Why Bucs Hope Isn’t Gone
September 27th, 2026
“Look at history, Mr. Glazer.”
Bucs fandom has a percentage of optimists even in the darkest of dark times like today.
Those are the ladies and dudes talking about how the Bucs, with a miserable 0-3 record, are only one game out of first place. The Panthers (1-2) lost to the Browns today and the slimy Saints (1-2) choked against the Raiders. Atlanta is 1-2 after winning on Thursday night.
Even Todd Bowles mentioned that at his postgame press conference!
So Joe will address those positive vibes folks with a trivia question: Can you name the five NFL teams that made the playoffs since 2020 after starting their season 1-3?
Yes, there are five on the list. So if the Bucs can win next Sunday against the Packers, legitimate hope will exist on paper.
Last year, the Carolina Panthers started 1-3 and won the NFC South at 8-9. The Texans also made the playoffs after an 0-3 start. In 2024, it was the Rams bouncing back from a 1-3 start.
In 2021, three teams — yes, three — reached the postseason after having 1-3 records: Pittsburgh, New England and Philadelphia.
Ironically, all three 2021 teams were coached by historically good coaches: Mike Tomlin, Bill Belicheat and Nick Sirianni.
So maybe the Bucs can find their way to 1-3, even without Baker Mayfield. If so, there’s firm hope to bite into.
If the Bucs fall to 0-4, now that’s hopeless. No NFL has reached the playoffs in the modern era after that kind of start.
Again, this was for the positive folks among the vast majority of furious Bucs fans.
September 27th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
0-3 and 1 game out of first place.
September 27th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Joe you are an idiot
September 27th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
Oh come on… I appreciate that you pretty much have to say something, but playoffs are the farthest thing away from reality that I can imagine right now for this team.
September 27th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
Stop. Just stop.
September 27th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
Joe did you see the offense is over.
September 27th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
If Baker, the O-line, and the wide receivers would stop sucking, winning would be easy. Oh wait, that’s literally half the team…
September 27th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
If the Bucs fall to 0-4, now that’s hopeless. No NFL has reached the playoffs in the modern era after that kind of start.
I looked this up the other day
I remember the 1992 Chargers making the playoffs with an 0 and 4 start
Not sure 1992 is modern. LOL–Joe
September 27th, 2026 at 8:01 pm
Bro….back to this argument again. After watching the team go 0-3 and seeing what’s dumpster fire they are, it’s a joke if they get to the playoffs. Do we really need the disappointment? After this 3rd loss, I’m in the camp of I hope they lose the rest of them and the current regime is gone. Burn it all down. We’ve been screaming this since last season.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:01 pm
Look, the only thing you have to know is that they are one game out of first place. Throw all historical data out. It does not apply to the NFC South!
September 27th, 2026 at 8:01 pm
Put the pipe down… this team is crap
September 27th, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Nice try…going to the other Joe’s articles
September 27th, 2026 at 8:02 pm
The Glazers have no regard for the fan base. If they did, Bowles wouldn’t have made it past the humiliating loss in the 2024 playoffs. They just want to give the guy every chance to succeed and our misery is the cost.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:02 pm
The Season is Over.
The Next Three Seasons are in Question.
I’m Out … Like Evans, I’ve seen this before.
Sorry you’re stuck, Joe.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:03 pm
Grizzard was the problem! Haha
September 27th, 2026 at 8:03 pm
Bucs will get to 0-5. After that, I’m not sure.
This Zack the Hack dude is a disastrous OC. Terrible hire but there was no way Bucs could lure a top rate OC with Bowels as HC. They truly did try, but it just wasn’t happening.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:04 pm
This Offense looked as bad as the 2013 Bucs! Straight trash!!!!!
September 27th, 2026 at 8:04 pm
Maybe Jalon gives the offense a spark.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:06 pm
PLAYOFFS!!!!……PLAYOFFS!!!!…ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!
– Some famous coach of the Saints
September 27th, 2026 at 8:07 pm
No honor in backdooring on to the playoffs buoyed by a disgraceful division. I have zero interest in talking playoffs if/when this team is 5-10 with 2 games to go. Simply embarrassing. And if knew without a shadow of doubt that would be the Bucs record after 15 games then I’d rather not win at all so we can atleast be in position to take a CJ Carr
September 27th, 2026 at 8:07 pm
I’m not totally thrilled with the play calling by Robinson, but there were plenty of plays to be had that Mayfield just outright missed. He threw over or wide on literally a dozen plays that were open and would have gotten us a first down. So clearly the offense is getting guys open enough to move the ball. Our QB just can’t hit that barn. It’s not big enough.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
mailing it in and collect the check
September 27th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
It’s all over.
Hopefully 0-4 seals the deal with this terrible HC and GM.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
They’re not winning any games with a backup QB
September 27th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
The hope would be if Daniels was to get a start. Not saying he’d do any better than Baker, but could he really do much worse than Baker’s 2-10 streak? Not much worse.
