Dangerous Homestretch
May 19th, 2026
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Last spring when the schedule came out, every Bucs fan and his sister drooled over the final six games.
Playing slimy Saints, the Dixie Chicks, the Stinking Panthers (twice), the tanking Dolphins and the rotten Cardinals was a complete cakewalk, right?
Instead, Moe shoved Curly’s grill right into the cake.
Nah-ah … ah… ah… ah!
And no, the Bucs were not a victim of soy-cumstance.
So, looking at this year’s schedule, specifically the final nine games, and using last year’s homestretch as a guide, veteran NFL scribe Ralph Vacchiano of FOX sees the Bucs having a forgettable season. In fact, Vacchiano thinks the Bucs are the No. 22 team in the NFL. And that means unless the Bucs win the soft NFC South, no playoff soup for you.
#22 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl odds: +5000The first half of their schedule is easy compared to what awaits them in the second half. Their last nine games include trips to Chicago, Detroit and Baltimore and home games against the Chargers and Rams.
Then factor in KitKat-eating Todd Bowles’ AFC North hex. This is not helping Joe sleep at night.
Aside from Bowles’ being shutout by AFC North teams, the Bucs struggle mightily in Chicago (they’re 2-6 in the Second City this century last winning there in 2008), and we all know how Sean McVay and his Rams boat race Bowles defenses. It seems like 2026 may be an uphill climb.
May 19th, 2026 at 12:15 am
That uphill climb began retaining IBS as HC!
May 19th, 2026 at 12:25 am
It’s true. Despite the moves the Bucs have made we all remember the vibes coming out of training camp and the 1st 8 games of the season. Then face plant. That’s the reason why none of the dialogue really matters nowadays. Just gotta wait and watch the fooseball games.
May 19th, 2026 at 1:08 am
Please get another startable outside corner, Jason!
May 19th, 2026 at 1:42 am
Unless drastic changes were made we all knew what this season would be so here’s hoping for a miracle Cinderella season or a great 2027! All our new rookies are going to be awesome and our off season pick ups will be a great improvement it’s just little to late for bozo and the bored players to take a turn for the better. We will see how it unfolds for everyone watching at home having football parties instead of the stadium wasting money again. Here’s to a fun season some how cheers ?
May 19th, 2026 at 4:30 am
Seriously, I see no better than 7-10. They ain’t going to win with this loser at hc. Sorry. I don’t see it.
May 19th, 2026 at 6:13 am
You mean Tom Brady’s AFC North hex, right? True, Bowles is 0-1 against the NFC North with Baker, but at least the Bucs scored 31 in that game. Brady’s the one who lost all the games against the NFC North.
I mean, I’ve read here hundreds if not thousands of times. QBs are the ones who win and lose games. Teams, not so much.
May 19th, 2026 at 6:16 am
There are only two games on the Bucs schedule that are guaranteed losses – the Rams and the Ravens. None of the other teams are any better than the Bucs – not the Bears, not the Lions, not the Chargers, not the Packers, not the Bengals, not the Steelers.
New season, new teams, new coaches.
May 19th, 2026 at 6:40 am
The offense will be good enough to win.
The record will be determined by the defense period stop.
May 19th, 2026 at 6:40 am
How far into the season before the players quit on Bowles again?
May 19th, 2026 at 7:00 am
Im not even sure the Ravens are a guaranteed loss. They are a lot less of a tough football team than they were a few years ago. Their defense has been a sieve lately. Still worried about the Rams though. Zyon has got to figure out how to cover Davante Adams (and the whole defense cover Puka) for us to have a chance!
May 19th, 2026 at 7:03 am
Adams does this weird jump step at the corner at the beginning of his patters. Charge him, catch him in the air, and knock him down backwards every time he does it.
May 19th, 2026 at 7:14 am
WHY’ would we be worse than last year? Makes absolutely zero sense
May 19th, 2026 at 7:32 am
Bowles is not a legitimate HC. He’s never been one either.
The Jets are just a loser organization. Perfect spot for Bowles. He fits right in.
Even they had enough of his bumblings and cut bait. No extension offered.
The defense will never recover playing a soft Swiss cheese scheme.
Now he can’t even compete in a division without one team having a winning record.
Just gotta keep eating Kit Kats!
May 19th, 2026 at 7:39 am
to make excuses -it was injuries that caught up with the bucs last year mostly to the o line and secondary. go back and watch the atlanta game there are guys playing defense on 3rd and 28 I don’t even know… offense too …when baker is not connecting with ME 13 he’s on his back in the dirt. i’m just saying the key to 26 is staying healthy, these guys know football, practice is over rated. stay healthy is more important. and peak after the bye, peak later not early like last year. if they can stay healthy maybe they can beat teams like the chargers. they should have a much meaner defense even though i don’t trust all of our corner backs
May 19th, 2026 at 7:53 am
There are five super-physical teams in the League: Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Seattle. (Baltimore used to be in that class). You leave hurting for weeks after playing them. Last year the Bucs were bruised by the Eagles but they were gutted by the Lions and never recovered.
