The Race To 11
November 30th, 2025
At 7-5, the Bucs are gunning for a 12-win season.
An 11-win season by Tampa Bay will guarantee the Bucs win the NFC South (again). Yes, that’s the math.
With a little luck, the Bucs’ final game of two remaining against the Panthers, Week 18 at The Licht House, will be a meaningless contest that would let the Bucs rest banged up players.
The Panthers (7-6) have a bye next week while the Bucs host the slimy two-win Saints (2-10). Carolina’s final four games include those two Bucs games on their schedule, plus dates with the Saints and Seattle (9-3). The Bucs also will host Atlanta (4-8) and hit the road to play Miami (5-7).
As of now, per the New York Times/TheAthletic.com data charts and game simulators, the Bucs have a 73 percent shot at winning the division. Carolina is at 27 percent. Atlanta and the Saints are considered toast.
Can the Bucs get to 12? They’ll have to play a lot better than they did today.
Can the Bucs get to 11? Maybe.
Can the Bucs get to 10? Definitely.
November 30th, 2025 at 9:26 pm
10 with 2 losses to Carolina will probably mean missing the playoffs unless the Saints beat Carolina again. Bucs have zero margin for error, they lost that when Bowles was outcoached by New England and Buffalo.
November 30th, 2025 at 9:28 pm
ROTFLMAO
As long as this is the staff, we better look into week 5 of next year before counting to 11. 9 wins this season will be a stretch with for the Bucs “motivational leader” who also does some part time work as head coach and defensive coordinator, what a sham.
November 30th, 2025 at 9:29 pm
FM Dave – spot on. You’ll probably never see this but I agree.
November 30th, 2025 at 9:32 pm
We’ll be 8-5.
That’s the only thing I’m certain of.
506 Kirk Cousins
@ panthers
@ Miami
Panthers
Personally I think it’s a W, L, L, ?
November 30th, 2025 at 9:35 pm
Im a huge believer in taking things one week at a team. We got a little healthier today had some guys in field who could make plays. Let’s sure up our tackling keep getting better and see how it plays out. Right now only thing that matters is the Saints in Tampa. 8-5 basically means Carolina would have to sweep us to win the divsion. Lot better chance we sweep them!
November 30th, 2025 at 9:41 pm
Luved! Bowles ol’ defense strategy of protecting a two-touchdown-lead in the third Qtr: just let the opponent play pitch n’ catch for 76 yards in 6 plays for an easy, wide-open-receiver touchdown. Of course the receiver was all alone in the end zone; because Todd’s strict discipline teaches the defense to give up on the coverage if the opponent’s quarterback is scrambling. Oh ya, he’s got a million classic moves like this; too bad we didn’t get to see some time management decisions today to top it all off.
If the Cardinals won, they’re going to award Bowles the game ball.
November 30th, 2025 at 9:42 pm
FM Dave, once again my reply to you has been put into the injury tent pending concussion protocol. Keep rolling, brother. Do it for the resistance!
November 30th, 2025 at 9:42 pm
agree withh Dan completely one game at a time
November 30th, 2025 at 9:44 pm
We can win all 5 remaining.
November 30th, 2025 at 9:46 pm
Doing all the playoff combos, and basically, so long as the Bucs don’t get swept by the Panthers AND so long as the Bucs beat the Saints, they’re basically in. With that said, they had better no lose 3 of 5 down the stretch, because even if they make it in, it won’t mean much.
Still figure they will split the Panthers, like I have since the day the schedule came out. That Falcons game worries me only because it’s a TNF game, but I think the Bucs can win it. But that Dolphins game looks tougher by the week – they’ve been a much better team lately, but hopefully by week 17 they’re just worrying about their offseason travel plans.
November 30th, 2025 at 9:50 pm
Dan – that’s a smart approach. Anything can happen, in the week, in the game, anywhere. Things can happen that change the dynamic.
That said, gun to your head/home on the line, do you think Todd Bowles can beat siriani, McVay, ben johnson or dan Campbell in the post season?