The hope would come from the players on the team and the fans who would finally have hope of not seeing Baker tanking the Bucs’ chances of winning.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
Easy strategy for defensive coordinator. Just put everyone von the line against the Bucs offensive line. They are easy to mow over and will draw penalty after penalty trying to stop
you. How did they get this bad?
September 27th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
This team sucks.. offensive play calling is trash. Bowles defense has been overrated for years. Mail it in go 0-17 for all I care get #1 pick trade down for multiple 1s and start this thing over. I’m over this team already
September 27th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
BucfaninMi Says:
September 27th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
They’re not winning any games with a backup QB
———
They’re 0-3 with MVP Baker starting.
They’re 2-10 in their last 12 with Baker starter.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:11 pm
Have to tell you Joe. The Packer O line is young mostly and in disarray. And Jacobs and Parsons are still on the sidelines. I think it will be a defense battle, and the team with one or two turnovers may win 10-6. And that may be in OT.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:11 pm
Of coarse the BUCS have a chance of making the playoffs. With the Iran war still in full swing maybe shoot down a few team planes with stinger missiles or maybe there’s another pandemic or a zombie apocalypse. Zombies generally don’t play football very well. Don’t believe me? Watch a BUCS game
September 27th, 2026 at 8:12 pm
PASS.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:14 pm
GIVE ME A. BREAK!! The season is D O N E
September 27th, 2026 at 8:14 pm
I prefer no hope at this point.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:14 pm
Maybe Jaylon Daniels plays next week.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:14 pm
Optimists? Why be optimistic when the owners are using the same losing strategy from last season? And the season before and the season before. A Bowles and Baker lead team will lose more often than not.
Ive been asking for years, what is it about Bowles and Baker’s decision making that makes you think they can win a championship? And get crickets. They both make terrible decisions and the team is 2-10 the past 12 games. 🤮
September 27th, 2026 at 8:15 pm
So What. You make the playoffs winning a trash division at 7-10, and pick #19. So, THEN WHAT!? Ya bring back LICKT and Bowles AGAIN!? Lickt, and his now fast approaching SUB .400 WinPct. excluding the three Brady Years (including the last 4-years in the NFC SOUTH)!? He is who he always was.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:17 pm
Damn. Some of you seriously lack reading skills.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:19 pm
A chance? Come on. We just lost our starting QB.
We could be 3 – 0, the chances of winning with a rookie backup is literally zero
This is click bait. Your better that this Joes come on. We are adults of drinking age, clearly watching this team, we can take the truth.
Or season is over befor the Dolphins or the browns. Sadly we may be just good enough for bad draft pick for a losing season. Everyone knows if your gonna be bad, be real bad. 20th place is just late rounch pick.
The bucs don’t even know how to tank a season. Yikes.
Tomlin talk time?
September 27th, 2026 at 8:19 pm
I’m not trying to be a smarta$$. What year is defined as modern era? I was thinking on the 1992 Chargers that’s started 0-4, finished 11-5 and made the playoffs.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:19 pm
It’s 1976 all over again, we might wear paper bags in a few weeks when I come to a game. Mutiny is what this is Bowles got paid, losing season, Baker and Vita get paid Baker is now hurt and hasn’t earned it at all. Pretty Sad Mauch might need to be replaced, nothing is working OC not doing to good and Bowles is still calling the plays on D.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:19 pm
The Glazers don’t love Todd, they love how cheap he is.
If they gave up on him last year, that’s 3 yrs to pay out. Plus the rest of the coaching staff. Plus paying the new staff to bring in. Thats $30-40M out of pocket money, not must-spend player $.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:20 pm
Rod…
You are the MVP of the dummest comments on this site.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:22 pm
It is not possible for teams to be tied at the end of regulation and then have one team win at 10-6.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
Who actually believes the Bucs won’t be 0-4?
September 27th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
No one is looking at the positives!
Today, Pat Dixon, had a massive 400+ yard day punting the ball.
That’s yuge!
September 27th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Replace the Glazers with a group of devoted Bucs fans. That’s who owns the Packers.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Joe please!!!! Enough with the hope and bad division bs. This franchise from ownership down is a total clusterf$#&k! Licht and Bowles have to have compromising pictures of the Glazers. This is proof positive of having incompetents at every level. As fans, we’d rather see lots of these players being traded for picks.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
They would first have to stop beating themselves first. And that to me is the hallmark of Todd Bowles, I’m not in the camp of the players suck or anything like that but one thing I feel like is a constant with Todd at the helm is just mistake after back breaking mistake and never gets fixed. Since he’s been head coach I’ve felt like more of their losses were from mistakes that have never been coached out, how many times have we seen tds or big first downs overturned because of holding calls or personal fouls. Too many to count, I don’t think the team needs a hard reset but I think Mr Bowles has to go
September 27th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Do the people who believe they Bucs still have a chance to make the playoffs, have they even watched the games? This team is a disaster. It’s not just the poor play, especially on offense. It’s all the mistakes, the horrific penalties and bad decision making.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Rod is actually right. Can Daniels do worse than 2-10? Sure, he could go 1-11 or 0-12.
