Bordering On “Untrustworthy”
December 3rd, 2025
Rough November.
It isn’t just you.
Before the season, Joe thought the Bucs truly had a legit shot to make noise in the playoffs. Maybe even make a run. But unprecedented injuries and a defense that for the past month plays like they have the U-Hauls backed up and reservations in the DR booked has really thrown a wrench into Joe’s playoff dreams.
After watching the Bucs lumber to a three-point win over a team starting a backup and losing 9 of its last 10, Joe is wondering if the Bucs can hobble their way to a division title.
A month ago it seemed all but a done deal. Man, how a month can change things.
Joe isn’t a big power rankings guy. Everyone has them and many of the folks voting in these rankings don’t watch half the games. Sometimes, however, these power rankings tell a tale.
For example, after losing three straight games, two on national TV, where the Bucs’ defense got clobbered and then followed that up by surviving the Cardinals, it’s understandable some folks think the Bucs have become a poor team at the worst time: in December.
BSPN dropped the Bucs two spots from last week to No. 17 in their power rankings.
That, boys and girls, means BSPN thinks the Bucs are in the bottom half of the league. So it’s not just Joe who has been left both unimpressed and worried for the Bucs after a nightmarish November.
The same holds true for the crowd at CBS. Zachary Pereles typed an article about the most trustworthy teams in the playoff hunt and he put the Bucs in his fifth group — the least trustworthy teams in order of trust called “Wild card.” Of these seven teams, he has the Bucs ranked last.
The only lower group Pereles has is called “Untrustworthy.” The Bucs apparently are just above the bar of untrustworthy.
That’s how damning the month of November has been. People don’t know if they can trust the Bucs to win enough games to wrap up the NFC South.
Joe would feel a lot better about the Bucs’ playoff aspirations if they go out Sunday and curb-stomp the slimy Saints by three touchdowns.
Joe has a nagging fear it’s going to be much closer than that.
December 3rd, 2025 at 5:19 am
The Putrid Pass Defense is still this team’s Achilles heel and has been the last few years. There is no Stud Edge rushers that bring steady heat on passing downs. Then of course we see Ed Rogers dropping back into pass coverage. It’s the same movie over and over hopefully the Bucs Offense can really gel and hide the blemishes of our defense. Thank God for Baker. Go Bucs!
December 3rd, 2025 at 5:22 am
Edge Rushers dropping back into coverage has worn old on us Bucs fans.
December 3rd, 2025 at 5:29 am
Secondary is a total mess, D Line can’t get to the QB, LBs can’t tackle, DC won’t change – soft secondary coverages, linemen in coverage, over complicated coverages that don’t work. What’s not to like?
December 3rd, 2025 at 6:01 am
As a conservative in the original meaning of the term, I reject this whole prima donna “Edge” apostasy.”
The Bucs play a 3-4 defense with 4 linebackers. And, linebackers have coverage responsibilities.
With three defensive linemen rushing, a team is technically blitzing when it rushes 5 by sending both outside linebackers.
The best pressure is inside pressure. With Kancey out, the Bucs have had an inside pressure deficit for months that is not going to get better before the season is over..
The best way to improve the overall efficiency of the defense is for the offense to run the ball more and possess the ball as long as they can still advance the ball.
The Panthers beat the Rams by running 40 times which opened things up for the measly 20 times they passed the ball. The Bucs keep up with that, or they take down the golf clubs and fishing reels.
December 3rd, 2025 at 6:13 am
This coach (and athletic training team) squandered a Championship team.
December 3rd, 2025 at 6:16 am
Kancey could be back soon. Zyon is a huge problem that could cost us games. Even Vildor is better than Zyon right now, he looks lost. They gave him the money and he’s responded with a massive regression AWJ is so busy watching Zyon’s guy that he’s going backwards also. LVD at time looks amazing but otw is showing his age. SVD is playing good… Jamel and Reddick help a lot.
On offense CG will help us convert 3rd downs and Bucky gives us a weapon that defenses have to respect.
These last 5 games will show who the real bucs are; the team that went into Houston on Monday night and gutted out a win or the team that went to LA and fell on its face.