That’s really the only thing that matters. We’ll know the answer soon enough if we get there. And the problem is we all know what that answer is already.
I’d like to not know the answer to that question.
November 30th, 2025 at 9:54 pm
I could easily see the Bucs missing the playoffs this year.
November 30th, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Zyon McCollum plays cornerback like he’s on Lovie’s defense. He stinks.
November 30th, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Great point Rod if you study the analytics it becomes obvious we are still in great shape. Our projected record is 12-5 Carolina is 8-9 that’s a 4 game swing with 5 to go. Highest probability is we wrap this divsion up.
What I care about is seeing this team rebuild its confidence how awsome was it today to have some playmakers on the field? Let’s watch Bucky and Godwin continue to play into shape watch how much better we look as we get healthy.
Saying we are even getting Kancey back just keep the faith today was a nice first step in getting back on track.
We might just end of playing our best football at right time!
November 30th, 2025 at 10:05 pm
Dan the Bucs Fan – I don’t know what analytics you’re looking at, but no, I don’t think the Bucs win 12 or the Panthers only win 9.
My point was so long as the Bucs beat the Saints next week, even if they lost to Falcons and Dolphins, so long as they split with the Panthers, they’d likely still be in (assuming the Panthers lose to the Seahawks – if not the Bucs would be out).
Just saying the numbers still favor the Bucs — so long as they split with the Panthers. If they don’t – then the Bucs are in big time trouble — not to mention they wouldn’t deserve to be in the playoffs if they get swept by a divisional opponent in the last three weeks of the season.
But, one game at a time, the Bucs obviously need to win next week vs the Saints, then they’re 8-5 and things look a lot better.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:05 pm
Lol bucs fans:
1. We sweep carolina and win the division “the division was easy”..
2. The same fans, “Carolina is a good team, they can beat us”
3. The worst fans: Wants us to lose to carolina just for a chance to have bowles fired.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:06 pm
Least enjoyable winning season I can recall. Yech.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:12 pm
Mosquito bites itch.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:18 pm
A tortoise can run faster than this Tood.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:19 pm
Dan is spot on. I’m not saying all is sunshine and lollipops, cuz its def not, but the Bucs are in a pretty strong position thants to their good start and cushion it brought. regardless of the vibes or how Carolina is playing. If the Bucs beat the saints, like everyone is saying, it basically means Carolina would need to sweep the Bucs and/or win out.. with the Bucs having a 2008 collapse.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:20 pm
12 and 5, said it last night. Asked to be called on it. My odds are getting better.
Rod — you going to call me on it?
November 30th, 2025 at 10:20 pm
We are not good. Maybe we get healthy. If we win it’s in spite of the coaching.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:25 pm
If we win the next 3 games, we win the Division.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:32 pm
No reason why Bucs can’t win at least 4 of the final games. Only things stopping them is lousy play calling and the dam##ed refs. I have been a Bucs fan for 2 many years to count. I’ve watched the Offense slowly improve. I could tear my hair out at the inane play calling by, yet, another OC. This team is getting back to close to 100%. Let the dam#ed dawgs out for crissakes!
November 30th, 2025 at 10:37 pm
Todd wins every race. Just look at him. He’s a sprinter and a marathon runner, all the more incredible since he’s 2 trimesters in.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:38 pm
Chocolate cow milk 🥛
November 30th, 2025 at 10:40 pm
COACHING NEEDS TO BE BETTER . ON PLAY CALLING .GIZ NEEDS TO UTILIZE ALL OUR PLAYERS ON OFFENSE.. be nice to run bucky and Tucker throw on the run to white mix it up. TEACH THE DEFENCE HOW TO TACKLE AGAIN. WORK THEM IN PRACTICE THEY NEED IT. PLENTY OF TIMES IN THAT GAME WHERE THEY DIDN’T MAKE THE TACKLE SO THE OTHER TEAM GOT FIRST DOWNS. DROPPED BALLS AND 2 BAD CALLS. MAKE THOSE AND ITS A DIFFERANT GAME .ITS CRUNCH TIME FOR GIZZ . PRESSURE COOKER ,LETS SEE WHAT HES GOT !