I don’t really care.
I also don’t care about what changes a new GM makes.
Wirfs? Trade him.
Winfield? Trade him.
Baker? Trade him.
Vea? Trade him.
The rest, cut them.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:25 pm
The Bucs with all of this imaginary talent should win the hapless NFC South
They have 14 games to gain one game
September 27th, 2026 at 8:26 pm
Only the Bucs fans sees all of the talent on this team
September 27th, 2026 at 8:27 pm
Todd Bowles and Jason Licht are suffering from Karma
All of the players and coaches they scapegoated and messed over
September 27th, 2026 at 8:28 pm
0 – 4?
The bucs have the bad packers, off before baker is out was bucs plus 1.5 dogs, that’ll be 4.5 by tomorrow
Then Dal Pitt Carolina.
Even if and a big if the bucs shock the Packers, they will almost certainly be 1 – 4 after that run.
It’s over befor the ink on Bakers contract dried.
I’ll always vote for a quick death over 16 weeks cancer.
This is as a bad team as I remember back to the Dilfer days. Who just to prove coaching matters, old pain of the 90s Trent won’t a super bowl as soon as he left.
And the bucs won a super bowl as soon as Chucky arrived.
Coaching matters a lot in the NFL, and Todd isn’t a winning coach
September 27th, 2026 at 8:30 pm
If Tampa beats Green Bay, we’re 1–3 and officially allowed to dream again. If they lose, we can finally stop doing playoff math and start doing draft math.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:32 pm
We (those of us on this website) have been screaming, begging, suffering, and collectively suggesting that Todd Bowles be fired.
For years. Literally years.
Arrogance and loyalty? kept Todd here.
The Glazers and Mr. Licht had this coming. Even Mike Evans ran for the hills as he couldn’t stomach this.
You are looking at the results.
Baker is a mediocre quarterback who is NOTHING without a HOFer like Mike Evans to make him look good. Trade him, take the hit.
I was at the game. Here’s a ray of light. The defense did not look terrible at all. They had some good plays.
The offensive line? Pfffffttttttt..
September 27th, 2026 at 8:34 pm
I went to the Cubs-Red Sox game at the Trop today because I had a free ticket – I had an epiphany – the place was full – Boston and Chicago fans – the Rays subsist not on Rays fans but the fans of their opponents – same with the Glazers – they want to make Browns , Vikings , Packers , Steelers fans happy – those fans get to see their teams win – the guys with the stadium suites don’t care about the game and don’t even watch it as they schmooze – the chump fans like us the Glazers laugh at – oh no the fans won’t buy a cheap seat in the 300s sections –
nope the Glazers and Licht have nothing but contempt for us – as to Bowles he’ll be fine – these guys hire their friends just as Arians did – how many different sidelines have I seen Saleh on ? lol – the Bucs are bad
September 27th, 2026 at 8:34 pm
I went to the Cubs-Red Sox game at the Trop today because I had a free ticket – I had an epiphany – the place was full – Boston and Chicago fans – the Rays subsist not on Rays fans but the fans of their opponents – same with the Glazers – they want to make Browns , Vikings , Packers , Steelers fans happy – those fans get to see their teams win – the guys with the stadium suites don’t care about the game and don’t even watch it as they schmooze – the chump fans like us the Glazers laugh at – oh no the fans won’t buy a cheap seat in the 300s sections –
nope the Glazers and Licht have nothing but contempt for us – as to Bowles he’ll be fine – these guys hire their friends just as Arians did – how many different sidelines have I seen Saleh on ? lol – the Bucs are bad !!
September 27th, 2026 at 8:45 pm
This is where we’re at? Striving to possibly be the King of Turds again, and then listen to this clown show head coach beat his chest about accomplishing yet again another .500 season, backdooring into the playoffs, and then getting run in the wildcard round…again?
Count me out on that nonsense. Perennial futility isnt an accomplishment and it shouldn’t be tolerated and it sure as hell shouldn’t be the mindset of a good NFL head coach.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:48 pm
Pathetic display of football, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
September 27th, 2026 at 8:56 pm
In the words of Jim Mora, “PLAOFFS? We’re talking about playyoffs?”
