Rich Eisen: Bucs At Least A Nine-Win Team
May 3rd, 2026
Joe was intrigued by the following not because it came from the mouth of NFL Network face/voice Rich Eisen, but because it possibly revealed a change in policy at the network.
NFL fans paying attention know ESPN bought NFL Network this year and, as part of the transaction, the NFL now owns 10 percent of ESPN. How the league will further corrupt BSPN is unclear.
And it seems the leash may have been loosened slightly on NFL Network voices as a result of the sale.
Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show last week, the host was asked if he wanted to chime in on the NFC South win-total lines at sportsbooks and offer a pick on where he thinks each would land.
“We’re allowed to do this,” Eisen producer/co-host Chris Brockman said on-air (ESPN Radio). Eisen replied: “That’s right. I’m not an NFL employee anymore. Screw it. Ask me.”
So it was somehow shady to have Eisen and others make gambling picks in January but it’s ok now because the NFL only owns 10 percent of ESPN? Got it.
Regardless, the picks are in. Eisen thinks the Bucs are a no-brainer to exceed their 8.5 wins total.
Atlanta, per Eisen, will go over on its 7.5 wins total and the Saints (7.5) will go under. “Still building there [in New Orleans],” Eisen said. The reigning division champion Panthers are at 6.5, which Eisen called “disrespectful.” (Joe would call it “fair” after watching nearly every game of the Panthers’ 2025 offense.)
Expect Tampa Bay to be the consensus NFC South favorite — national media and sportsbooks — for the second consecutive offseason. The expectation is fair, which means Bucs head coach Todd Bowles must deliver.
The results of Joe’s fan flash poll this morning are below. A strong majority is with Eisen, more than 76 percent.
May 3rd, 2026 at 1:03 pm
He will. All that’s been missing in this defense is talent in the front 7. We have significantly more now.
May 3rd, 2026 at 1:06 pm
Go Bucs!
May 3rd, 2026 at 1:09 pm
9 wins or bust. Bowles job should be on the line after this many years and this new infusion of talent. Getter done or get gone.
Hopeful this talent will allow Bowles to return to the attacking style defense we saw in the SB run. Can he handle being DC and HC with a deep playoff run, we shall see.
May 3rd, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Nine wins would be like kissing your sister, it shouldn’t feel good. Real contenders get at least twelve, to fourteen. One game improvement from last season is a failure.
May 3rd, 2026 at 1:29 pm
We can’t listen to off-season hoopla
Every team in the NFC South is a legitimate threat to us
We can’t afford to take any of them lightly, especially Atlanta
I think they have improved the most, outside of us
Right now, all this crap is meaningless predictions
May 3rd, 2026 at 1:45 pm
@Hodad,
Have you fact-checked a single post prior to hitting the “submit comment” button?
Nine super bowl champions this century had 11 wins or less during their regular season.
And the Giants won a Super bowl after winning 9 games during the regular season.
May 3rd, 2026 at 1:52 pm
This is when we’ll know how good Bowles really is on D. Now you’re gonna have Bain with Yaya & Vita & let’s see how the LBs do also. Was a little torn on the Trotter pick but hopefully he works out. I’m sure we’ll have Bain dropping into coverage, too!
May 3rd, 2026 at 1:53 pm
7-8 because Todd…..sorry
May 3rd, 2026 at 1:53 pm
probably 6
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:04 pm
9 wins ain’t going to cut it this year and he’s saying this because of our quarterback and HC
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:09 pm
Saints-12 slough Qb…Falcons 11 Robinson and the stefaski defense…Bucs at 8 too many ?’s
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:13 pm
6.5 wins for the reigning Division Champs. That sounds about right. They are now playing a first place schedule this year vs a second to last place (tied for last with NO at 5-12). That’s a big difference…
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:17 pm
I don’t know about going over 500. I mean at this point the team , especially the defense is beyond awful until proven otherwise. Hopefully the d line is better and the rookies pan out. If not the team is in trouble out of the gate. There is still a huge problem in the secondary. Morrison and McColumn are your starting corners. Huge ,huge red flag. Currently they are not starting material they just aren’t.