November 30th, 2025 at 10:41 pm
The biggest hurdle to winning the division is Todd’s masterful ability to lull the Bucs into a game flat as a pancake. That and poor defensive coaching during the game are the recipe for Bucs success. How is it that Todd’s able to do it eighteen times a year is unparalleled. He is a zen master of player flatness. Truly a master.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:43 pm
Let’s just win Sunday….then we can speculate…
November 30th, 2025 at 10:45 pm
Bucs, think of all the complex equations showing formation options, alternative coverage schemes depending on the phase of Mars in retrograde and the scent of napalm. He must lecture the team for hours during practice about these critical items. No sense spending time on tackling or what the assignments might be. Genius.
November 30th, 2025 at 10:45 pm
Well… Carolina just beat the Rams…
November 30th, 2025 at 10:52 pm
Todd. Simply the best. Just think about that Rams game.
November 30th, 2025 at 11:08 pm
Win the next 3 and we’re in, simple math.
November 30th, 2025 at 11:16 pm
Ex-Browns02 Says:
November 30th, 2025 at 10:20 pm
12 and 5, said it last night. Asked to be called on it. My odds are getting better.
Rod — you going to call me on it?
———–
I think 11-6, but I hope you’re right.
November 30th, 2025 at 11:22 pm
Lose the next 3…. Jason gets the choice of our next head coach without handcuffs. Nobody wants that but it’s not a bad consolation prize for genius failures.
November 30th, 2025 at 11:26 pm
Its a struggle the team is fighting itself. Griz play calling, baker mising throws, running game not as dynamic, bowles defense being bowles defense, have to say special teams probably won the game for the bucs today.
November 30th, 2025 at 11:27 pm
Quite possible that we win out. Finish 12-5. At worst, we’ll split games with the Panthers and finish 11-6. Depending on injuries and who we get matched up with in the wildcard, highly likely we’ll get eliminated there. We tend to get stomped by the good teams and scrape by the bad ones. We don’t play another good team all season.
November 30th, 2025 at 11:35 pm
It’s the same pattern as the last two seasons.
The chances are actually excellent that the Buccaneers will win the games that they have to win and, for the same reason as the last two seasons: they have not played anywhere near their capability in the last four games but now, for the rest of the season, they probably will.
November 30th, 2025 at 11:44 pm
The chances are more excellent that His Geniusness’s chickens have come home to roost, he’s regressing the top performers as is his apparent skill, leading the Bucs to a glorious season ending 5 game losing streak. Complete with sloppy penalties, mental breakdowns, dropped passes, sailed passes, busted coverages, whiffed tackles, clueless game management decisions, and of course the obligatory referee excuses. Yo go Todd! You go Todd!
November 30th, 2025 at 11:46 pm
LOL @ “Definitely” for 3 more wins…
Panthers just beat the Rams, the best team in the NFC.
We could barely handle a team that’s in the running for the #1 pick in the draft.
We are not the same.
November 30th, 2025 at 11:47 pm
Win the division, look pathetic and lose in 1st playoff, and nothing changes but its a Bucs life struggle is real!
Wash, rinse, repeat…
Groundhog Day season after season in Tampa…
November 30th, 2025 at 11:52 pm
Not seeing an NFC juggernaut team right now.
Why not Bucs.
December 1st, 2025 at 12:05 am
At least we got a good SNF this week.
Here’s my suggestion, the Bucs are banned from SNF and MNF. Please. Ban them, for their own good. I’ll let you know about a TNF ban in a few weeks.
December 1st, 2025 at 12:05 am
Panthers beat the Rams at home yet lost to the Saints at home..It is called the NFL and any given sunday.
December 1st, 2025 at 12:07 am
Hammerhead Says:
November 30th, 2025 at 11:52 pm
Not seeing an NFC juggernaut team right now.
Why not Bucs.
————
Just have to get hot at the right time.