September 27th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
Everyone wants to rake bowles over the coals. Even after his defense did their job. Yours guys hate is ridiculous. Offense lost us this game. This oline was trash. Now Vikings have a great line. They lead the NFL in sacks but we got to protect baker better than that and the freaking holding penalties. Geez. What kind of game plan did the offense have ? Zac is starting to look like grizz 2.0 wasn’t just baker this time it was the whole offense. Did they forget Chris Godwin is on this team. All I know is defense did their job and gave the Bucs a chance and all the offense did consistently was punt the ball. Defense is going to need to score points too now for us to win
September 27th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
Stop just stop its time for a rebuild
September 27th, 2026 at 9:25 pm
Well, I got my fall back. It’s good to be back, right boys? How does this qb class look?
September 27th, 2026 at 9:30 pm
This team isn’t beating the local high school jv team.
The hope is we are 8 losses away from bowles being gone, and that may happen by halloween
The hope is bowles looks in the mirror and resigns tomorrow
The hope is we draft a qb with a top three pick in next year’s draft
The hope is we hire a good coach sooner than later
The hope is the glazers sell the team
The hope is the dolphins win three games so the bucs get the first overall pick
The hope is vita vea retires and returns the money he just stole
The hope is someone anyone will trade for baker and pick up part of his salary
The hope is commissioner Goodell puts Tyler Murray and baker on excempt list as these two set football back 30 years after this crape performance.
The hope is baker will miss the next 6 weeks so there is 0 chance this team wins another game
The hope is that every bucs fan that thought this team would win more than 6 games is put in a mental institution
The hope is that all of these moron fans who thought this team was good of course is a moron who votes for democrats in this country realizes they are sissy ‘s and are un American
The hope is that this nightmare ends
The hope is that the entire home stadium is full of opposing teams fans and this franchise is embarrassed
The hope is half the team just quits and the bucs forfeit the rest of the season
The hope is every tv network refuses to broadcast this garbage
September 27th, 2026 at 9:32 pm
I don’t know Joe. Sounds like people/fans started hitting that green stuff early this season……. Reason for optimism till today. Couple of winless teams found their way this weekend. But not us. We just needed to find a way to win, but with what feels like a bad team and bad coaching, it may be time to start looking at the upcoming college prospects already and an eye on a rebuild……2-10 spanning back to last season? 🙁
September 27th, 2026 at 9:34 pm
Hang it up, Joe.
September 27th, 2026 at 9:45 pm
If nothing else…fire the offensive line coach. The players will never be held accountable and neither will Jason “Only an idiot would put him on the Wall of Honor” Licht.
September 27th, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Hey Joe — I couldn’t care less about the question, “Can you name the five NFL teams that made the playoffs since 2020 after starting their season 1-3?”
Regardless of who they are, or if they even exist, they aren’t this team, our Tampa Bay Buccaneers!
Go Bucs! Pound Green Bay!!
September 27th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
Today, expectedly, it appeared that almost half of the attendants to the game were Vikings fans (Sun Belt Syndrome).
To any of you that were at the game, did you hear any Booing?
September 27th, 2026 at 9:53 pm
Cheese and rice.
Is this an actual offering by a legit media?
It’s not. It’s over. Good lord.
September 27th, 2026 at 9:54 pm
The division is garbage. I can see all 3 teams going 3-3 and the title going to the Saints, Falcons or Panthers with a 7-10 record. The Bucs, well who can they beat out of division? Not the Steelers or Ravens as Bowles always loses to AFC North teams. Maybe the Packers id Jalon Daaniels catches them by surprsie as they have no film on them and maybe the Chargers if the Chargers decide to go into freefall like the Bucs as Mike McDaniel is stinking things up as bad as Zac R. So 5-12 at best, more likely 3-14? Well, at least the new head coach will have a chaance to draft a top shelf player or trade down for a boatload of draft picks. Bowles is gone, I am sure of that but will Licht get a pass? He helped put together this team of underachievers, it is not all on Baker and Bowles.
September 27th, 2026 at 9:56 pm
Gman, I doubt if the Bucs will launch Carbury though it definitely would not hurt. The OL is simply awful, didn’t one of Carbury’s assistants go to Jax with Coen? Maybe he was the guy who made tyhings mesh…….
September 27th, 2026 at 9:59 pm
If you want to win, start by protecting your QB.
September 27th, 2026 at 10:20 pm
I want pick 1 and I want us to trade it for a kings ransom!
September 27th, 2026 at 10:27 pm
GLAZERS WTFU ! YOUR TEAM HAS SUCKED FOR YEARS NOW IN A BAD DIVISION. IF YOUVREALLY CARE ABOUT WINNING AND FOOTBALL SHOW IT ! FIRE AND CLEAN HOUSE . ITS WAY PAST TIME.. WE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS CRAP WITH CULVERHOUSE !”
September 27th, 2026 at 10:30 pm
Yes cohen took from the bucs what he could . Barton is not better than hainsey .cohen grabbed him. Aso took coach . After the year we had with cohen how coukd they screw up so bad by keeping bowles ?