Mike Evans is gone and we still need an inside LB besides the 2 we added. Trotter may need time to develop. I don’t mean to be negative, but currently there are many, many unknowns. Maybe this team goes under 500 maybe over if all the players added really pan out. Let’s see where the team is at the end of preseason.
Right now, I go with 6 wins. But too hard to tell
May 3rd, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Todd Bowles + schedule = 5 w’s
May 3rd, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Good news for the Glazers
Man U beat Liverpool, clinched Champions League play next season
May 3rd, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Eisen and the fans agree. The gloom and doom club and the Todd screws up everything crew have failed to convince us to expect the worst….. Must be frustrating ✌🏼
May 3rd, 2026 at 3:48 pm
9 wins and a 1st rd playoff exit. #19 draft pick. “Bowles Goals”.
May 3rd, 2026 at 4:26 pm
I voted 10 wins in the poll.
The more I read about our draftees the more I like them.
We’ve still got some red flags. I’m concerned about our pass defense, our CBs, and Todd Bowles has already made it clear our new 1st round edge rusher will be doing a lot of other things.
But, if we stay healthy, focused, and physical (especially on D), 10 wins is totally doable.
May 3rd, 2026 at 4:28 pm
Ugotrobbed..
Wanna put your money where your dumb prediction lies?
I’ll wager you 1k the Buvs win more than 5 games. Bet?
May 3rd, 2026 at 4:30 pm
It’s too early to pick injuries. I think that many of the playoff teams last year had few to moderate injury impacts. Last year the Bucs had more injuries than most but not the worst. A lot of injuries are random, but I think many of the soft tissue injuries are preventable with a good S&C staff. Licht needs to work the injury stats of other teams and bring in the best staff.
May 3rd, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Maybe things will change but it seems like this team has never been real good frontrunners. I would much rather prefer they picked the Bucs to finish last in the division. The Bucs seem to thrive on disrespect and play better as projected losers rather than the favorite. Time will tell and we all hope they win the division and do a lot of damage in the playoffs, but at this time of the year every team thinks they will be in the playoffs. Reality is an entirely different thing though.
May 3rd, 2026 at 4:50 pm
The h8ers will h8 regardless
I personally love this time of where where optimism often Trumps reality, getting beyond double digits requires some luck, fair and honest officiating and a little magical swagger. LFG
May 3rd, 2026 at 4:52 pm
The h8ers will h8 regardless
I personally love this time of year where optimism often Trumps reality, getting beyond double digits wins requires some luck, fair and honest officiating, excellent opportunities and a little magical swagger. LFG
May 3rd, 2026 at 4:55 pm
Look great in the first month, flounder for the next two months, then see if they can dig out of it for a month. Rinse and repeat Todd Bowles season.
May 3rd, 2026 at 5:00 pm
@Jack hahahahha
I was in the hope crew last season still, despite being down on Todd for a couple years at that point.
Every year I believed what Bowles was selling in the offseason and scheme tweaks, new coaches, new players … contenders again!
Fool me once, fool me twice…. I won’t be fooled again. At this point we need to expect a post bye loss, a mid season losing streak and a finish around .500. I still don’t believe Todd can help us win 2 playoff games and my expectations will stay low until he proves me wrong or gets canned.
I won’t rule out anyone in our division and that’s sad considering I believe the Bucs have the best roster. Unfortunately I believe we have the worst HC/DC combo in the division.
None of us should be falling for the Bucs propaganda at this point. I’ll believe this team is capable of 11-12 wins under Bowles when I see it!
May 3rd, 2026 at 5:44 pm
i’m not a bowliever and called for 9 wins, which is his average, and average, and all mr average is gonna get you is average.
its just who he is. average. he brings the people around him down to his level, which is average.
bowlieve it, it’s true.
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:11 pm
We lost two games outright because of special teams, lost 2-3 games because of defense (formerly known as the sieve) All that is behind us, I see no fewer than 11
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:18 pm
This team has quite a lot of talent now and should be able to pull 11-13 wins. The real wild card is always injuries, but without them I expect the offense to be almost as good as 2024 and the defense to be dramatically improved over last year. If we have another season with both starting guards out for long periods of time, then we will be in big trouble.