We need JMac ME13 and Kalijah back asap if we’re going to try to win the division.
December 3rd, 2025 at 6:22 am
Hard to see any significant changes coming for the remainder of the season. Like yogi Berra once said, it like deja Vu all over again.
Show of hands for those who think the DC will get it figured out in time?
December 3rd, 2025 at 6:30 am
We have eyes. We didn’t need to look at power rankings to know this is a below average team. Bowles is a one trick pony. If his ONE scheme he has up his sleeve isn’t working then it’s game over. His players don’t give a hundred percent. The tackling is atrocious. And it’s getting worse as we near the end of the season.
How about BENCHING SOMEBODY? Show that you’re not a cadaver on the sidelines being propped up by a Gatorade cooler. You’ll see the same garbage on Sunday against the Saints. Shough will look like an All Pro against this defense.
Then God help us when Kirk Cousins comes to town. Carolina must be salivating the thought of playing this team twice coming up.
December 3rd, 2025 at 6:39 am
When your team routinely allows players to run wide aas open at all levels of the defense week after week with virtually zero resistance it is fair to consider their potential for success untrustworthy.
Defense wins championships.
This is not a championship defense.
December 3rd, 2025 at 6:42 am
A couple of ugly wins against inferior teams has me thinking the culture at one Buc is not what we have been told…repeatedly. We should have been playing third stringers in the second half against these guys and the Rams should not have looked like the second coming of the “greatest show on turf” agaisnt us. Even with some rookies and injuries.
Spot on Joe. Not sure Baker’s “moxie” can get it done.
Go Bucs!
December 3rd, 2025 at 6:47 am
Say Anything about the defense and the out cry is So Loud it’s deafening!
NOBODY’S BUYING what Todd Bowles is selling anymore ESPECIALLY the Players.He has to “beg them not to lose” Sad…..
I’ve read lately there’s A Lot of talk about wanting to lose games? WHO said people want to lose games???
You people have it Twisted!
The REASON that there is Such an Out Cry is because We DON’T WANT TO LOSE GAMES!!! TIRED OF LOSING GAMES TO ALMOST ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY THAT HAS A RECORD OVER 500! Many are sharpening pitchforks out there! Letting the touches soak longer in “Hot Seat Oil” because it’s been so bad for so long, many thousands want to burn this antiquated head coach out from behind the wheel of this SINKING SHIP!
Confidence is low because what’s clear is that there is a strawman behind the wheel…..
The Truth ain’t pretty concerning the status of the give a D@m of the players. And the “Swan has turned into the Ugly Duckling” The OC is a J.A.G. and I don’t think he’s capable of saving face for Bowles this time as others have in the past. We’ll know that answer VERY SOON NOW!
What’s Really perplexing to me is “the guys that like to wear the nothing special brown paper bag, More Than they Want the Lombardi Trophy” in our prestigious glass case!
December 3rd, 2025 at 6:59 am
toopanca … Love your analysis; your solutions in the last 2 paragraphs are spot on IMO.
Our defense ‘Is what it is’. It’s not gonna get bigger; it’s not gonna get more talented; it’s not gonna get faster. And no, the coaching isn’t gonna change for the rest of this season.
BUT … We’ve got 2 things going for us IMO. First, our defense is relatively healthy right now. Yes we’re missing Kancey, but he accomplished zero in his first 2 games this season (both wins), so I’m not sure how critical he is to this defense (and he should be used more outside IMO anyways). Second, our schedule for these last 5 games is against teams with a combined 25-37 record. What’s most significant about that is that they’re average offensive ranking (based on Points Scored) is #27. Even our bad #23 defense has an advantage there. All those 5 opponents will play us tough (they always do), but we have some decided advantages.
Like you said near the end of your comment, ‘the best way to improve the overall efficiency of the defense is for the offense to run the ball more and possess the ball as long as they can still advance the ball’. Grizz still frustrates me to no end in that he doesn’t seem to know how to use our Run Game effectively, but it’s really not that complicated. We’ve got THREE good runners; use ALL 3, not just Bucky getting 17 carries with Rachaad & Tuck getting 2 carries each. In this coming Saints game, I’d be running the ball on about 50-60% of our plays, using all 3 RBs plus Baker.
