Franchise Crossroads Game Coming Sunday
October 29th, 2026
Legions of Bucs fans want Todd Bowles fired, and most among them wanted that to happen 10 months ago.
A smaller but still robust group of Bucs fans also are optimistic the Bucs can scratch and claw their way to the NFC South landfill title by closing this season with six or seven wins.
However, Joe is very confident saying the latter group dive into the Fire Bowles mosh pit if the Bucs lose Sunday at home to Atlanta. Not only would that mark the Bucs’ fifth consecutive home loss, a stain against Bucs fandom, it would drop Tampa Bay to an extraordinarily inexcusable 2-6 record.
Joe sees Sunday as a franchise crossroads game.
But it’s unclear what Team Glazer sees. The Bucs ownership group somehow didn’t see the uninspired loss to the literally tanking Dolphins and a nothing quarterback last season in Week 17 as a reason to radically alter the course of the franchise. Instead, management reaction was to tell fans the team always plays hard for Bowles and needs an infusion of mentally tough players and fresh coaches.
The results have had Bucs fans feeling like it’s 2018.
Joe always roots for a win because when the whistle blows, Joe is all-in on a “W.” It’s fun. There’s only so many times a year, so many times in a lifetime, that a fan gets to cheer for his or her beloved Bucs.
Sports miracles happen. Hope is a cornerstone of the fan experience.
On Sunday, another legion of Bucs fans (of unknown size) will be rooting for the team to lose in hopes that sparks the necessary change they believe is in the best interest of the franchise: moves before the Nov. 10 trade deadline and a search for a new regime.
A lot is on the line Sunday.
October 29th, 2026 at 10:22 am
This board is mostly outside of market agitators that are trying to destroy the,Bucs.. They will turn it around and make the playoffs.
October 29th, 2026 at 10:24 am
Go Bucs! My wish is always for an 11 win season or better. If that means I was wrong about the coach, awesome! 10 wins is OK if he wins a playoff game. 9 or less and he should be fired.
October 29th, 2026 at 10:36 am
A winning culture starts with fans rooting for a win no matter what. The coaching decisions & draft picks are secondary to a win.
Go Bucs
October 29th, 2026 at 10:39 am
A loss Sunday will shift my focus to NCAAF and all the top prospects in the nation. A win furthers my belief that the Bucs can still have a very special season against all odds. Either way, my confidence in Bowles remains miniscule.
October 29th, 2026 at 10:40 am
I am for the win too. Crazy that has to be said… if you can call yourself a fan.
I went to the Dallas Cowboys Thursday night game this year, not expecting anything different… but it was different, they played well enough to win. I also gained a ton of respect for Daniels.
But in saying that, I also have a ton of respect for Mayfield, and the “potential” of our players, to include the defense.
So just like last week, I again will be rooting for the Bucs to beat another division foe, Atlanta.
And if the Bucs do win… hell yes! We will be squarely back in the it, officially.
The Bucs have to play wining football from here on out… but we beat Atlanta, boom, things are looking good again.
October 29th, 2026 at 10:40 am
Agree that this weekend is a seminal moment for the team. You simply must perform better at home than on the road and that clearly hasn’t been happening. This week’s game will hopefully be as a dominating over the Falcons as they did last week in Charlotte. That happens and the narrative for the season has changed.
October 29th, 2026 at 10:42 am
Thinking here – win or lose, Bowles fate has been sealed. They will likely “retire” him and the end of the season regardless.
As to the “fire sale” concept – stupid idea. The players others would want, and could afford, are the building blocks of the team. Starting over, again, another bunch of draftees, unproven, is akin to suicide.
October 29th, 2026 at 10:43 am
This game won’t change the Glazers’ view of Bowles, he’s gone at the bye or the end of the season. The questions they need to answer are:
With a new coaching staff next year, does this team have the talent to go deep in the playoffs next season? With a new coaching staff improving the team, what players are not needed next year?
