“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.
May 25th, 2025 at 11:38 pm
I think they are on point with their predictions. In the NFL winning your conference is huge and getting a bye. Home field advantage is even more valuable imo. No one wants to go to Greenbay or Chicago in January. It still amazes me the TB12 and the Bucs did before winning the Super Bowl. But first you just have to make the playoffs, you want do it healthy and not be gassed from trying to have the top seed. It’s one day at a time, one game at a time. Keeping healthy is everything. I love how Todd Bowles said he uses Tuesdays and Thursdays for stretching. I hope the team is doing this for the most part as well. Being flexible and limber prevents injuries, tears, strains, pulls. Keep your eye on the prize. If you get big leads in games, consider getting Trask some reps. Save Bucky’s wheels and play smart. Do not ever ever for any reason whatsoever play prevent defense. Throw that in the garbage and just win baby!!!
May 26th, 2025 at 1:08 am
We need to sign S Justin Simmons and LG Dalton Risner if we’re serious. But they have to be affordable.
May 26th, 2025 at 2:26 am
Boomer Says
“Bowles may be a great guy but that doesn’t make him a good DC / Head Coach”
So, let me put this to rest. People claiming Bowles is a bad Dc and a bad HC drives me crazy…because Bowles has already proven this belief wrong.
This isn’t a personal attack, so don’t take it as one. Just consider the following:
1) Bowles recognized Baker Mayfield as a potentially great QB when the rest of the NFL had given up on him.
2) Bowles knew that the reason Mayfield had not found success was because no team had built an offense around him. He knew that if Baker were to succeed, he would need a topnotch OL and a running game.
3) Bowles, being defensive-minded, was willing to delay building the defense he wanted to build so that the offense could be built for Mayfield. This was a definite team first move, and further proof that Bowles was a good HC.
4) Bowles has been willing to take the heat for the defense, even though he ihas not been able to address it the way hr preferred.
5) This year, with the offense finally complete, he was able to address the defense in the draft…and yet…he STILL was willing to let that first pick go to the offense.
6) Remember, though he started off with Tom Brady, that year Brady had his worst year and the offensive line was decimated…but…after that first year, the Bucs have improved each following year. They haven’t been up and down…they’ve gotten better by one game each year.
7) Bowles proved he is a good DC while Arians was head coach. Had we been able to draft for defense, he would have continued to field a good defense…but then we wouldn’t have a top offense now.
8) Stuck with the players he had, many of which were injury prone and under achievers (on defense), he still managed to keep the defense competitive most of the time…maybe not top 10…but competitive.
9) The players believe in him. They’ve bought in. And they fight like crazy for him.
10) Division Titles. Regardlesss of the sate of the other teams in the division, winning so many consecutive titles is very hard. He did it. Is still doing it.
So, to me, people who say he isn’t good just are not seeing the whole picture.
I get it. I was pretty hard on the man, especially with the Mayfield thing. I still do not believe the “QB Competition” was real. Bowles knew from the start who his starting QB would be. That said, if you are going to lie to the fans, you’d better be right…and he was. The results cannot be denied.
Mayfield has proven himself.
Bowles has proven himself.
Hopefully; they’ll both keep doing so.
May 26th, 2025 at 2:27 am
Oh…I would love 12 or 13 wins…but I’d be just as happy with 10…and I hope for 11.
May 26th, 2025 at 2:29 am
SenileSenior Says:
“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.”
It’s also how the Patriots won so many Superbowls.
May 26th, 2025 at 5:54 am
Aqualung
Have you ever heard of “multi-tasking”? Don’t place YOUR shortcomings on everybody else!
May 26th, 2025 at 7:09 am
Well, Joe, all you need to do is look at that 19 points the Aints put up in the first half to see the real problem that plagued the team almost the entire season. Hopefully, injuries will be at a minimum this year and the new additions to the defense will make a huge difference, although I am still really concerned about the middle linebacker position.
May 26th, 2025 at 8:53 am
This is the kind of prognosticating you get with legalizing marijuana….
May 26th, 2025 at 9:24 am
The bucs will be around 10-7 again. The rookie OC is a big wild card for an offense that performed statistically well last year. Not much room to improve but the downside in terms of confidence can be big if they cant match the now sky high expectations.
The schedule is favorable.
Need Godwin and Winfield to make it back from injury and Reddick I think can be counted as net positive vs last year. 12-5 is possible but anything can happen. They could also have a losing record at the bye.