Tampa Bay has traditionally been a physical defensive team. They need to reclaim that niche. Finesse teams can win in the regular season (see Buffalo) and even in the playoffs (see KC), but the bully teams beat you up even after you play them.
May 19th, 2026 at 7:56 am
Scotty Mack = Brain trust
First off, last season proved that it definitely takes a team to win. If you have a terrible or decimated offensive line, you will not win 12 games and have a run through the playoffs.
It takes an entire team come offense and defense.. even special teams. Will you win the terrible quarterback, you will not. But the Baltimore Ravens won the SB with a serviceable quarterback in an amazing defense. Dinner for the buccaneers in 2001 with Brad johnson. Look at Brad’s stats. They don’t exactly jump off of the page. Look at the defensive stats and they definitely do.
Also, there is no such thing as a guaranteed loss. This is the NFL, any given Sunday. Weird things can happen. Look at last season and there are really good teams losing to bad teams. Does it happen all the time? No, but it happens. Remember, we lost to the Saints and the Dolphins while beating the 49ers & Sea Hawks. If the Rams or the crows have their quarterback injured, they can lose to anybody. Both solid teams but not unbeatable… even with said QBs.
May 19th, 2026 at 9:11 am
I have a real problem with Bowles Haters (I believe He should have been Fired) claiming this is only a 7 game winning team or worse. They have a Bowl Banana for a brain. This team added Bain, Trotter, Scott and Capehart in the draft and lets toss in Walker too. We will be better in the middle with Anzalone who has great coverage skills and Trotter will be a starter. With the O-Line healthy its one of the best in the league. What NFL team would not drool over our WR room that got even better with the addition oh Hurst. Our RB room is solid. So the O is good to go. Our only weakness is our outside Corner and we need some depth hopefully this will be addressed with team cuts before the start of the season. But Morrison could Rise. Zion may Recover, and Parrish is a stud Watch Bain get 2 sacks in the opener. So even though we should have Fired Bowles we Didn’t but this team will be MUCH better in 2026. We should win the South easily.
May 19th, 2026 at 10:00 am
So if the Bucs wind up with the 22nd best record, will that finally be the end of the Bowles era? Sadly, I am not sure it will be.
May 19th, 2026 at 10:30 am
This is a challenging schedule. There is something to be hopeful for. Cody should be back. We have replaced some people on defense that appear to be winners, right off the bat. Egbuka will shake off the rookie season and open up. With so many targets for Baker, if he is healthy, we have a shot at the NFC South title again. Not so much for the Superbowl.
May 19th, 2026 at 11:06 am
If all of these Nostradamus was accurate at predicting the future
They wouldn’t be writing sports columns for peanuts and crumbs
This is just useless journalism, like a lot of things in our society
It’s not even quality entertainment
Just a lot of worthless propaganda
May 19th, 2026 at 11:30 am
@pittbuc,Really Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game this century! Even with the all-world Tomlin ! GO BUCS and Ravens!
May 19th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Did anyone see the Kittle episode of Off-Season on Amazon? No wonder he wooed Mike! I wonder if anyone on our team practices even close to him right now. They mostly seem to be eating, golfing, vacationing with family, and totally chilling. What a contrast! Watch that if you can.
May 19th, 2026 at 4:42 pm
Bat….
You seem to have the hard feelings towards the guy who Lost the team and has driven it head on into a Tree at 100mph, Confused with the players who have been mismanaged and unfortunately suffering the damage of what a “banana bowels brain driver”, drunk with power, does when he gets behind the wheel….
It’s Not the players fault that the driver of the team is driving it more like a clown cart rather than a Lamborghini!
You’re gonna have to separate the disdain. It’s just not the same.
FOR INSTANCE: Who was it that came directly in and IMMEDIATELY DISMANTLED a Super Bowl WINNING strategy that for the two years prior, Won a Super Bowl and the VERY NEXT YEAR we were ONE GAME AWAY from winning it again!
Then “somebody” marched right in and said the Winning System Sucked, and THROW THE WHOLE SYSTEM AWAY LIKE TRASH and announce that EVEN THOUGH WE WERE IN “NO WAY” (we DID NOT have the personal, Not Even Close) DESIGNED TO BE A FULL ON RUN FIRST TEAM, THAT’S WHAT WE ARE NOW! WHILE WE WERE RIGHT IN THE HEAT OF COMPETING FOR ANOTHER SUPER BOWL WITH TOM BRADY AT THE HELM! Tell me….. Who’s bright idea was THAT!???
Tell me…. Who THREW US FLAT ON OUR FACES to the point that we would HAVE TO rebuild the Entire team, (with not only a poor outcome But A SLOOPY ONE!) WHILE WE WERE IN CONTENTION AND COMPETING FOR SUPER BOWLS!??? Who’s decision was that? Only ONE GUY!
Understand?
May 20th, 2026 at 7:52 am
@Obvious One
Answer: Todd Bowles
The one Joe affectionately calls a Kit Kat eating HC\DC.
If only he ate W’s like Winston used to!!!
You know, America’s QB, Mr Entertainment, and zero playoff games.