Some people have mentioned AW3, but I really think Bowles still has AW3 too deep to make many plays. I would keep AW3 one more season and see what happens. Vita should go. While the players won’t admit it, Vita’s holdout wasn’t good for the morale of the team. Vita’s a team captain and he won’t even practice (like Baker did) during camp? He started the season out of shape and was totally ineffective to start the season. Good bye Vita.
October 29th, 2026 at 10:45 am
Roadrunner vs Willy Coyote
Jason and Todd are the Roadrunner
October 29th, 2026 at 10:47 am
Even if we win, some of ya’ll will still be in here talking about “it’s just one game” which is true, but it’ll put us close to the top of the NFCS and 1 more game closer to being .500. We’ve yet to see this team play it’s best football, mostly on the offensive side which if they can give us another clean game will get us that much closer to turning this thing around.
4-5 at the bye would be huge considering how we started the season.
To me, it’s time for the offense to get it’s collective sh** together
October 29th, 2026 at 10:50 am
Great article. “Joe sees Sunday as a franchise crossroads game”. Not sure about that.
But important? I’d say. We’re 2-5. This is a home field division game. Don’t remember the last time we thumped 2 teams in a row. Sunday evening I’m not gonna have to remember back too far. Stefanski might just have him a renewed understanding of that old stalwart, “payback’s a bltch”.
October 29th, 2026 at 11:00 am
Game of the wk! Divisional match up both teams needing a win ! Hope everyone comes out unscathed..
GOi Bucs!
October 29th, 2026 at 11:08 am
we are 2-5 .. the next 6 games are probably losses @ CHI DET BAL and winnable home games with ATL CAR LAC – that would put the Bucs at 5-8 with 4 games to go and potentially a miraculous 9-8 record – a loss to ATL would presage a 4-9 record after Week 14 and a much lower chance of any playoffs – regardless of the eventual Bucs record , even 2-15, Bowles and Licht will be back next year – Glazers got such a dopamine rush from the CAR & DAL wins that the team’s performance for the rest of the year is irrelevant
October 29th, 2026 at 11:09 am
if bowles had what it takes to coach the team to 11 or 12 wins and an nfc championship then fine. problem is he doesnt, so he needs to go.
no the lost decade wasnt ok. but that doesnt make backdooring in to playoffs and get bounced some sort of “success”.
no it isnt ok to have a losing record regardless of what division the bucs are in.
no it isnt ok to say all the stupid demoralizing crap that bowles says to fans and players.
no he doesnt get a pass for whatever happens on the offense because he is HC/DC.
no he doesnt get a pass for not being able to adjust adequately during the game or because of injuries.
no he doesnt get a pass and get to stay and throw most of his staff under the bus when the results dont match expectations.
when is enough enough glazers?
October 29th, 2026 at 11:10 am
Sunday is a swing game for Baker and/or Bowles.
If the Bucs lose and the defense plays well again, then folks can start to rightfully question Baker as the long-term high-end QB.
If the Bucs lose and the defense plays poorly and the TE continues to give them fits, then I think everyone can agree it’s nails in the coffin for Bowles.
Big game for both Bowles and Baker. Time for the highly paid QB to earn his pay check. And it’s time for Bowles defense to show they are in fact a young ascending unit that can will a big game at home.
October 29th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Franchise-crossing game THIS Sunday?! A week late with that title. But still can be used on this week too I suppose.
October 29th, 2026 at 11:12 am
Steve V. This oughta be an intensely physical game. “Hope everyone comes out unscathed”. That’s not happening. There is gonna be some scathing going on early and often. The whole team is going to be getting scathed right and left- it oughta be glorious.
That being said, we hope that the players from each team are healed up in time for their next game. We’ve got us a physical football team and we’re getting physicaller!
October 29th, 2026 at 11:15 am
Its just a game!!!,taking it personal is crazy! nothing I can do
Im looking forward to climbing out of this hole!
Starts Sunday !
This is the playoffs Now!
Go Bucs!
October 29th, 2026 at 11:16 am
Marky mark Says:
October 29th, 2026 at 10:22 am
This board is mostly outside of market agitators that are trying to destroy the,Bucs.. They will turn it around and make the playoffs.
