Seven Teams Share Bucs’ 5-2 Record
October 21st, 2025Joe has an important reminder for the overly sad Bucs fans this morning.
Only the Indianapolis Colts with their retread quarterback and MVP running back have a better record than Tampa Bay.
Hats off to Indianapolis at 6-1. They still have five games remaining against the buttery soft AFC South. Running back Jonathan Taylor already has 10 rushing touchdowns and 697 yards on the ground. Something’s in the football water in Indiana these days.
That means the Bucs’ record of 5-2 is the second-best mark in the NFL. The Bucs are tied with the Patriots, Broncos, Eagles, Lions, 49ers, Seahawks and Rams at 5-2. And the Bucs are 2-2 against that bunch with games forthcoming against New England (home) and the Rams (road).
As Joe has written and will continue to write, if the Bucs can take care of business in New Orleans on Sunday, a 6-2 record at the bye week is a hell of a Bucs accomplishment after a mountain of injuries on offense.
Breathe easy.
October 21st, 2025 at 6:42 am
Hard to be happy after witnessing big M1k3 play his last game as a pro….
October 21st, 2025 at 6:54 am
Just take of business in New Orleans. Mike will be back for the playoffs. I believe he’d trade another thousand yard season for a second title.
October 21st, 2025 at 6:56 am
Coaching will be key this week. Take care of business this week and Sunday.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:04 am
The danger with Baker is for big games he gets over hyped and over throws. He needs to take yoga with his wife and do that before games.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:07 am
Time to fall back to earth. Todd 500 Bowles mid season slump is starting
October 21st, 2025 at 7:12 am
Mike going down killed the little juice we had last night. We somehow avoided losing by 100 thanks to the defense.
I know I’m gonna see it but you just can not criticize the D for the loss. Outside of a couple big Gibbs plays (he’s an unbelievable RB) the run D was good if not great and we constantly held them on 3rd. They scored 24 because they were on the field the whole damn game.
This game was 100% down to Baker not being the Baker we’re used to. He missed a bunch of wide open throws. But let’s not forget he’s the reason we were 5-1 to begin with. Losing to the #1 seed at home with our offense banged up as it is is NOT a bad thing. Yes, that has to change by January if we want to see the lions again but let’s not overreact to a bad game during an MVP caliber start to the season.
I don’t want to play into the ref conspiracy so without commenting on the actual calls I thought the refs killed our momentum on that 4th quarter drive. The Lions also killed it by having us on 4th down about 5 times on that drive alone but there were so many stoppages. Still don’t know what Dan Campbell was challenging on that fumble though, weird stuff.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:14 am
And Bowles is still our Coach. Shame.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:19 am
I just don’t see players doing what opposing team do. 1. Punching out the ball 2. Keep blocking down feild 3. Playing for a pass interference call ect ect. This team will not be SB quality until Bowles and his clown coaches are replaced.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:21 am
We need Luke back in the worst way. Teams are attacking the right side of our line and it’s going to continue.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:22 am
You have Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillen, Luke Goedeke and Cody Mauch in that game, things would have been very different.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:22 am
Injuries on Oline finally caught up to us and yeah, Baker was amped. He never really settled in. The line of the night was when the ref said” after taking a second look”… clown show.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:29 am
No Baking with Grizz last night.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:35 am
Two WR in the same spot bumping into each other (twice) is not a well coached team. WR not knowing their routes is just unacceptable. I will not blame players this season we have to much talent, we just have crappy coaches.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:44 am
We’ve seen this story before; We will avenge this loss in the playoffs. 🙂
October 21st, 2025 at 7:45 am
detroits secondary were all hurt and shutdown an mvp candidate. cant use the injury excuse. seems like whenever bucs play a top team the defense immediately puts the team in a hole. the team is always outgame planned against these teams with the we do what we do mentality.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:46 am
Trying to breathe easy Joe. Shame we wasted last nights opportunity. Figured we’d win if Detroit scored 24. We haven’t had continuity working with the same receivers or OLine and with Baker being off we didn’t stand a chance. Griz and Carbs and Baker have to figure out how to get some run game going. Brady won games throwing it 50 times. Baker is not Brady. We need a good balanced offense.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:52 am
Couple things
🏈 Mayfield was overthrowing because he was trying to keep his passes from being blocked. He was frustrated.
🏈 Tez Johnson was messing up all game. He kept running the wrong routes.
