“I Think [The Bucs] Are Very Close To Being A Super Bowl Contender”
July 8th, 2025
Lots of smiles this fall?
Apparently Charles Robinson isn’t expecting much from the Bucs.
The long-time Yahoo! NFL columnist reacted like he just learned he needed an emergency colonoscopy when fellow panelist Frank Schwab said the Bucs are a team on the rise during a recent airing of Yahoo! Sports’ NFL podcast,
Robinson seemed generally surprised (shocked?) that Schwab would go there with the Bucs, though Robinson does think the Bucs will win the NFC South. But Schwab explained how the Bucs, in his eyes, are no joke.
“I think they are close to being a Super Bowl contender,” Schwab explained. “I think this offense is awesome. I think adding Emeka Egbuka in the first round was a little bit unconventional, but when you look at it, you’re like, ‘Make your strength stronger. We’re just gonna make Baker Mayfield the best quarterback we could possibly make him.’
“This is a team that won at Detroit last year. They should have won at Kansas City, if they go for two — just a bad mistake to let Patrick Mahomes win in overtime. But this is a team I think is right there. I think they’re they’re very, very close.”
Yes, on paper, the Bucs look strong. For Schwab, there is one big (legitimate) question.
“Now, can the defense take the next step?” Schwab asked. “Maybe. We’ll see.”
And that right there is the key question. Joe admits to being taken aback last week when noticing the Bucs were ranked in the 20s in passing yards allowed every year since Bucs coach Todd Bowles arrived except for 2022.
How can that be with a defensive-minded head coach? All the players Bowles has had and only once in the past six seasons have the Bucs had a pass defense ranked above No. 20? (That was No. 9 in 2020.)
Knowing the Bucs had targeted Emeka Egbuka this spring when Bowles spoke at the NFL owners meetings before the draft, he said he wasn’t opposed to drafting offense at No. 19 because a team has to score points. Joe was shocked Bowles would say that but this is all coming together now for Joe.
Maybe Bowles doesn’t believe he can turn the defense around quickly enough to take advantage of the offense, so why not add more fuel to the offensive fire and be fully dominant on one side of the ball?
And if you thought Schwab was drinking the Bucs’ Kool-Aid, he continued to talk up Tampa Bay as a contender.
“I just look at this team, I think they’re loaded,” Schwab said. “I think Bucky Irving’s awesome. I think Baker has come into his own as one of the best NFL quarterbacks in the NFL.
“I think they win this division by three, four games. I just I have high hopes for the Buccaneers this year.
“And I can see a scenario where we’re sitting here at the end of the year saying the Buccaneers are going to Super Bowl. They’re one of the best teams in the NFC I really have high, high hopes for the Bucs this year.”
Who is Joe to argue with such logic?
July 8th, 2025 at 7:03 am
Preseason hype? Maybe…. Doing my best to remain calm. Go Bucs!
July 8th, 2025 at 7:20 am
“just a bad mistake to let Patrick Mahomes win in overtime.” Everyone that was at the game or otherwise watching the game knew this was a mistake. Except one guy.
July 8th, 2025 at 7:54 am
You can have a defensive minded coach calling the right defense. But you still need good defensive players making plays. The Bucs haven’t had good defensive players the last 4 years. Maybe this year will be different.
July 8th, 2025 at 8:00 am
Yeah, that chiefs game never should have been allowed to get to overtime. Yeah, that’s a two edged sword. In the Mistake by the Lake they should have used their timeouts with TB12 at QB. But overall, Bowles is a pretty good coach. If he learns from past screwups we just might have a really good shot at a Super Bowl. The division championship is easily ours to reap. After that comes the hard part.
July 8th, 2025 at 8:08 am
No solid edge rush will expose the secondary EVERY game, that’s how you end up ranked in the 20s on receiving yards against. That will change this year, Reddick needs a contract, we are solid up tge middle.
We will lead the lead in Pics this year and everyone is going to proclaim what a great Secondary. It’s the DLine
July 8th, 2025 at 8:20 am
I believe Todd Bowles were afraid to go for two to win the game. He knew we had less than 100 yards rushing in the game. He also knew that we didn’t have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan. We only had 200 yards passing against KC .
KC D- Line were dominant the entire game. And our offense was missing too many weapons to gamble with. But our defense was dairy healthy, Jamel Dean was the only starter out.
Our defense should have held KC, and giving our offense a chance
But it didn’t worked out like that, they marched down the field
With Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan on the field, we get the two point conversion easily. We wouldn’t be having this conversation.
July 8th, 2025 at 8:43 am
Joe, pass defense rank isn’t the be all of defensive statistics. It’s not even the most critical one. All summer Joe’s narrative about defensive pass rank. It’s a part of the defense.
