“I Got’em At 12-5”
May 25th, 2025
A reasoned and seasoned three-time Pro Bowl guard thinks the Bucs are among the class of the NFC while his sidekick thinks they have a shot at the conference’s No. 1 seed.
Retired Bears star Kyle Long was gushing Bucs love on CBS Sports HQ. He’s firmly in the Bucs’ camp.
“When you hear my record for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, you’re going to kind of pause,” Long said. “But I love this guy Baker Mayfield. I love the way that this group has been able to adjust to multiple guys at the [offensive] coordinator position. Leadership is unquestioned in that [Mayfield] can handle anything. Even if the sky is falling around him, he will compete, he will find a way to win games — at home, in enemy territory. I love the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I got’em at 12-5.”
Long added that he expects improvement from the Bucs’ secondary, claiming it was only thing holding the team back from “making that big run last year.”
As Joe tried to stop panting, CBS colleague Will Brinson chimed in to say the Bucs should have been 12-5 last year. He thinks the Bucs will be undefeated in the NFC South this season and run their final record to 13-4. Whoa!
Joe sure hopes Todd Bowles has mastered coaching from a “favorite” position this season, at least out of the gate.
That’s been a challenge. Bowles’ Bucs teams have played better when less is expected of them.
Today, the Bucs are the betting favorite to win the NFC South, and most analysts think the Bucs are better than the projected 9 1/2 wins total dropped on them by oddsmakers.
Joe would make that bet, but the Joe typing here cannot call the Bucs an elite team like Long and Brinson are. Too early for that.
Joe is still healing from the Bucs trailing the miserable and half-tanking Saints 19-13 at home in the fourth quarter of Week 18. That was a must-win game with the division on the line.
Ira Kaufman Talks Offensive Coaches, Eye-Opening QB Coach Emphasis, Todd Bowles Getting Personal, Tush Push Contradiction, Bucky Irving Load, And More
May 25th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
I can see it but like Joe says Bucs do Buc things like trailing the saints in a must win while there half tanking but I can see this happening 12-5 Would be great
May 25th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Must win game with the backfield riddled with injuries but no biggie
May 25th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
You have to beat the teams you’re supposed to beat.
Tim’s and time again the Bucs Defense is guilty of 1 of 3 things:
1. Total collapse – like watching a 3 stooges clip of “who’s on first”.
2. Bowles takes his foot off the gas and plays too conservative – like putting safeties 30 yards down field or having the offense run 3 plays up the middle for 1 yard each.
3. Bowles plays guys that suck because he’s ‘loyal’ and likes them (JTS/White).
Bowles may be a great guy but that doesn’t make him a good DC / Head Coach
May 25th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
boomer – so he’s a bad defensive coordinator towards the end of games and loyal to a fault. is he a bad head coach?
May 25th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
Ready set go -here comes the negative trolls
May 25th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
More praise for Baker from football players not guys who majored in journalism. O line still has to do a better job pass protecting. Many of Baker’s scrambles last year were because protection broke down. Many will say that Baker holds the ball too long going through his progressions. Might be some truth to that. Need to have a check down outlet on all pass plays. I vote for White or Otton as check down candidates. I am sure Grizzard will cover this so Baker doesn’t get mashed.
May 25th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Well said Boomer. Maybe he Has Had a warmth from under and perhaps he realizes he HAS TO train ALL of these men to finally come up with SOME form of communication that everybody can understand.
And Finally come up with formations that these men can execute and dumb it down a bit if necessary for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th stringers if they Have To be called upon. Bowles, like ALL head coaches, IS REQUIRED TO have ALL OF THIS sorted out BEFORE the start of even the first game of the season and to a perfection, no later than mid season….. He has Not accomplished this even Once! Other Head Coaches praises are Sung for Their Ability to do just that as if not to miss a beat…
Let’s hope that THIS IS the year that he GETS IT and ACHIEVES IT. Because if not then it is time for a change.
