Bucs Rank 4th In ESPN Power Rankings
October 7th, 2025
This only interests Joe because it’s a compilation of opinions from 80 BSPN writers, editors and TV personalities.
Per BSPN.com, that braintrust “evaluated how NFL teams stack up against one another, ranking them from 1 to 32.”
The Bucs are now No. 4 in the weekly power rankings, behind Detroit, Buffalo and Philadelphia, respectively. Tampa Bay jumped a whopping six spots from last week.
That leap tells Joe the Bucs were largely undervalued and underappreciated through four games. That’s no surprise, and it was likely fair considering the Bucs squeaked by the Falcons, Texans and Jets.
So how will the Bucs handle the hype?
Joe’s more concerned with how they handle the 49ers on Sunday and the Lions a week later.
October 7th, 2025 at 10:27 am
1 GAME AT A TIME!!!!!
its not how you start, but how you finish!!!!
4-1!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 7th, 2025 at 10:28 am
seems like the confidence poll comes pretty quick after an L lol….
4-1!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 7th, 2025 at 10:39 am
One Game At A Time….. Watching the 49ers and Rams play, I really think that Bucs can beat the 49ers. Hopefully we get some injured players back on the field.
October 7th, 2025 at 10:54 am
Trade for Trey Hendrickson please!
October 7th, 2025 at 10:59 am
So far so good. I just looked through about 8 different power rankings. Almost all of them had the Buc’s at 4. Lowest was 6, highest was 3. The Buc’s still haven’t had the defense and offense clicking simultaneously. When that happens good things occur!! Next up San Francisco! Get it done!!
October 7th, 2025 at 11:30 am
I wouldn’t rely too much on what the so called experts say. We know what we have brewing here if things continue to come together going forward. Getting the injured guys back and minimizing future injuries is most important. One thing I’ve heard from the talking heads in the last couple of weeks is that the Bucs haven’t beaten anyone of note and point out that the cumulative record of the teams we beat was less than stellar. But when you consider that we beat them with all the injuries we have and the quality of defenses played against, it’s pretty remarkable that we are 4-1. The Texans, Falcons, Eagles and Seahawks are all very good defensive teams. Plus 3 of those victories were on the road. Bowles just needs to keep them focused on the task at hand and make sure they are ready to play every week. Ignore the hype.
October 7th, 2025 at 11:31 am
Too early to take power rankings very seriously. Bucs could fall off a cliff as they have done in the past.
Next 3 weeks are going to be difficult with the 49ers, Lions and Saints then after the bye NE, Buffalo, and the Rams.
Bucs have a long hard road this month.
October 7th, 2025 at 11:32 am
Need 100 percent focus. The 49ers are well coached with great players even though they have lots of injuries like the Bucs.
Shanahan in the biggest moments crumbles, like Super Bowl loses. You can see it in his deminer which affects player performance.
October 7th, 2025 at 11:52 am
@Red Pen: I disagree about trading for Hendrickson. He turns 31 in a couple of months. That’s about the age the decline in skills start to happen with players.
October 7th, 2025 at 11:59 am
Only if Hendrickson can cover RBs and TEs in the flat…LMAO! Florio (PFT) has the Bucs at #3 behind Detroit and the Beagles.
October 7th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
They need to actually BEAT somebody before I will fully believe in this team. Every single win can’t come down to Mayfield scoring with under 2 minutes to play.
They’ve got the 49ers at home in the late afternoon slot. A team that in recent years has embarrassed this team. If Bowles let’s either Mac Jones or Brock Purdy march up and down the field, like he usually does, then I’ll know this season is just another one of the same old songs in the Todd Bowles musical catalog. If he can actually put the clamps on the Shannahan offense, then I’ll start to believe.
October 7th, 2025 at 12:09 pm
We’re 3rd on PFT’s list!
October 7th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
Saturday the Cotton Bowl is gonna be rock in’!! OU and Texas, half the stadium in burnt orange and the other half in crimson. Kind of like playing at Ohio State. Alot more fans than any NFL game. That’s not just at the stadium but TV viewership also. Baker always (always) saved his best for those games. He has lost a couple of NFL playoff games but always at his best for those too. Now we find ourselves as a team where every game is gonna be a big one. Many say Baker is best as an underdog. In college he wasn’t often the underdog. And he did play well as the underdog. It’s fun taking the kid’s lunch money. But he played even better as the favorite! Because there wasn’t anyone taking his lunch money. I suspect not much has changed there. If a dog is going to bite he’s going to bite as a pup. Some things never change.
October 7th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
Joe’s more considered with how they handle the 49ers on Sunday and the Lions a week later.
How come Joe doesn’t believe in proofreading ?
Just saying! Lol.
