will be a sea of green at the stadium on Sunday and a Philly romping I think they will take us pretty easily 31-10 birds
September 24th, 2025 at 10:54 am
Bowles has Hurts’ number. Some of you pearl clutching mental weaklings should go be Dolphin fans.
September 24th, 2025 at 10:55 am
I don’t want to hear were playing in a JV division!! what about Bradys 10 AFC East titles those were not exactly the 85 Bears teams!!!! Just win baby and JEFF go back to New Orleans, please. Go Bucs
September 24th, 2025 at 11:12 am
I think we lose this game without Evans but as long as their playing a competitor game I want be as mad.
September 24th, 2025 at 11:20 am
It will be good for the Bucs to rely on the defense for the middle part of the season. Toughen them up and raise the bar on that side.
September 24th, 2025 at 11:31 am
Just curious Brady is calling our game so what’s our record with him as a telecast
September 24th, 2025 at 11:51 am
Mike Evans gone for a month? What was all that crap yesterday about this injury not being as bad as last year’s hamstring injury then? I’m so tired of bad medical information being communicated, only for the real information to be WORSE.
September 24th, 2025 at 11:51 am
Joe, it’s 3-0, not 2-0!! Geez, you keep writing 2-0. 2010 wasn’t loaded for bear with talent, but it didn’t have all the walking wounded either. There are a few of us on here who were fans during the consecutive years of double digit losses. Stop and think about it. Bucs still hold a few of those losing records. Guaranteed. So now, the NFC South is a JV league, and that’s why the Bucs are winning. I’ve heard it all, believe me. Sunday will be interesting, that’s for sure Go Bucs!!
September 24th, 2025 at 11:56 am
Listen guys…
“What we’re up against”
1 The eagles haven’t been THAT kind of impressive. I’m not saying it’s going to be a cake walk but what I AM saying is that we’ve Definitely got a shot! EVEN THOUGH we Are missing a Large part of our our offense AND defense. The eagles HAVE NOT been as strong as you have been lead to believe..
2 I’m sorry to HAVE TO SAY IT but Todd Bowkes IS A DEFEATIST… He’s a “SELF SABOTAGER”. We’re Up Against our own Defensive Coordinator AND the head coach DUE TO his FEAR OF SUCCESS…..
I know it’s a tough pill to swallow and I have no doubt his apologists WILL jump up and down in a Useless attempt to convince everybody otherwise BUT….. Take a look at his record of FORCING THE TEAM to be the “Cardiac Bucs” vs the Dominating Bucs!
This last game COULDN’T HAVE MADE IT CLEARER! Todd Bowkes IS AFRAID OF SUCCESS! Todd Bowmes is the “EPITOME” of “Bucs beating Bucs” and he WILL SABOTAGE ANY LEAD WE HAVE BY COMPLETELY STOPPING “HIS OWN WINNING STRATEGY” AND CONTINUE TO PLAY THE BALL THAT WAS WINNING, BUT INSTEAD BENDS OVER BACKWARDS TO GET THE OTHER TEAM BACK IN ALL GAMES!
(He blames it on all sorts of things and this time it was O they’re tired when it infant we WERE controlling the ball offensively and the defense was rested… NO! What happened WAS HE LET “HIS FOOT” OFF THE GAS AND LET THE JETS BACK IN THE GAME!)
It “HAS BEEN BECAUSE” OF Baker Mayfield and the FACT that BAKER MAYFIELD IS “NOT AFRAID OF SUCCESS”, that we HAVE Gone On for THE WINS that we’ve had so far.. WITNOUT A DOUBT IT’S BAKER FORCING HIS WILL TO WIN VS TODD BOWLES BEING SCARED and NO WILL TO WIN… It’s a SHAME that the Offense (Baker Mayfield) HAS TO Fight against the Head Coaches decisions in order to get ourselves Back into the Winners Circle when we HAD the game in the bag “once again”.