**********************
Right. That’s why I turn to this site. Because I want to destroy the Bucs. That’s the stupidest statement I’ve ever seen here. Earth to Mark: People have other things to do other than coming here each day to DESTROY the Bucs. If it were up to me I would destroy the Buc careers of JL/TB. But, that’s not the Bucs.
October 29th, 2026 at 11:18 am
If the glazers see this as a swing game, re: Todd, you can be sure that they either are completely lost or they only care about the home playoff check.
This team is the definition of subpar and borders on incompetent.
His fate should already be sealed.
October 29th, 2026 at 11:25 am
No one wants the Bucs to lose, if they do they aren’t fans. They should also realize that Bowles has a contract and it’s surprising that hasn’t been extended. He’s the only coach who could get this team to where they are now after all the adversity and lousy referees. The Bucs might win some more games this season or they might not.
Either way, Todd Bowles is and will be the head coach and defensive coordinator, and don’t be surprised if he takes offensive coordinator duties also. smh
October 29th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Rain in the forecast.
October 29th, 2026 at 11:29 am
Bowles clawing back to .500
October 29th, 2026 at 11:37 am
“Joe always roots for a win because when the whistle blows, Joe is all-in on a “W.” It’s fun.”
I’m glad to hear Joe say that. Really. For me, it’s one thing to make trades for future draft picks that happen to be detrimental in the near-term, but it’s another thing to tank games on purpose. Cue the Herm Edwards line. Anyway, some quips over the past few years gave the appearance of strategic tanking as being acceptable, or even desirable. I’m with Joe on the above line. For whatever players and team that makes sense to take the field, they owe it to themselves and us knuckleheads to play to win.
October 29th, 2026 at 11:42 am
Win or lose, Bowles is likely done
Scrapping together a 8 – 9 and making the playoffs as sub par isn’t a good thing.
I’m all about the bucs are w good team. Winning Sunday really proved it’s not a talent problem it’s a coaching problem. The team is good enough to win but they don’t have consistent good coaching to make it happen week after week.
If the bucs win out yeah you can make an argument. If they sneak into the playoffs at 500 or sun 500 it’s no good argument there
October 29th, 2026 at 11:49 am
Bowles is going nowhere anytime soon. He’s baked in the cake. And he loves cake.
Lee is correct in his belief that the Glazers will run it back with Todd.
The scoreboard and record are completely meaningless. It’s not a problem at all.
If they happen to back into a division title through attrition, so be it.
Losing in round one is the SB for a team coached by Todd Bowles. He’s already won three titles.
October 29th, 2026 at 11:49 am
Great article Joe! I agree with you. This game is the last stand of Todd Bowles! Either we are officially back in the division hunt or its trade everyone and blow it up time! Very rarely have a seen a crossroads game like this. Defense is figuring itself out and the offense has to understand we are a run first ball club!
the story of 2026 will be written Sunday. I believe with all my heart we will win Sunday and we will win the NFC South!
Im not saying we are a great team but we are still best team and the best organization in the NFC South.
Sunday proved that to me. Carolina when it counts is not able to beat us.
October 29th, 2026 at 11:55 am
STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!
You either play for the Super Bowl or you play for the draft.
For example: 2006 season, Week 16. Bucs beat the Browns. Because of that “win,” the Bucs missed on a chance to draft either Joe Thomas or Calvin Johnson. Instead, the Bucs got that stiff Gaines Adams.
No one has been able to explain to Joe in sober, coherent terms how that “win” benefitted the Bucs.
October 29th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
3RD & 28
October 29th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
“No one has been able to explain to Joe in sober, coherent terms how that “win” benefitted the Bucs.”
We blatantly lost the last game of the 2014 season on purpose. Did pick number 1 in 2015 ultimately help? Would playing the hand we were dealt proven better? High draft picks are great, but they’re no sure thing.
October 29th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
The best I see is going is 8-9 and that would probably win this god awful division. But that’s only if we beat the dirty birds on Sunday and show us all we can win a damn home game. The hope is to win Sunday and split the two road games against Chicago and Detroit then beat the Panthers and Chargers at home which would get us to 6-6.