Point allowed is the ONLY stat that absolutely matters:
2021 – 5th
2022 – 13th
2023 – 7th
2024 – 16th
It’s been said before, this defense focuses on the run and tends to give up passing plays. It’s also been said before, last year’s defense was an absolute triage unit.
Love the hype! Thanks for sharing the article and I agree that this could be a year that we strongly contend. If healthy, there is no reason Todd Bowles shouldn’t have this defense as a top 10 and even better top 5 defense in Points Allowed. That said, if I had to bet I’d still bet it won’t be in the top 10 in pass defense. And that’s ok.
July 8th, 2025 at 8:59 am
If bad luck is the reason/excuse for Mayfield’s past why would anyone want him waddling out to call the coin flip going into overtime? Wrong vs ATL and Wrong vs KC.
July 8th, 2025 at 9:52 am
This third OC will be an upgrade. We had a bad season after SVD got hurt. There were too many injuries from start to finish. This defense will be top 5 baring injuries.
We will win the SB so long as two things happen:
1. Mayfield needs to throw the ball away and cut the number of negative plays significantly.
2. Mayfield needs to reduce the number of interceptions.
If he improves in these two areas we will win 12 to 13 games.
July 8th, 2025 at 10:29 am
I hope Bowles learned his lesson about going for two, but I doubt it. When on the road playing a good team don’t settle for the tie. Best way to avoid losing in OT is by taking a chance on winning in regulation.
July 8th, 2025 at 10:30 am
Many believe the Bucs are close… Just 1 good DC away from one of the top contenders!
July 8th, 2025 at 10:31 am
Todd could have a modern day Steel Curtain, the 2002 Bucs or the 1985 Bears. He’d still finish in the bottom 10 defending the pass. He’d have Sapp or the Fridge back in the end zone playing 3 deep.
July 8th, 2025 at 10:36 am
LakelandBuc Says:
“The Bucs haven’t had good defensive players the last 4 years.” I would agree completely, but would add injuries. If we can stay heathy and some of our young
guys can mature we could be much better especially in the secondary.
July 8th, 2025 at 10:37 am
Bucs are one competent Head Coach and a Defensive Coordinator who can scheme pass defense away from being a contender
Until the game management and pass defense improves this team has a CEILING of 10 wins
July 8th, 2025 at 11:05 am
It’s still alarming.
July 8th, 2025 at 11:16 am
I don’t think Todd believes he can’t fix the defense this year or at least vastly improve it because we took a wr in the first round. We used 2,3 and 4 on def players that the team expects to make a contribution or maybe even an impact this season.
Those aren’t irrelevant picks.
In using those picks on the secondary and PR plus the addition of Reddick, I would expect a much better pass defense this year assuming health and depth hold up.
July 8th, 2025 at 11:21 am
Cal Buc….We will win the SB so long as two things happen:
1. Mayfield needs to throw the ball away and cut the number of negative plays significantly.
2. Mayfield needs to reduce the number of interceptions.”
That is such horsesh!t. To pin the Bucs past non-SB year solely on Mayfield is just ridiculous. All the problems with our defense. All the problems with injuries. All the idiotic decisions made by Bowels don’t need fixing??? That’s as dumb as those dopes that think the fumble in the Redskin game was Mayfield’s fault. Baker was the best thing about the Bucs last year!
PS… I used to have season tickets to Washington games so I get to call them the Redskins.
July 8th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
It’s all about the defensive past rush. If that does Capable of the DBs will be better and the coverage in the middle of the field should be better with Dennis.
July 8th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
Look at how far we’ve come. Love it! Go Bucs!
July 8th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
The take is correct how deep we go all comes down to the defense. I think the offense is going to be even better this year. I think 7000+ total yards of offense this season.
July 8th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
Can the defense stop teams (Washington) when they continually go for it on 4th down? Can they make them punt at least twice per game when the plan is to keep the ball out of Bakers hands? It all comes down to the defense this year. This offense is going to be next level from the start. Will it sputter some weeks? Sure, all teams do. But hopefully the defense will be there taking up the slack. If the defense is ranked in the top 10, we will be superbowl contenders.
July 8th, 2025 at 2:20 pm
I been saying it for 2 years this team only has 2 problems in order to get back to a Super Bowl. The defense and Bowles coaching. Maybe the defense gets better but Bowles needs to be more aggressive and trust the offense. Don’t punt from the opponents 40 yard line and learn some time management. You don’t get rewarded for keeping your time outs. I remember at the end of 2019 thinking we’re only a quarterback away and in 2020 we get Brady and the rest is history.