ESPN: Super Bowl Bucs!
November 9th, 2025
OK Bucs fans, better start making February reservations in Silicon Valley. The Bucs are headed to the land of billionaire nerds and just plain nerds.
The Super Bowl will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. And the Bucs will be the NFC representative. Who says? Dan Graziano of ESPN, that’s who.
Typing for his employer’s website, the NFL insider had the following take last week:
The Bucs are going to the Super Bowl!
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will reach the Super Bowl
This is the quietest 6-2 team ever. The Bucs have been riddled with injuries on a level not far removed from the 49ers, yet they fly under the radar. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was playing like a leading MVP candidate as recently as three weeks ago, despite not having a healthy offensive line and receiver corps all season. He has been without starting running back Bucky Irving for a month (foot sprain, shoulder subluxation), too. The Bucs are fifth in defensive efficiency and fifth in defensive EPA, and they’re in the top half of the league in the offensive versions of those categories.
This team should have no trouble winning a fifth straight NFC South title. And after the Bucs get healthier, they’ll be as formidable as anyone.
Joe thinks if the Bucs’ defense can maintain its solid play of the past three games, the Bucs certainly could make a postseason run.
However! The Bucs offense must get out of its current funk. If the defense didn’t play lights out at New Orleans two weeks ago, Joe doesn’t know if the Bucs win that game.
The Bucs’ third-down offense has been awful since Chris Godwin reaggravated his fibula at Seattle.
If this team were healthy, Joe would think Graziano is onto something. But if the Bucs are going to be playing in NoCal in February, a lot of questions must be answered.
Will Chris Godwin return? Will Bucky Irving return to his rookie form?
Can Mike Evans return healthy before the end of the regular season? Can Calijah Kancey return before the end of the regular season?
Joe thinks Evans, Godwin and Kancey getting back in December are key. Get in game shape and get in a game or two for the playoffs.
Yeah, the Bucs could make a Super Bowl run. But a lot of things have to go right.
November 9th, 2025 at 12:36 am
Is there a chance Kancey will be back this year? I thought he was done. That would be huge if he was back, even if just for the playoffs.
November 9th, 2025 at 1:36 am
will Luke survive his first start? will godwin last a quarter? will mike announce this is his last year? i hope we’re prepared for neither being available down the stretch.
November 9th, 2025 at 1:51 am
IF we can get healthy and stay healthy we are a very very tough out. We have a good team with a young talented foundation. Rejoice, fellow Bucs fans, we are in our golden era.
November 9th, 2025 at 2:17 am
Luke better be ready. I think he is and they made sure to play it safe. Season suicide without it, the brass saw it. Got the bye, got him back and figure let’s get 1 or 2 wins vs the AFCE then bring other guys back for NFCW showdown 3.
November 9th, 2025 at 2:31 am
We’ve heard nothing about Kancey’s recovery process or timeline so that one is 100% up in the air.
The rest will all be back. Bucky in a couple weeks – Godwin beginning of December or sooner – Evans end of December or sooner – McMillan? we’ll see…
This 2025 Buccaneers team has always had the talent to get to a Super Bowl this year. Getting (and keeping) that talent on the field has been a HUGE problem to this point though – and yet somehow the record sits at 6-2 – soon to be 7-2 we hope!
November 9th, 2025 at 2:53 am
Bucs injury report is fly paper. Once they go on it, they stay. Seems like every other team, guys get injured and come back 2-4 weeks later. Not here! Nope…Chris Godwin has been out for 6 weeks now with a “hurt fibula”??? Bucky Irving has been out like 5 weeks with an ankle and shoulder injuryy. Hell, Emmit smith seperated his shoulder, finished the game running for 100 more yards (December 1993 against Giants for Division win and a BYE)…and 2 weeks later is playing in the playoff game.
McMillan and his neck. He was supposed to be back week 10. Well I can read the writing on the wall…he ain’t coming back this year. Frankly, I doubt Godwin will.
It’s almost like the trainers have Munchausen by proxy
November 9th, 2025 at 4:08 am
Mike CK I had to look that up- sounds like a pretty twisted disorder. I lean toward these guys are really pretty hurt. I hope the Right Tackle (cant spell it) isn’t brought back prematurely only to make it worse.
November 9th, 2025 at 4:12 am
My sources tell me that the goal is for Mike to come back after Christmas and the Bucs are feeling optimistic about his return.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:15 am
A lot of possibilities in that article, will win, will reach. Somewhat surprised with their Bill’s take.
Agree with others commenting too. Mike, Chris, and Bucky will possibly be back come December. Kancey? Unsure about Jalen. His neck injury is scary. He needs to think about his own future livelihood first. Nothing to play around with.
November 9th, 2025 at 6:52 am
A rusty Luke is better than a healthy Heck, so that’s a start.
And I disagree with Joe about one thing. The Saints are so God awful I think we win an even uglier version of the game of the defense just plays average. But for some reason I think the Panthers could be in for a surprise today.
November 9th, 2025 at 7:17 am
Oh how I long for the days of Mike and Bucky.
November 9th, 2025 at 7:31 am
Philly and Detroit might have something to say about this.
We lost to both teams already this season…
November 9th, 2025 at 7:49 am
The thing about Kancey is with a torn pec he can’t lift weights, so if he’s clear to practice by Jan, his upper body will have atrophied for 4 months
November 9th, 2025 at 8:13 am
I sure hope so.
I bet $275 that the Bucs would win the NFC South division on Hard Rock Bet at +1600 (thought it was reasonable considering the payout would be $4,675.
Then, upon further review, I realized I totally screwed up and the +1600 was for the Bucs winning the entire NFC Conference! (Insert facepalm here.)
So, if this guy is right, beers are on me!
November 9th, 2025 at 8:17 am
Beeej ,very true. Conversely , Mike’s legs will be very fresh when he comes back.
November 9th, 2025 at 8:23 am
Todd, I was about to say what indian chief do u know to get those odds!! Cause I got screwed then! Ha, well I got season total over again, and like u a little bit of coin on NFC conference bet….here’s to us
November 9th, 2025 at 9:42 am
Kudos to Dan at ESPN for believing in us, but it’s going to be one heck of an uphill battle.
November 9th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Too early for this. Let’s get thru today’s game.
November 9th, 2025 at 10:27 am
Dan been drinking lol. Pats 33 Bucs 17
November 9th, 2025 at 11:11 am
One game at a time!!!! Today the Buc’s play a very good New England team! The O needs a fast start!! BM6 needs to bring his magic!! The O line needs to protect on passing downs and open up run lanes on the running plays! Out physical the Patriots! Extend drives. Control the clock and score TDs not field goals!!
The D needs it’s A game again too!! Stop the run! Pressure on passing downs! Get off the field on 3rd and 4th downs! Make plays! Win the turnover battle! Keep the Patriots out of the end zone!! This is a winnable game!! Get it done!!!!
November 9th, 2025 at 11:29 am
Can Bowles get his rookie OC’s head out of his colon?
November 9th, 2025 at 11:51 am
BSPN
November 9th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
There’s a chance, yes.
November 9th, 2025 at 2:24 pm
Super Bowl…. Ha!
They can’t beat anyone decent outside of the NfC West
November 9th, 2025 at 4:00 pm
OH NO…WE SUCK AGAIN