October 29th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Joe … ‘On Sunday, another legion of Bucs fans (of unknown size) will be rooting for the team to lose in hopes that sparks the necessary change they believe is in the best interest of the franchise: moves before the Nov. 10 trade deadline and a search for a new regime. A lot is on the line Sunday.’
That really is the bottom line … ‘A LOT is on the line Sunday’. Starting our 1st win streak in over a year is super important to these players. and yes, to us fans. Losing at home is intolerable, but CONTINUALLY losing at home is beyond intolerable. Maybe that’s a key reason why locals rarely show up for the games at RayJay anymore?
But I’m not convinced that winning is as important to Bowles’ future, because I think the Glazers have already decided that they’re gonna replace him … when this season is over. I also think there’s a very good chance that they have a very good idea who the next coach will be.
October 29th, 2026 at 1:46 pm
Outrigger … ‘The hope is to win Sunday and split the two road games against Chicago and Detroit then beat the Panthers and Chargers at home which would get us to 6-6.’
I’d love to see that happen, but unless this offense has an awakening, the odds are not in our favor. We didn’t get to 2-5 by accident. Defense is playing somewhat better than that, and our S/Ts is playing somewhat better than that. But our offense? not really. In the 2 games that we’ve won, Bucs have had a PLUS 7 Turnover Differential advantage. In the 5 games that we’ve lost, we’ve had a MINUS 6 Turnover Disadvantage. Our offense is scoring less than 20 PPG average, and that won’t git er done. They have to improve for us to even have a chance.
October 29th, 2026 at 2:00 pm
I’ve never rooted for the Bucs to lose. I don’t like Bowles as a coach but I would prefer the Bucs win now and go win the Super Bowl no matter who is coaching them. If the Bucs can somehow turn this around and win a Super Bowl then I would gladly eat crow and admit I was wrong about Bowles. I just believe given the history under Bowles they may make the playoffs but not the Super Bowl. Most fans like there teams to make the playoffs and are satisfied. The Bucs have won two Super Bowls and we know the feeling after your team wins it all. So for me it’s Super Bowl or nothing. Maybe the Glazers just don’t feel that way and are happy just to make the playoffs and get a home game which will earn them millions. I think most Buc fans feel like I do, Super Bowl or bust.
October 29th, 2026 at 3:49 pm
its pathetic that somehow making the playoffs after not making the playoffs last year is even considered improvement.
but, as it appears that last season didnt happen, or isnt bowles fault or record as hc, then is another season of make the playoffs (if that miracle on grass happens) lose first round considered success and improvement for bowles regime as head coach?
is that how low the bar is for this guy? and if so, why?
October 29th, 2026 at 5:23 pm
Was the Carolina game a fluke? A win on Sunday would go along way to restoring what little faith we had in this organization
October 29th, 2026 at 7:07 pm
Losr to the Falcons Sunday and the season is OVER. And I do mean Over.
October 29th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
Couldn’t agree more Joe.
October 29th, 2026 at 8:50 pm
If there will be a game this season that is remembered as the crossroads,, turning point, or whatever, it will be the Panthers game. It will have totally reversed the trajectory of this team by beginning a series of impressive victories. My fear is that it may have been more of a trap game for Carolina before their prime time game tonight in Green Bay. If the Panthers are beaten tonight, we unmasked a pretender; but if they are impressive tonight, they had their minds somewhere else last Sunday, and we lucked into it. If we truly clubbed them, the effects will still be there.
October 30th, 2026 at 4:27 am
Count me among the legion of fans rooting for a loss so that we can have change at the top. I’m not sure what the Glazers and business leadership is smoking over at One Buc Place, but it’s not helping make the Bucaneers better. The wipeout of the Panthers shows a deeply talented and capable team, which seems to not have been inspired until last Sunday. Whether the same happens against the Falcons is a toss-up, especially since those same Falcons toppled San Fran last Sunday. I’ll be watching the game quite intently just because I am looking forward to a new HC and staff after the season ends. Go Bucs. Go Canes. Cheers.