October 7th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
Lions having serious CB issues at the moment
October 7th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Hodad it’s about deception, which is good. He likely does it too much, but, never say never
October 7th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
For those of you who say the Buc’s haven’t beaten a good team yet..this is the NFL. The best players field all teams. You don’t make it to this level if you aren’t great! On any given Sunday any team can beat any other! Week 5 results…The Jags beat the Chiefs, the Patriots beat the Bills, the Broncos beat the Eagles the Commanders beat the Chargers, the Texans beat the Ravens!! YOU ARE WHAT YOUR RECORD SAYS YOU ARE!!! Not even taking in account of the injury’s!
October 7th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
The experts obviously don’t give two spits about incompetent defensive coaching.
October 7th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
The experts obviously don’t give two spits about incompetent defensive coaching.
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maybe they do!!!!
they just havent found it at ONE BUC PLACE!!!!!
the blitz that cause the INT sure was genius!!!!!!
4-1!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 7th, 2025 at 1:24 pm
What happens every single time the Bucs get full of themselves?
Anyone have the memory of something other than a goldfish?
How about we get some insulting betting line, like the 49ers being favorited. Because frankly, after a big unexpected win, this is generally when the Bucs start thinking they’re great, and when they lay an egg. If that doesn’t happen here, then we could be on to something big this year, but let’s cool the SB hype because they beat a team quarterbacked by Sam Bradford.
October 7th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Jason Says:
October 7th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
Joe’s more considered with
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Speaking of proofing/copyediting, it should read, “Joe is more concerned with….”
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It is one game at a time. Plus, the Bucs always deal with 2 opponents: referees and the opposing team. We all know it. Go Bucs, 5-1!!!! It’s about time you guys started winning at home!
October 7th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
35 points allowed. 400 yards in the second half. Area Code Boy and the Pom Poms are cute though. Winning is not sustainable with this defense, proving itself to be legendarily horrible. At least they can’t tackle or stop the run in addition to defending one blade of grass instead of every blade of grass on pass defense.
October 7th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
35 points allowed. 400 yards in the second half.
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AND THEY STILL LOST THE GAME!!!!!
why?….because our DEFENSE created its 3rd TURNOVER of the day!!!!!
winning with “this” defense is what we’ve been doing!!!!
you’ve just been too busy eating crow!!!
4-1!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 7th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Bucs @ 5-1 would be amazing!
NFCS has a tough week: ATL v BUF, CAR v DAL, NOLA v NE
ATL won’t be favored in 4 of the next 5 games.
NFCS Champs x5 is loading …
October 7th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
Bucs rank 2nd according to The Athletic, right behind Detroit.
October 7th, 2025 at 4:36 pm
The defense is gonna have to improve if we’re gonna win the whole enchilada.
October 7th, 2025 at 4:38 pm
I’m more concerned about SF than I am the Lions.
Lions secondary is in a bad way right now, SF obviously has injuries of their own but Shanahan and Saleh potentially create coaching mismatches on us. I also worry this is a letdown spot after a big win and now everyone pumping them up. Don’t need this same lesson every season.
October 7th, 2025 at 4:50 pm
Rankings don’t mean anything for me until after the rams game because after that the opponents are fairly weak although Atlanta is always a challenge for some reason. We’ll know exactly how far we’re going after playing the bills and rams
October 7th, 2025 at 5:03 pm
Ironlung give it a rest ! Geesh some people just think they are smarter than everyone else but now you just look like the troll you are.
October 7th, 2025 at 5:05 pm
they deserve to be up in rankings, at least offensive ones. smacking the seahawks defense at home got them the attention they deserve from those in the media who werent paying attention at least so far. cant ignore 4-1.
October 7th, 2025 at 6:15 pm
If nothing else at least national recognition appears to be on the upswing. For whatever that’s worth.
October 7th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Permanently Moderated Says:
October 7th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
Bucs rank 2nd according to The Athletic, right behind Detroit.
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How does that work considering the Bucs lost head to head to the Eagles in Tampa?
Personally I want to be lower in the rankings, not higher, since high rankings do literally nothing except remove the possibility of teams overlooking you.
October 7th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
The defense is getting better.
Absolutely better than last years version.
Anyone can see tighter coverage with more talented DBs pressing tighter windows for passing.
Out of the 20 quarters we have played this season over 16 of those quarters the Bucs defense has shown much improvement.
Yes the defense is getting better.
Check back after another 20 quarters and I bet the pass defense will show even more improvement.
We are due to beat the 49s.
We might even be ahead by more the 4 points in the last 2 mins this week 😂
Go BUCS
October 7th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
Rod. When are you going to get it through your thick head that the only way to get where we’re trying to go is by removing the possibility of teams overlooking us? Geez!
October 7th, 2025 at 10:27 pm
I really think this team can beat anyone but we will see with the next two games, especially the Lions. We start getting healthy with Goedeke, Mike, JMac & Bucky coming back we should feel very confident.
October 7th, 2025 at 11:26 pm
Its awesome, entertaining but not sustainable. If Baker plays out of his mind we get narrow wins. The wheels are coming off the defense and it was all predictable- no proven LB talent beyond a rapidly aging David, no edge rush beyond an underperforming journeyman. We are in for another stretch of long sustained drives by the opponent we can’t stop that keep the offense off the field.