🏈 My heart breaks for Mike Evans.
🏈 We’ll win next week.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:05 am
Last night revealed the kinds of personalities we like/dislike in a coach. Kevin Shepard, the Lions DC, was fired up. Meanwhile, lingering on the Bucs side stood Shepard’s DC counterpart, Todd Bowles.
While Shepard is storming up and down the sideline, cheering his players on and verbally and physically congratulating them with high fives and job well done locutions, Bowles just stands there like his feet were embedded in a cubic yard of cement.
Whether it be a football player or a dishwasher, all people enjoy signs of encouragement and compliments for a job well done. Shepard had novice DB’s playing like all pros last night. And all his players appeared to love his form of leadership.
Again, this begs the question; would you rather play for an emotional fireball or a reticent stoic?
I believe my answer is rhetorical. Many claim Todd’s method is the way to go, and they can cite examples, like Tom Landry. Why, because professionals should be left alone to do their job?
October 21st, 2025 at 8:06 am
Detroit hit and kept hitting. Hutchinson is a great player who just keeps coming at you. He worked over Heck pretty well last night. Looked like receivers were not getting open forcing Baker to hold the ball too long. Making matters worse, Baker missed on some critical passes last night. He didn’t miss on throw to ME. It was the refs who missed an obvious PI.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:12 am
Terrible to see Evans go down like that! If that play had been completed it may have proved to be the spark the Bucs needed. However, I think it had the exact opposite effect the way it played out. I am also compelled to say it is very hard to beat any team in the NFL today when you also have to beat the officials! Tons of bad calls, reversals & no Calls. Especially the call that took the ball away from Cade Otton! Absolutely HORRID!!!
October 21st, 2025 at 8:12 am
Breathe easy!!!!!!
we’re in good shape….
we’ll get a win and all the haters will continue to hate lol
GO BUCS!!!!
October 21st, 2025 at 8:13 am
A lot of sensible things being said here this AM. When you have 40% of you O line injured against a ferocious pass rush last night, bad things will happen. Baker was unable to step into most throws last night. When he was able, the ball sailed on him. Detroit was not going to lose that game last night and they played like it for the entire game.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:13 am
Throws sailing have eff all to do with being “hype” and more to do with Bakers’ mechanics being out of wack all night. There were at least 2 throws to Egbuka where he had grass to lead him into a reception but the throws were all in the wrong portion of Egbukas’ catch radius. That’s not an emotional glitch, his footwork is and has remained a wildcard in his game. The pass to Egbuka in the endzone that got swatted down, a little more touch to let E2 run under it, that’s a score. Instead, he throw it fading away like the real Michael Jordan/Kobe Bryant(rip Mamba)
October 21st, 2025 at 8:23 am
We ran into the buzzsaw of a pissed-off team with a group with a chip on its shoulder for being written off (their secondary) in front of a rabid home crowd. It happens. We had bad losses in 1999, 2002 and 2020. It’s all in how we respond this week.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:27 am
There’s not many sad Bucs fans. It’s bandwagon city. Bad times means they move on, doesn’t mean they’re sad.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:27 am
I said BEFORE the game that Evans should have sat out one more game. The odds of beating the Lions was not great. Yes this is a different injury but playing Evans against a strong team was stupid. And how about the great job our D/C called to control the run????
October 21st, 2025 at 8:34 am
@JA well said. I actually think this is an argument to hire a DC rather than replace Bowles. I think Bowles acts like a HC but he has the responsibility to be a DC and kinda forgets it (seemingly, don’t take that as fact).
The defense last night was awesome for the most part but we need some juice if we’re gonna be on the field for so long. I’m in on Bowles, he’s turned around his biggest problems (time management, closing out close games) and has the defense, in my eyes, playing the type of defense expected from the ‘defensive genius’ to an extent.
Either hire a DC or let a position coach be more involved is my opinion.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:50 am
This Bucs team feels like the old Sam Wyche 5-2 club. Bucs lose to New Orleans next week and finish 9-8. Carolina wins the division. Good coaching makes all the difference and the Yucs don’t have that.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:53 am
The defense did what they’re supposed to do. Nobody has been holding the Lions offense mostly below 30 points. Problem was the offense couldn’t keep the defense off the field. It happens. The team has always sucked on night games since its existence.
October 21st, 2025 at 9:08 am
Bucs got exposed. Outcoached, especially Grizzard. Cosplay champs.