May 26th, 2025 at 10:13 am
Yeah, we’re not elite yet. We’ve been knocking on the door, but we just haven’t got to the next level elite teams. Do not lose to the Falcons twice. They do not lose to rookie quarterbacks
May 26th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Aqualung had way too many shortcomings to not project.
May 26th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
spbf – multitasking has no place Ain a competitive environment where sharp fo us and avoiding distraction is essential . You might need to grab a mirror when it comes to shortcomings and look at your cupcake loving self.
And if you want to read a solid take on Bowles, read what Buccaneers Bonzai wrote. Solid.
May 26th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
Aqualung is on it. HC/DC is half and half. HC/DC will average out near 50 percent win-loss. It is The Bowles Way.
May 26th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Ready for the season to start!! Go bucs !!!
May 26th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
Bonzia. Cleveland built a offense around Baker Mayfield he had 2 all pro offisive liman with 2 good runningbacks and a good defense. He also had a better TE than he have right now with a good receiver core. Nah bro Baker Mayfield had more in Cleveland than he has here right now. Cleveland just didn’t believe he could get them over the hump they moved on . And Watson was not a bad idea at the time he had just left Houston. The Texans were the ones that ruined his career with those aligations. They’re mad because he sat out. All of sutian he had all these women to come out right after he decided not to play for the Texans. I mean we talking about a couple days later he left the Texans. Lol 🤣 that’s not a quendence!!
May 26th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Love the Bucs. I like Bowles. I like Baker. Love the team. Love Shilo and the Sanders family. That being said, we’ll be very, very, very LUCKY to win 12-13 games. That’s not an easy feat in the NFL and I still don’t trust our depth chart and pass rush/secondary. I need to see the new OC in action. This is our 3rd OC in 3 years. 4th OC in 5 years? Probably Mike’s 10th OC since he’s been in the NFL lol
May 26th, 2025 at 2:19 pm
I would like for Bowles to be more decisive in short yardage and time management situations. I was glad to see that he hired and realigned the coaching responsibilties. It showed and awareness that something need to change or be handled differently. I think that these additional coaches and change of coaching responsibilities will affect some of the bad decisions that occured last year.
With additional player on defense, healthy player on Defense and a new get tough attitude, we should see a better production. Todd Bowles need to keep preaching “Petal to the Metal” for the entire season.
Also hope he learn from other teams, do burn out your player buy over using them. Save some for the end of the season.
Use Tucker, Culp, Tez…Let LVD coach up his subs from the sideline when he does not have to be on the field. Rotate the RB’s regularly. And if Watson makes the teams rotate him early with Vea.
go bucs go 11-6, 12-5 or better …..Go Bucs Go.
May 26th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Oneilbuc. “Baker had more in Cleveland than he has here right now”. Make a pot of coffee(you may need to have someone make it for you) right now and stop with the alcohol for the rest of the day.
May 26th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
12 wins? Was there a coaching change? Bowles won’t win 12, ever. Not in a 17 game season
May 26th, 2025 at 4:51 pm
Really? I’d argue there are very few examples where some type of multitasking isn’t required in competitive environments.
Todd has a team of coaches and I’m sure he delegate’s responsibilities to them, as needed and in general. You’re hung up on titles, not the actual coaching which, btw you know nothing about since you aren’t there.
I read @Buccaneer Bonzai’s but I’m confused you recommend it. Seems to be more balanced or pro-Todd than anything you’ve ever posted.
May 26th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
oneilbuc
isn’t it a little early for you to be this trashy drunk? yikes.
also.. baker did not have a #1 receiver in cleveland, much less the level of talent he has now. he had a washed jarvis landry (and still got him over 1k receiving yds) who got injured several times and a washed obj (who was also injured frequently and couldn’t run a route to save his life). his best tight end, njoku, was also pretty frequently injured and was the king of drops.
he did have a great offensive line.. but several key players were also injured pretty frequently.
May 26th, 2025 at 6:03 pm
Oneilbuc, stop saying Baker had a good defense in Cleveland. He never had a good defense. In 2020 which was the year they beat the Steelers in the playoffs, the Browns gave up more points than they scored and blew multiple leads. OBJ missed 12 games that year so Baker’s receivers were Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and Donovan Peoples Jones. Probably one of the worst receiving groups in the NFL .The main tight end was Austin Hooper. He wasn’t bad but definitely not great. They were a great run blocking team not so much pass blocking. So get the facts straight and stop stretching the truth.
May 26th, 2025 at 6:43 pm
Actually OBJ missed 11 full games not 12. Trying not to stretch the truth!
May 26th, 2025 at 6:50 pm
I was wr-wr-wrong. He missed 9 full games.