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:27 pm
joe. loved the site. ruined by ads. so sorry to see its degradation.
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:37 pm
Of the 17 teams we play this year, 10 had losing records last season. So I went with winning 10 games in 2026. Doesn’t make a bit of sense, but it’s as good as any other criteria for projecting our 2026 W-L totals in May, before we’ve even had our first practice.
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:53 pm
I don’t know. I’ve been angry since the debacle of 2025, but when they blew 3rd & 28, I said “I’m done until Bowles is gone.” Disgusted is not a strong enough word.
Yes. On paper, the new players look like an upgrade. But this HC can’t seem to avoid 3 game or more losing streaks. He can’t seem to motivate. He can’t seem to teach. He can’t seem to adjust. Who knows if these new coaches are any good. They signed on to what looked like a sinking ship.
So I think 8 games is the high end, and it would not surprise me to see them lose more than 9.
May 3rd, 2026 at 6:57 pm
If only he could tell me what the injuries will be. That is what will dictate whether it is a 7 win season or a 10+ win season.
May 3rd, 2026 at 7:20 pm
Fanofdabucs
Nope!
Have a good one!
May 3rd, 2026 at 7:25 pm
Wtf? I’m a pessimist but some of y’all are killing me. This is our team. LFG
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:18 pm
There’s no downside (unless you’re wagering) to being positive at this point. If you’re negative, why bother to participate?
Looking forward to the fresh new competitions at camp — especially with the defense. Who wants to win?
Go Bucs!
May 3rd, 2026 at 8:20 pm
Saskbucs
Our personnel on D has been restocked slowly after the exodus of talent post SB. Since then we’ve made due with a lot of 3rd string talent and old players past their prime mixed in with a couple of solid performers. We’re finally STARTING to catch up and add above average talent @ a lot of positions – we’re getting better and younger.
I have no problem with people who don’t believe in Todd as a coach. I just think many people are extremely biased when it comes to him and they fail to look at his performance in perspective. They want to compare the last SB team with subsequent ones and fail to acknowledge that the SB team was STACKED with all pros and future HOFers who moved on shortly after leaving us deep in debt and forced to restock slowly via the draft.
I think he’s pretty decent as a coach and DC and given the talent he can coach up a top 10 – top 5 defense.
As I and others have mentioned before he also needs an OC that needs no babysitting though.
I’ll believe it when I see it also ✌🏼
May 3rd, 2026 at 9:01 pm
DR
Before we’ve had our first walkthrough.
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:25 pm
LOL homers this is a 7-9 team without Evans – and I’m being generous. The defense is atrocious and no way a rookie is going to transform that. They got nobody at LB and the secondary declined notably last season.
I wouldn’t be shocked if they lost double digit games, especially if Captain Check down does his usual half a season disappearing act again.
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:32 pm
More than half the Bucs defense last year had only one or two years experience, many of which were later round picks. Add in a few players who would not be starters on great defenses or washed up has-beens and it’s pretty easy to see why there were major gaffes in coverage and tackling.
Yes, we added even more youth with this year’s draft, but they are higher picks with better potential. We also added a few seasoned veterans who are not quite past their prime and who seem to have a nasty, “I’m going to hurt you” edge. With those additions (and I expect a couple more before all is said and done), assuming there is not another massive rash of injuries, I have no doubt that the Bucs defense will improve markedly.
May 3rd, 2026 at 10:48 pm
As Bill Clinton said, it’s the quarterback, stupid.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:02 pm
9 wins for Todd is his absolute ceiling in a terrible division. The talent on this team is capable of 12-13 wins in the NFC South. Baker is the only good QB in our division. Todd will blunder away 3-5 wins or his team will quit on him again. Either way we are cursed to mediocracy until Todd is gone. If the NFC South was good Todd would be a 3-5 win coach like he was for the Jets.