October 21st, 2025 at 9:10 am
Bake Bowl
I’m in agreement, for the most part. I know the players love playing for Bowles, but they’re still times when he is out-coached. Two examples: the Rams and 49ers. Do you truthfully believe Bowles matches up with Shanahan and McVay when it comes to game planning?
I’d make the HC change, but only if I could make myself believe I was getting someone who is elite.
October 21st, 2025 at 9:28 am
I don’t disagree with that, but I don’t 100% agree.
Do I think Bowles matches up? No. But he beat Shanahan this season, and will be tested by McVay. Yes, the 49ers were hurt but so were we, and we beat them by a couple scores.
I’m using only this season as reference because I truly believe he’s made a change and address the issues that I wanted him out for. I’m willing to give him a little grace off the back of a great start to the season, but these tests are going to be the tell-all about Bowles.
There are definitely times he gets out coached. Last night, I don’t think was one of those times. Jamyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra are start players who made star plays, but for the most part the Bucs were playing unreal defense. I mean we had Sir Vocea in my notebook with positive notes throughout the game.
We got after Goff, stuffed them on 3rd and out of 13 drives, they only scored points on 4. That’s insane considering the Lions offensive prowess.
The turnovers were limited against one of the best defenses in terms of takeaways, 1 50/50 INT and 1 fumble from a Lions defense that was perfectly punching the ball all game long.
I just don’t see this as a bad loss. Baker had a bad game, ultimately that’s what I think it came down to. We had to abandon the run, which Rachaad looks like a whole new guy this season, because we got down early and just couldn’t get in a rhythm offensively because of missed throws.
I don’t think Baker has another game like that this year and if we continue to perform defensively like tonight, a playoff run and even the #1 seed are still very much in play.
I was on the Bowles out bandwagon but couldn’t fully commit because at the end of the day we’re winning the division consistently (I don’t care that it’s the NFC South, 4 in a row is 4 in a row).
I do need Bowles to prove over the whole season that he’s changed, but especially now, sitting at 5-2, I don’t really understand and can’t support the fire Bowles crowd just yet.
October 21st, 2025 at 9:36 am
Mike Tyson said, “everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face”.Bucs kept getting punched in the face last night.
October 21st, 2025 at 11:00 am
Everyone wants an EDGE rusher by the trade deadline(despite the fact that we play a 3-4 defense). But it would be better to get an experienced and competant Right Tackle.
Charlie tries, but watching Hutchinson roll him back right into Baker’s face last night was just embarassing…! All night long.
October 21st, 2025 at 11:14 am
Still calling for Todd’s head and the offense was the problem Todd let them go for 2 what happened they shat themselves let them go on 4th shat themselves again this was an offense issue not a Todd issue if your gonna be mad ,be mad at the right guy the defense held them to under 30 in they house and we couldn’t even get 12 points witch means we didn’t get pass the 50 yard line for most of the game remember our kicker has a monster leg and can kick 60 + yards so again why are we mad at Todd ?
October 21st, 2025 at 11:46 am
We got the Patriots Rams And Bills after the bye. 3 very tough games. We cannot afford to lose to the Saints. We must be ready. We need that padding of 6-2 going into the bye. IT IS A MUST. Nobody feels sorry for us. Ruck up Bucs. Next man up. BEAT THE SAINTS. Jump on them early and often.We can ill afford a letdown.
October 21st, 2025 at 11:59 am
Five dash two is good, no question about that. Goedeke is needed back. Bucs should try to acquire another WR (Tyler Lockett) and an offball LB. I am not holding my breath for an edge rusher as Todd would just have said edge rusher drop back and try to cover in the flat…… Unlike the chicken littles” who always seem to predict doom and gloom after a loss, I think the Bucs will win this weekend as Tampa usually plays well in New Orleans. However, the games after the bye against Buffalo, the Rams, New England and that prime-time game vs the ATL that have me worried. Heck Carolina will play them tough too. Time for Todd to man up, let alone his players. Every year his team lays an egg on national TV (with the exception of the Houston MNF game), it is a fact of life, now let’s hope the team does not let this L cascade into a mid-season funk which Todd has made into an annual thing……..
October 21st, 2025 at 2:02 pm
Cybersecurity_intern Says:
October 21st, 2025 at 7:14 am
And Bowles is still our Coach. Shame
And you’re still an intern… And ignorant. Shame.