It’s a Real Shame that This IS the Truth concerning our head coach and that our Greatest Struggles “may be” from within… Bucs beating Bucs from within…
September 24th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
Sorry, I smell 2010 every time we play a home game. Like I have said before and again, we stink at home. No enthusiasm and I can’t remember us having a blow out. Last year Denver performed one on us, but we have a hard time getting out of our own way at RayJay. I’m looking at a 28 to 10 victory, and not from us. No way we beat Philly three straight times. And by the way, if we do, we can beat anyone if we don’t beat ourselves.
September 24th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
“some of these posters cant tell the difference between a knee pad and a maxi pad let alone a good team vs bad team or good coaching vs awful coaching…“
🤣🤣🤣🤣
September 24th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
Said last week on Wednesday that I could care less how many points we win by as long as we get by.
While I want to win, as long as there are no more injuries and mayfield is still upright after the game I could care less if we lose and by how much.
Their dline is going to have a day against our right side and maybe entire middle depending on if wirfs plays.
I doubt it will be a blow out even if we lose, but just get wirfs and Godwin back for Seattle and hopefully Mike and Luke for Detroit.
If those happen and we’re 4-2 or 5-1 after the niners at home – it’s a win.
September 24th, 2025 at 12:27 pm
So are we back to “Paper Champions”?! Philly is due a loss.
September 24th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Man Joe you musta been bored to like stoke the fires like that, LOLOL. As many here have said, big diff. between then and now. These guys have no deer-in-the-headlights look when things haven’t gone their way. The staff and players are wayyyy better than the pundits give them credit for and at the end of the year it will show.
September 24th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
And just to add, it’s about managing these bumps in the road to get through them that has me impressed with Bowles and crew. He’s not hidden about what the problems have been and has addressed them to the players and fans. He’s taken the steps to correct them. 2 years ago I wanted him gone for the mid season slump but he turned them around, as he did last year so that proves he’s got the team, he didn’t lose them. And this year he has been on point with what he’s said. That CBS crew raved about this team following Sundays win and some those guys have been there. So hat’s off to the players for sticking with it, the staff for making good adjustments in game and before game. It’s the little things that makes this team look rock solid, even with all the adversity so early in the year.
September 24th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
Knee Jerks want to discredit what the Bucs have accomplished. Sure, the combined record of the Falcons, Texans and Jets is 1-8. I just lucidly understand that winning with basically worse than a preseason lineup on the OL and down several weapons at WR is truly remarkable. Real fans who actually understand NFL football can see that clearly. Go Bucs!!!
September 24th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
We’ve got some real ‘winners’ bloviating on here. Their comments date them. Yeah, this Bucs team, 3-0 BTW, is the same pathetic bunch as the 2010 squad, or better yet, the 1984 team. Go back and check them out if you have the cajones. I doubt it. But, Joe turns a coin and keeps this blog alive, so like, whatever.
September 24th, 2025 at 7:35 pm
Smh . The Bucs will win . Bet on it! This isn’t 2010 we have Baker, Bucky,and Emeka
September 24th, 2025 at 11:55 pm
Wanna lose some money? Take the advice of a random internet tuffgirl who has trouble counting.
September 25th, 2025 at 12:05 am
Comparing this team to the 2010 team is absurd, even if we lose this Sunday. Yes it could be a few rough weeks but Evans will be back. Godwin will be back. Same for Wirfs and Goedeke. Just gotta weather the storm.
September 25th, 2025 at 3:35 am
Look, 3-0 is better than anything from the Lost Decade. But it’s three last-play wins against three crappy teams. A “power ranking” of 14 or 15 is probably appropriate (right now) for this team. But if the Bucs can find a way to beat the crappy teams, they can win the division even if they lose to the good teams along the way. Get into the playoffs with a healthy team and then go from there. As the team showed last year against Washington, the Bucs can lose to just anybody anyone if they don’t play great.