May 3rd, 2026 at 11:46 pm
Here’s the REALITY. And a simple “perspective” from The Majority. And perspective is Paramount! And here it is for those who are still cofused about WHY We Feel like we DO…
Todd Bowles LOST the ENTIRE TEAMS, (as fast as by mid season) AND 90% OF THE ENTIRE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS FAN BASE’S “CONFIDENCE”, BY THE END OF THE YEAR……. That was a mere 5 MONTHS AGO! And the NIGHTMARE TRAIN has been “put on pause” due to the fact that “MERCIFULLY”, it Ended.
Now. With that said. Some of us, MANY OF US, WERE ALREADY FEED UP WITH HIS EXTREMELY POOR PERFORMANCES the “Very” Year Before.
YET… most of us were willing to give Bowles to opportunity to “win us over”,…. LAST YEAR! And THIS was ALL DUE to the lousy defensive showing THE YEAR BEFORE THAT!
YES! Some “Perspective” IS INDEED IN ORDER! And the MAJORITY Just Isn’t falling for it again…
Now. If the few of you want to “pretend” that the TWICE PROVEN mediocre guy WITH a MASSIVE overall LOSING RECORD (and I’m not even talking about him having to DEAL WITH the MAJORITY of the VERY SAME TEAM that has NO CONFIDENCE in him to start this next season) is the second coming, well that’s just fine and that’s YOUR OWN business…. THE REST OF HAVE ALREADY GIVEN HIM HIS CHANCES!
Do we Want To Win? DUH! OF COURSE WE DO! And THAT’S WHY we’re so discouraged and NOT HAPPY with the Glazers! Because We Are Sharply AWARE that the odds of that happening with Todd Bowles (Who ISN’T going to change) still in charge and STILL trying to re invent the Wheel, whom literally sees the CRITICAL TO FOOTBALL”S SUCCESS, “edge rushing position” as third rate AT BEST as a Perfect example., and the players THEMSELVES whom Don’t Trust him as far as they can throw his large rear, WELL… we’re having the DIFFICULT TIME finding solace in the potential for 2026 success!
Are you guys ACTUALLY SERIOUS in questioning our LARGE DOUBT?? SERIOUSLY???
Let me just say For the MAJORITY, We’re NO LONGER in the mood for Nonsense and childish unicorns and rainbows, from the FEW, Concerning Todd Bowles….
Go on and take THAT to the bank right now and you’ll have a happier life through understanding. Now if you guys feel it, JUST BE POSITIVE IF YOU WANT TO. That’s ok. Try…. “positive persuasion by example”. Perhaps that will work out better for all of us.
But DO NOT attack the 80 to 90% of us who No Longer see it like you do, and we’ll be civil to you, if you’re civil. Simple as that… (even though we’re shaking our heads, wondering what you’re on and wishing we had some of that)
May 4th, 2026 at 12:49 am
FYI in fifty seasons the Bucs have had 10 wins on 5 (10%) occasions and 11 or more on 5 occasions (10%) – and 7 or fewer on 31 occasions or 62 % probability – yet only 10% of poll respondents chose 7 or fewer wins in 2026 and 54% chose 10 or more wins – quite an optimistic bunch –
May 4th, 2026 at 1:01 am
to be fair the Bowles-Mayfield-Licht troika has averaged 9 wins over three seasons
and 77% of respondents believe that the team will meet or exceed that standard – that is not unreasonable
May 4th, 2026 at 1:30 am
@Obvious, thumbs up.
May 4th, 2026 at 1:37 am
A review of Bucs history indicates that the “breakout” Mayfield season of 2023 was an anomaly – the Bucs went 9-8 and won a single playoff game – the Bucs have won a dozen playoff games in their history – 11 of those wins came after a season during which the Bucs had 10 or more wins – and nine playoff wins came after the five 11-win-or-better seasons – the Bucs will need more than 10 regular-season wins to get past the wild-card round
May 4th, 2026 at 5:14 am
That schedule is brutal I see 5 wins i hope im wrong but I don’t see it #!!
May 4th, 2026 at 7:02 am
OBVIOUS is spot on. looking at the schedule, at best with a good HC, not great just good, 10 to 11 wins. add in the bowles factor, and you’re at 8 or 9 and miss the playoffs. 90% of the fans should then take to the streets in protest.
