Bucs-Packers Split Decisions At JoeBucsFan World Headquarters
October 3rd, 2026
Optimism is in the air! And Joe’s not talking about the Lightning home opener tonight, or the Rays starting their postseason at the Trop, or USF looking to extend its undefeated football season.
The winless Bucs (0-3) have a football game tomorrow against a sorry Packers team (1-2). With undrafted free agent quarterback Jalon Daniels set to start for Tampa Bay, the Packers are a 3 1/2 point favorite.
Every week the two “Joes” pick the Bucs game with Sage of Tampa Bay Sports Ira Kaufman on Kaufman’s iconic year-round podcast.
So what’s the pick this week?
The Packers “are in disarray” and “are a mess” with injuries — and no offensive line or top running back, said Kaufman. But he’s still picking the Bucs to lose 21-17. Kaufman says he has no faith in the Bucs: “They just lost to a team that went 2-for-17 on third down.”
One Joe is right there with Kaufman, effectively throwing hands in the air at the state of the Bucs not covering the spread in a record 12 straight games, in addition to undrafted rookie QB Jalon Daniels making his first career start alongside a bad team. That Joe picks a 20-13 Packers win.
And then comes the optimism.
The “other Joe” picks the Bucs to win 17-16, expressing faith in an offensive line rebound and the defense’s rivival last week combined with the Packers’ horrible offensive line. And throw in special teams bouncing back following hiccups in Week 3 that didn’t show up in Weeks 1 and 2.
No matter where your game pick falls, it’s safe to say the Bucs’ best shot is to have a strong day running the football, and that includes designed runs for Daniels. The Bucs should have little worry about how many hits he takes in the open field.
For the record, Kaufman is winless picking Bucs games this season. The “Joes” are 2-1.
October 3rd, 2026 at 2:55 pm
More worried about theO-line and secondary.
October 3rd, 2026 at 2:58 pm
Joe … ‘No matter where your game pick falls, it’s safe to say the Bucs’ best shot is to have a strong day running the football, and that includes designed runs for Daniels.’
Our OLine has too much talent not to bounce back … eventually. HOPEFULLY tomorrow is bounce-back day. If they can just get their run-blocking straightened out, Bucs have enough talent in Irving, Gainwell, Tucker & Daniels to rack up some rushing yardage, use the run to set up the pass, AND control the clock in the process.
It MIGHT be boring & ugly, but I’ll take a 17-16 win regardless.
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:04 pm
Green Bays Def can be had in all kinds of ways. But will HC and OC trim down the playbook to what #10 can handle? And he shakes the jitters? Will they unleash a brutal rushing attack utilizing all 3 RBs? I am going to say yes. The coaches get overly conservative and it actually helps a questionable offensive week. Bucs 16-14.
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:04 pm
Bucs 34-17
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:05 pm
The Bucs (unless they are literally insane) will and should do their best to have 60/40 split running vs pass. Of that 40% passing split, we should hopefully see 2-4 deep shots, several screens, and several (mostly!) quick-hitting timing pass plays. Ya know, slants, hooks, curls? A few backs out in the flats on outs or wheel routes?
One-read progressions. Maybe 2 if you give Daniels a hot read in case of (the many) blitzes coming his way.
Quick passes! Runs! Gap and zone runs. Maybe a few RPO’s?
That should make our offense competitive this game. We all know it – let’s see if Robinson et al actually do it.
Critical and pivotal game on so many levels.
Can the Bucs play with passion and fire and tenacity, even in a loss? (That’s what I signed up for!)
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:08 pm
BTW Joe, as I recall, Baker Mayfield made a significant push and advocated strongly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to hire Zac Robinson as their offensive coordinator back in Jan 2026. Todd Bowles & Jason Licht apparently listened, obviously wanting someone that Baker was comfortable with.
He hasn’t looked all that ‘comfortable’ in Zac’s offense during our first 3 losses.
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:09 pm
I have a feeling this will be a Packers get well game. Love comes out of his slump, their defense rebounds against a bad Buc offense. Packers 24 Bucs 10.
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:15 pm
D-Rok … If you look at Atlanta’s 8 victories last season, Robinson used about a 60-40 split (rushing more obviously) in 6 of those 8 victories. In their first win of the season for instance (against the Vikings), Atlanta rushed 39 times (for 218 yds) and passed only 21 times (for 135 yds). They didn’t score a bunch of points (Falcons wonn 19010), but they did control the he11 out of the clock, winning the TOP battle 36:32 to 23:28.
Admittedly it helped that Minnesota turned the ball over FOUR times and got their QB sacked SIX times, but hey, that just tells me that Atlanta’s defense was doing its’ job.
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:16 pm
Packers 28
Bucs 10
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:21 pm
ChatGPT says that the Bucs have a chance 🤓 if ….
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:32 pm
Every one saying just run the ball, like the Packers won’t have 15 guys in the box!! No way they don’t make Daniel’s bet them thru the air only!
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:32 pm
I’d LOVE to see Jalon do well, that is all. The rest has nothing to do with him, even though the certain sect of low iq wants to blame everything on the qb….cant get away from it, they are always there….
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:34 pm
JOES; speaking of picks with u guys…what happen to the Sunday betting segment!? I looked forward to bouncing ideas off everyone and you!
Good question. The Joe typing the segment only wagers at the last minute and more often at halftime, when there is the most information available. Of course, wagering is all about intel. So Joe didn’t feel great (not bad, just not great) about dropping picks at the last minute here on a Sunday in written form, and the limited time window cut readership considerably. Joe might bring it back.–Joe
October 3rd, 2026 at 3:34 pm
It seems like the Micah Parsons trade has snake bitten Green Bay
They gave up a lot to get him, and gave him a fat extension
They are 1-6 without Micah Parsons
Those are the risks you take as a NFL GM
October 3rd, 2026 at 4:40 pm
I agree with people saying deep shots. Couple of those would be nice, see how they shake out. Also, almost forgot, points from the D would be nice to see
October 3rd, 2026 at 5:10 pm
Bucs lose in embarrassing fashion 35-10 Packers.
Bowles says, “Just gotta get better” after 0-4 and 0-5 on Thursday Night Football.
Zero changes at OBP. We march on to 0-18 and pick #1.
Next year is more of the same story. Bowles finishes his contract in full.
No SB appearance for another 15 years. Lost in the wilderness.
October 3rd, 2026 at 5:19 pm
bucs marketing dept paid for the high quality stuff.
October 3rd, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Joe, they have a road game at home with a rookie QB and bad tacklers.
0-4.