Is There Playoff Urgency At One Buc Palace This Week?
September 23rd, 2026
YaYa Diaby and others weigh in.
An 0-3 start with two home losses is about as bad as it gets in the NFL.
The Bucs could be in that sinking pirate ship by Sunday night.
Winless Tampa Bay hosts the undefeated Vikings (2-0) at The Licht House. The Bucs’ season is on the brink in multiple ways. So today Joe asked Todd Bowles about in-house urgency getting ready for the game.
Here was the exchange:
JoeBucsFan.com: Given the urgency to win Sunday with the [team’s] record, is it more of a playoff-like preparation this week?
Todd Bowles: For us, the urgency is every week. It just happens to be this week. We treat every week with the same amount of urgency. The fact that it’s this week it’s the most important game, and then next week will be the most important and we’ll go from there.
In the locker room, Joe asked YaYa Diaby the same question. Is the team treating Sunday against the Vikings with playoff urgency or is it more business as usual?
“A little bit of both,” Diaby replied. “We got to go in with the right mindset. Like Coach Bowles said, they’re 2-0 and we’re 0-2. But the records don’t matter when the game start. We’ve got to handle business.”
On Monday, Baker Mayfield said it’s not quite time for a do-or-die attitude but preparation needs to improve. “It’s not playoff time yet,” he said. “But sometimes you gotta revert back to that mindset and little details, getting things fixed and not taking anything for granted.”
Joe wishes the Bucs were feeling more urgency. They have to realize what 0-3 means for their head coach, their beloved “Krewe and their postseason prospects. Don’t they?
September 23rd, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Did you ask Captain Anzalone?
September 23rd, 2026 at 2:49 pm
i can respect the answer “business as usual IS playoff urgency.” So I’m fine with their answers. We just need to see it on the field.
September 23rd, 2026 at 2:51 pm
Did you expect any other answer? Of course with Todd, it’s always the status quo. Never tries something different.
Can I also point out how terrible of a communicator he is? I mean just look at that quote. Long-winded, terribly worded way to say “No.” Can you imagine having to try and learn a complex defensive system from this guy?
September 23rd, 2026 at 2:53 pm
C’mon now every player knows this is a must win!!! who we fooling!! Thank God my son’s Varsity team is 3-0 and heading towards a possible State Championship!! I’m still numb and shocked on this start, we lose its going to be a long winter people!! Go Bucs.
September 23rd, 2026 at 2:57 pm
Every week for the Bucs is a playoff game from here on out until they lose. When that happens, every game becomes an exhibition, spoiler opportunity or draft positioning.
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:01 pm
the same amount of “urgency” hasnt been getting it done since the end of last year and thats the problem…..
these guys actually think doing the same thing will create different results lol….
I wish todd wouldve said: this is the season right here right now!!!!…there is no next week…we’re playing for all the marbles sunday vs the Vikings
last week, i said the CLE game felt like last years MIA game……this week, I feel like the Vikings are going to jump on us early much like the Rams did last year
GO BUCS!!!!
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:02 pm
I think 0-5 is on the table
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:08 pm
Weirdly – this is the type of game we usually win. Remember the Vikings 15–1 season? Yeah that one loss was to us.
Regardless, we will probably get destroyed by halftime. That might be for the best. Rip the band-aide off and leave no doubt about a change from top down.
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:10 pm
Theres no playoffs with todd….get over it
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:11 pm
There’s never a sense of urgency when they take the field on Sundays.
It’s particularly noticeable with the offense.
Even in the two minute warnings when we have the ball and we’re behind by one score.
Where’s the two-minute drills? Where’s the hustle? They must’ve left it on the practice field during the week.
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:18 pm
That means last week was the most important game last week we all saw the results of that GTFO Todd.
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:24 pm
Well think of it this way…
If Baker only fumbles and loses the ball, say twice, on opening day – the Bucs beat a Bengals team that just dominated the Texans.
Then this week, if Baker just hits a basic pass to a wide open e2 in the end zone, the Bucs win the game, and they’re 2-0 right now.
A turnaround is easy. Just get better play from the QB, who is currently decimating any chances the team has at success – and has been doing so for 13-weeks in a row now.
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:26 pm
This team stinks
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:29 pm
The Playoffs, the playoffs……….are you kidding me
Jim Mora SR
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:46 pm
i think they tried their darnedest with bringing simeon in to coach him up…
but it seems like it didn’t work tho…
yaya is who he is…he’s a good player…not a great one tho…solid…that’s it…
i’m not so sure you keep him after that 5th year option tho…imho
tough call for management………am i right
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:54 pm
You know I’m a little disappointed. I remember seeing an article about how YaYa was going to hold guys accountable and his goal was to be a captain. I wonder what happened to that. I was hoping to see him with a C. It’s kinda crazy how a new free agent comes in and gets it over a guy who’s been here for 4 years. I am slightly surprised with Vea, but again the trade thing was probably just a hey pay me and players know that, it just doesn’t look good. This whole season just seems meh. Like this year I’m just not as invested. I want to be, but we’re having the same problems as last year if not worse and it feels like a wasted season already.
September 23rd, 2026 at 4:06 pm
There you have it. Another weak effort coming up.
September 23rd, 2026 at 4:16 pm
The records do matter…you suk
September 23rd, 2026 at 4:18 pm
Yaya wanted an extension
And the Bucs didn’t offer him one
He’s a free agent next year
September 23rd, 2026 at 4:19 pm
Bowles got his bag and has zero pressure to succeed.
Playoffs are irrelevant to him.
The checks cash regardless of the results.
September 23rd, 2026 at 4:27 pm
That’s his problem he’s listening to Boweles when no one else is, they do their own thing, or haven’t a clue what to do in his mixed up defense. Offense is pretty similar right now.
September 23rd, 2026 at 4:40 pm
Couldn’t beat the Dolphins, Saints & Falcons when there WERE playoffs on the line. Couldn’t beat the Browns in their home opener. This team would have to run off 5 or 6 in a row just to get back in playoff conversation never mind actually making it.
September 23rd, 2026 at 4:42 pm
I don’t know why everyone is so concerned about beating the Vikings this Sunday – BOTH the 2018 and 2025 Texans made the playoffs after starting 0-3 and the Bucs did it in 1982 – a loss this weekend would put a chip on Baker’s shoulder and fire him and the team up – it would also show how brilliant Jason Licht is in team-building and contract management and show what a great coach Todd Bowles is –
September 23rd, 2026 at 4:48 pm
Shouldn’t be even on anybody’s mind, BA said it best: “look past your next opponent you’re going to get your ass beat”
Get a W first, then another one after that, then rinse and repeat.
Also, in the Vikings first 2 games, he’s blitzed his first two opponents 75% & 79% of their defensive snaps. So our OL better be prepared or it’ll be a long day for this offense. Browns didn’t even have to do anything special, just wait for their opportunities and run left/right in pursuit
September 23rd, 2026 at 5:00 pm
This team has shown zero juice for quite some time now….we just play so flat all the time, we get pushed around and harassed while the other team is running wide arse open across the field or out of the backfield
Its system, its players not bought in to a lousy system and its a wayyyy past and maybe never had a prime HC Turd Blows
We are in laughingstock territory again by trying to pump Todd with talent
Give Monken, Coen, McVay, Harbaugh (either one), Peyton, Vrabel, or maybe Tomlin this group and we are looking at a SB run…
With Todd, we are 0-2 and staring directly down the barrel of 0-5 in about two and half weeks…
September 23rd, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Chill out. Let the boys play. Enjoy the game. Maybe they will win it. Maybe not.