It was so blatant last season…… I have a very small amount of confidence that things will change. However, he has his last shot and if he can improve AT LEAST 50% then I’ll lay off my criticism. I’D RATHER BE WINNING THAN WHINING !
SUPER BOWL OR BUST!
May 25th, 2025 at 3:14 pm
12-5 is certainly possible with our talent and coaching.
If I were predicting I’d say 11-6.
NFC south champs AGAIN.
From there it’s a simple 3-4 game win streak to bring home the ultimate prize 🏆 🏈
May 25th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
I got them at 10 wins, but I hope he’s right.
That week 2 game in Houston will tell me a ton, that’s a game I assume Stroud will dominate and throw for 500 yards, but if Bowles isn’t having his defense stand around in zone as they’re completely inept, that will tell me a ton and make me a lot more optimistic on the season.
May 25th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
Just saw on NFL network that they are showing every championship season…except the 02 Bucs season. Not surprising! NFL hates the Bucs, especially the Chucky coached teams!
May 25th, 2025 at 4:01 pm
Finally, some folks who have a clue of what they’re saying. We stay healthy this year and we’re the #1 seed in the conference. This team has every reason to be confident. They’ve earned it. Patience is hard earned and ain’t nothing worthwhile easy. We’ll lose some games this year. But hardly any.
May 25th, 2025 at 4:07 pm
Hey Boomer. It was Abbott and Costello, but I agree with your point. lol
May 25th, 2025 at 4:13 pm
Whitehead, Edwards, Hayes, Funderburke….. Replacing retiree’s and practice squad talent with actual “ready for primetime” players in the secondary might help 🎟️
Aside from devastating injuries my biggest concern is ILB. Hopefully Walker is as good as LVD thinks and SVD stays healthy and balls out.
Todd is our coach like it or not, for at least another year, no matter how many times turd hunters repeat “Swiss cheese defense” or accuse people who defend him of being poly positive cupcakes.
Do tell (again) how great a job Dan Campbell (or Mike McCarthy 🤣) would have done under the same circumstances.
May 25th, 2025 at 4:41 pm
i still got ’em at 11 winnebagos…
i’ll take 12 in a heartbeat tho…
and anything less than rod’s 10, and it’s a disappointing win total
May 25th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
Hoping for 11 or 12 wins 🏈
May 25th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
We should be happy about seeing Houston early as well as the Falcons and bodes well for us starting 2-0.
Texans are breaking in a bunch of new OL pieces and WRs with a new OC. If the D is healthy and have their heads on straight, they should be able to give Stroud problems.
May 25th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
I see 11-6, on paper this is a 13-4 team if healthy but 11-6 seems appropriate for Bowles and his 1 game improvement trend continuing. I like the team to start 3-0 so 11-6 should be very attainable.
May 25th, 2025 at 5:28 pm
11-6 seems solid. Not sure where the 12th would come from, but looking at the schedule it’s likely 11 dubs.
May 25th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
I got em at 8-9 or 9-8
May 25th, 2025 at 6:11 pm
UGotRobbed Says:
May 25th, 2025 at 3:52 pm
Just saw on NFL network that they are showing every championship season…except the 02 Bucs season. Not surprising! NFL hates the Bucs, especially the Chucky coached teams!
That’s BS! Poor form by the NFL. Still butt hurt from JG?
May 25th, 2025 at 6:20 pm
IF..Our Defense has improved? I got us at 12-5. If not 9-8 or 10-7 like last yr.
May 25th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
Very reasonable take IMO. I think some things may have to bounce our way to get to 12-5, but it’s well within my record window.
May 25th, 2025 at 6:41 pm
It is May. Every fanbase thinks they’ll be 12-5. This is unfounded.
May 25th, 2025 at 6:41 pm
9-8 is the floor
14-3 is the ceiling
So yea – 11 or 12 wins sounds about right as long as the team stays relatively healthy
May 25th, 2025 at 6:48 pm
Bucs going to be a force to be reckoned with, Buckle up going to be a Great 50th Season!!!!!