December 3rd, 2025 at 7:04 am
We’ve spent so much time talking about how great we are, we believed it. Injuries? Yep that’s a problem, but we are a character team and we can work through it. Wait until players start to come back! Dean? One of the best….even though he can’t plsy a whole season and has a history of loafing….before a contract year. And coaching….right.
December 3rd, 2025 at 7:38 am
And with bovine docility, Jason Licht nothing. He methodically chews his cud staring at the OL, only to open his mouth to exclaim the virtue of its leader’s return, Bredesen.
December 3rd, 2025 at 7:42 am
We can stomp and scream about Bowles all day long. We can curse the absence of edge rushers. We can shake our heads at money poorly spent on a weak secondary rather than DL. But 1 man has the power to change it all, Jason Licht. And he does nothing
December 3rd, 2025 at 7:43 am
Apparently none of you people remember being a Bucs fan during the 80’s, else you wouldn’t be b!thing about our current state of affairs. Pepperidge Farm remembers!
December 3rd, 2025 at 7:45 am
Many Edge Rushers drop in coverage did anyone watch the Thanksgiving game and Parson because obviously no one watched the Bucs game and saw Sweat do it.
December 3rd, 2025 at 7:48 am
The Bucs rushed for over 200 yards versus the Bills, and controlled the TOP. But it was still not enough, as the defense could not stop Josh Allen and the Bills offense. To be fair, though, there are no Josh Allen type QB’s on the remaining schedule.
December 3rd, 2025 at 7:49 am
I read the headline and assumed it was about Bowles’ press conferences.
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:02 am
Personally I think we win every game finish 12-5. Incredibly proud of these guys for holding it together while the majority of the good players were injured. As we get healthy look out! If offense has all its weapons we will be ahead which helps the defense. We will sustain more drives which helps the defense. Judge this team by what it does in the playoffs.
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:12 am
I have a nagging fear we’re going to lose to the Saints. This defensive scheme su¢ks.
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:21 am
Bucs over staints by 8.5? Nah…
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:27 am
If those last minute Baker miracles hadn’t come, and they’d gone 0-4 in them, this team would be 3-9 right now.
Even splitting those 4 last-minute wins makes them 5-7, which honestly feels about right.
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:33 am
Did everyone just forget we beat Seattle, the 49ers, and Houston early this season? As our weapons come back we will be a different team.
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:34 am
I’m there too. Next week will tell if they’re back. Winning by three points is not acceptable as it wasn’t last week (the win was nice). Bucs need to dominate the Saints.
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:35 am
The good news is Bucs have the opportunity to serve up some cold nasty crown to naysayers. We’ll find out if they have it in them.
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:36 am
Toopanca – Right on the money. Alot of posters here don’t seem to understand the features of a 3-4. Although running a 4-3 is simpler. IF you have the right players.
So did anybody bother to read the CBS article? I read it yesterday, and got a chuckle.
Yes – the author stuck us in Tier 5 “Wild Cards”. Along with some other good teams in the Eagles, 49ers, Colts, and the Number 1 NFC seed currently, the Bears. Not bad company. He did not really explain why, other than a vague reference to unbalanced statistics. And injurys.
But if you read further, the Stinking Panthers were placed in Tier 6 UNTRUSTWORTHY. Of the Panthers he tells it truthfully – they are uneven, and rely on the run, and hope their defense can help them out. If that doesn’t work, they don’t win.
We do a good job stopping the run. Just do that, and I think we pull out a win up there in Charlotte, and we can all relax after that.
As for the Saints, we blew them out 23-3 down in NOLA without Godwin and Bucky. I see us winning next week, and the week after. Maybe that will quiet some of the worries down.
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:49 am
Time for a new joebucsfan power tanking poll. Where do we rank the team in potential and reality. So say rank them at 10 talent wise but playing like 17. Fire over confident mistake prone clueless Bowles!