May 4th, 2026 at 7:20 am
schedule is brutal…but the whole division is basically dealing with the same thing…
i had us sort of at 7-10ish for the season, as an early guess…
but with the decent free agency and the solid draft, i bump the squad up generously with 2 wins to 9-8…
i say generously, because we can still easily go 8-9…who knows at this point…also it’s a tough stretch for this team to pull 10 wins out their hat…
absolute highest ceiling 11 wins…absolute floor 6 wins
May 4th, 2026 at 9:25 am
Mayfield in his three Bucs seasons is actually quite good comparatively with one playoff win in 2023 and a 10-win season in 2024 – only Brady and Johnson have ever had more than one TB playoff win and only Brady and Mayfield have had a win since 2002 – since 2002 only Freeman in 2010 and Griese/Simms in 2005 have had 10+ wins other than Brady and Mayfield – no playoff wins for Freeman Griese or Simms – so if Baker has 10+ wins in 2026 and a single playoff win he will be the #3 Bucs QB all-time – Vinny Dilfer Jameis Freeman Williams all would have won less – does this mean Baker is great ? it means that the Bucs have been horrid other than with Johnson in 2002 and Brady in 2020-2021 during which they collected 8 of Tampa’s 12 playoff wins – if Baker makes it to the NFC title game with 10+ wins it would be both historic and improbable
May 4th, 2026 at 10:35 am
😆😆😆😂😂😂
😂😂😂🤪🤪🤪
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
May 4th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Don’t look now but if Baker wins 11 games he will tie Dilfer for most Bucs wins all-time and if he throws 26 TDs he will tie Jameis for most TDs all-time – a one-point improvement in his rating would exceed Brady as best Bucs all-time – if he gets extended for 3 years he will have played more games and during more seasons than any Bucs QB all-time – if he starts a playoff game he will tie Williams and Johnson for second-most playoff starts all-time – whatever else you may say about Baker he is making a dent in the record books
May 4th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Don’t look now but if Baker wins 11 games he will tie Dilfer for most Bucs wins all-time and if he throws 26 TDs he will tie Jameis for most TDs all-time – a one-point improvement in his rating would exceed Brady as best Bucs all-time – if he gets extended for 3 years he will have played more games and during more seasons than any Bucs QB all-time – if he starts a playoff game he will tie Williams and Johnson for second-most playoff starts all-time – whatever else you may say about Baker he is making a dent in the record books
May 4th, 2026 at 10:52 am
@Jack
I understand. My expectations haven’t been for another SB though, they have been for 10-11 wins and a home playoff win.
Bowles has been unable to deliver that, even with a top 5 offense. Licht and Bowles also could have been more aggressive in acquiring D talent, Kancey has been hurt, they drafted a 1st round C and WR, shopped in the bargain bin for an edge rush…
So I don’t fully buy this Bowles had little talent on D thing. Right up the middle at all 3 levels he had SB winning vets in Vea, David and Winfield.
May 4th, 2026 at 10:52 am
FYI no Bucs QB has won 10+ games in more than one season other than Brady – if Baker does it he will exceed Williams Dilfer King Johnson and Freeman all of them – how did Baker sneak up on these records ? well the Bucs have had pretty terrible QBs other than Brady – this upcoming season may be more interesting than anticipated
May 4th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
Eisen also had Baker Mayfield as league MVP last season. 🤣
May 4th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
As usual, I will avoid guessing win totals until at the very least, the 53 man roster and the PS is publicized.
Then we can better begin to give a WAG ( wild *ss guess).
But on paper, we seem fairly better than last season, so it’s reasonable to *hope* for 10 wins or so.
May 5th, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Saskbucs,
There’s a huge difference drafting #15 vs. drafting in the mid to high twenties or even thirties. You’re basically drafting in the second round once you get past #15 (sometimes even past picks 8-10).
Not a whole lot of prime defensive players were available when the Bucs took a center and a wide receiver the past two seasons – at least according to most draft boards at the time. They went with BPA, which they almost always do and did again this year.
More important, they drafted players who were immediate starters and continue to play an important starting role for the team, which is exactly what you want from your first round draft picks.