May 25th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
I’d be impressed if they went 12-5. I thought maybe 10-7 again.
May 25th, 2025 at 6:56 pm
12-5 is doable provided that there are no significant injuries to the Defense. The biggest issue with the defense are the second and third string players who are a huge step down from the starters and of course Bowle’s brain farts in big games. The guy never learns, I don’t care what he says. Also, reading all the articles and comments, a lot of fans are unrealistically high on the rookie defenders. I think when the bullets start to fly, there is going to be a big reality check.
May 25th, 2025 at 7:03 pm
As usual I agree with Pickgrin’s take.
May 25th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
I think 10-7 is more likely, as you have to account for Bowles blowing 1-2 games each year.
May 25th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
The Bucs have wanted fans to think of it as a reload rather than a rebuild.
Either way, they first tried to solidify the starting rotation first which the Bucs did successfully last year except for Whitehead, Dennis and JTS.
This year, they have taken mores shots at those three positions and moved on to trying to solidify the second string which looks a lot better although ILB is an area of uncertainty for me.
Generally, the Bucs have gone about team (re)building the way it should be done.
The only to games I don’t like the Bucs to win are the west coast trips to play the Rams and the Seahawks. Those trips are rough.
Pickgrin’s 14-3 ceiling feels like it is in the ballpark. Every year, there is a Denver or a Houston that surprises pretty much everyone.
But, I think that the Bucs have improved to much to have a floor of 9-8; I sure hope so anyway. A floor of 11-6 feels conservative.
May 25th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
My dad trained and raced harness horses back when it was the NASCAR of its day. He was nationally ranked. I remembering him once telling a reporter that any race can be won… or lost, no matter what the odds say. When an owner would want to know how his horse was going to do, dad would say, “well, if he doesnt fall down, he should finish the race.”
Like they say, any given sunday
May 25th, 2025 at 8:15 pm
Some IF’s
IF they take Bowles message and beat the crap outta teams to secure a early Division crown,
IF they stay healthy on both sides of the ball,
IF they actually win the turnover margin,
IF they keep their foot on the gas the whole season
IF they play to their capability and not down to they’re opponent?
They could win 15 games and be seeded #1
May 25th, 2025 at 8:21 pm
healthy o-line
May 25th, 2025 at 9:24 pm
There are reasons that Bowles is signalling to his guys that we need to develop a killer instinct. That will help us not take anything for granted. Got to ignore the hype just as we would ignore the naysayers.
May 25th, 2025 at 9:27 pm
With proper coaching from the HC and DC last season, the Bucs should have had 12 wins easily. Pick any two of Atlanta twice, SF, Dallas, and KC. The horrible stain on Bowles comes from allowing Kirk’s Cousin to throw for nearly a gazillion yards and 23 touchdowns in 2 games against Todd when The Cuz couldn’t do a Rudy Carpenter imitation against the rest of the league.
But we are assured Todd has found the remedy, even though he’s underperforming teams with full time HCs and DCs by 80 or 90 hours a week.
May 25th, 2025 at 9:44 pm
If you do simple math, you will realize that we are getting half the time from our DC that other teams get from a full time DC, and half the time from our HC that other teams with a full time HC get.
This is Jason Licht’s one glaring flaw, tolerating the severe under-resourcing of 2/3 of the most critical coaching jobs on the team. It’s not a shock that the offense has outperformed the defense.
May 25th, 2025 at 10:53 pm
Disagree… there’s a lot of delegation that goes on. There’s a coach just for the passing game, there’s a coach just for the running game, there’s a few quality control coaches and numerous adsistants and they just hired somebody just to deal with in game time situations. I bet the Bucs have about three or four more coaches than most other teams.
Bowles has a lot of help with the defense. He’s not a lone DC with zero input from anybody. I think he’s gotten better at delegation as time has gone on.
We win a lot of games and easily win the South if we stay healthy, period.