If the Bucs don’t lose anyone else, which is asking a ton, and you got Bucky and Godwin healthy, you got McMillan back, you got Evans coming back – you get back Kancey in the playoffs — why not. That’s a ton of talent coming back, and hopefully having time to get into game shape as well.
December 1st, 2025 at 12:10 am
johnnythemoon Says:
December 1st, 2025 at 12:05 am
Panthers beat the Rams at home yet lost to the Saints at home..It is called the NFL and any given sunday.
————-
Yeah, I pointed out last week I had a feeling the Rams lose this game. They just had two high profile big wins vs the Seahawks and Bucs, then go cross the country to play an early game. Just seemed like a classic trap game.
Also, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Saints beat the Panthers again – however, I will say, I’m not betting on it – just saying I wouldn’t be shocked. The Saints, looking terrible, hopeless, the Panthers coming off a bye week with everything on the line, that too is a classic trap game. We shall see.
December 1st, 2025 at 12:24 am
Greg Auman said if a Bucs win next 3 games to get to 10-5 with a win in Carolina, that locks up the division for Tampa….
Even if Carolina won to get to same record, Bucs would have the better divisional record in a tie-breaker to win division…
Let’s do this 🙂
December 1st, 2025 at 12:25 am
Sweep Carolina and in.
December 1st, 2025 at 12:31 am
To munching on a bog, so you’re saying that no other NFC team has injuries and their own outlooks are more uplifting?
Saints are in town next week. Will trade reptiles with them and win easily.
The giant rats are another story.. Nutria vs pythons.
December 1st, 2025 at 12:35 am
This Bowleszo Bunch isn’t beating the Aints. Their new QB is the reincarnation of. Hybrid Steve Young / Michael Vick. Well he’s not. But he’ll sure look like that against the Tooder.
December 1st, 2025 at 1:33 am
Without a doubt this is The Funniest headline I’ve seen in a long, long time.
December 1st, 2025 at 8:05 am
All the Bucs need to do is win the next 3 games and they win the division.
December 1st, 2025 at 8:29 am
Gonna have to get a win against Carolina and Miami to even sniff the playoffs. The Panthers are coming and they are playing with a lot of confidence right now. Seems out last two offensive coordinators know how to coach pretty darn good. Bucs just need to get healthy.
Kancy still out
Mauch still out
Kieft still out
Evans still out
McMillan still out
Morrison still out.
Looking like we might get McMillan back in the next two weeks. That would be huge!! We get Egbuka McMillan and Godwin on the field together and a bit better play from the O-line and we could start scoring more points. O-line better tighten up though. Seems defensive coordinators have found a weakness. That being the bucs struggle against disguises and stunts. They better figure it out because they are gonna continue to see it until they do. The cardinals had the bucs O’Line on their heels most of that game, especially in passing situations. I’ve been less than critical regarding Grizzard but not today. Throwing deep twice in a row when your O-line is obviously struggling wasn’t good. I know he’s still learning but gotta understand every snap counts. We beat a 3-8 team that turned the ball over twice by a field goal. We play like that against Carolina OR Miami we will lose. All in all the return of some starters did help and we need more back.
As always Go Bucs
December 1st, 2025 at 11:56 am
Isn’t it fun to still be anxious this time of year, watching every game knowing how important it is? Folks here have gotten spoiled since 2020 and don’t appreciate how wonderful it is to even be excited about every game. They must not remember or weren’t around for all the years when the Bucs had already been eliminated at this point.
Looking forward to five weeks of edge of my seat excitement!
December 1st, 2025 at 12:04 pm
I’ll go with 11-6… said it before the season started. We beat a couple i expected to lose to, and lost to a couple I thought we would beat! That could still continue if we beat Carolina twice! 😉
December 1st, 2025 at 4:57 pm
Bucs only need to win the next 3. Beating the Saints and Falcons will put their division record at 4-0 going into the Panthers game. Panthers already have 1 division loss. Bucs would have the tiebreaker no matter the result of the week 18 game at 5 division wins if the beat the Panthers week 16.
December 2nd, 2025 at 9:41 am
Just win the next three and its over.