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:54 am
Fire Todd
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:55 am
Hate to say it, I think bucs don’t make post season, Carolina takes division, they can kick bowels and his staff to the curb for all I care, after new England wins Superbowl bring in there OC, as head coach, offer GM to Arians, if not somebody knows about a pass rush, keep offense in tack, draft for future heavy on edge rush, LB and bpa
December 3rd, 2025 at 8:57 am
This team is not going to make the playoffs. If for some reason they do, they don’t deserve to be there. Quit relying on the return of Kancey. Dude is a bust.
December 3rd, 2025 at 9:13 am
Evans and McMillan back in practice today. Evans is medically cleared. Bet the over and take the Bucs with the spread. This is gonna be a thrashing.
December 3rd, 2025 at 9:20 am
When I saw “untrustworthy” in the title, I thought this was going to be another article on bored Zyon, MIA Red dick, loafing SVD, Velcro Diaby and the Morrison caught with his pants down more than Jim on stage in Miami.
December 3rd, 2025 at 9:29 am
It won’t matter who they put on that D because as long as that same scheme/system is being run it’s probably not gonna matter. The secondary will still be playing in another county & the line will still be dropping out.
December 3rd, 2025 at 9:38 am
Will anyone be shocked if the Kitties win both game against the Nucs, and win the South?
This team is trending downward and getting injured guys back may not be the Juice to turn it around.
December 3rd, 2025 at 10:13 am
I think it’s just a curse of being a Buccaneers fan, but this team seems to always play down to their opponents. I can only recall like four or five games in like the last 15 years where we’ve blown the doors off of an opponent that we were supposed to dominate. November has left a terrible taste in all of our mouths. I’m hoping we have a big December so that we can just forget that November happened.
December 3rd, 2025 at 11:08 am
It’s sad.
December 3rd, 2025 at 11:28 am
Unless the defense gets a defensive TD I don’t see it being three scores. But if the d does get a couple of turnovers, which is certainly possible, and the offense plays clean ball (limited penalties, no turnovers and no drops) there’s no reason to think we can’t win by 10 points.
Gotta be a clean game tho.
Otherwise – of course you can’t trust this team. Give Bowles some slack due to the injuries on offense (those that don’t aren’t being reasonable IMO). If the offense was at full throttle the d would be better. But even with the injuries on offense the d shouldn’t be this flimsy. That alone is enough to make people not trust him. Then you toss in special teams and the game management. Ugly.
December 3rd, 2025 at 12:47 pm
The first Panthers game is on the road in 3 weeks. That game will tell you if this team can get it together fast enough to make the playoffs interesting. A win there would be big!
I don’t want to look too far ahead. The Saints are next and usually play the Buc’s tough!! Of course we need a win this Sunday! We’ll see if the Bucs can put a win streak together!!
December 3rd, 2025 at 1:18 pm
Joe, does your realistic opinion contain any optimism?
Arizona fought hard to win that game, they have beaten America’s team (Cowboys), the Colts and the Panthers. Clearly there are very talented players on that team.
It’s not really the defenses fault for the 3 point win. The Bucs offense dropped a touchdown pass and several other well placed long passes. Who knows what the score would have been had the offense made less mistakes. 27-17 , 34-17. Or more.
I’m just saying the Bucs D, holding them to 17 was a good job. Grizzard needs to get to work to improve his offensive squads performance. Hopefully we see that this week against the Saints.
Go Bucs !! Beat the Slimy Saints !!
December 3rd, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Power Rankings by morons that don’t know and never played the game are pointless…. just like the idiotic comments by people crying about edge rushers dropping into coverage… have they never heard of the 3-4 defense? Did they know that Lawrence Taylor played in the 3-4 defense almost his entire career… AND dropped into coverage? The Patriots won six Super Bowls.. and went to another FIVE, using the 3-4 defense… yep… 1985, the Pats ran the 3-4 with monster Andre Tippett on the edge… as well as 96 when they played the Packers under Parcells, who only used the 3-4.
December 3rd, 2025 at 2:08 pm
Understandably, a defense holding an opponent to 17 pts sounds great, but let’s pull back the stats sheet and see how that sausage was made. The bucs defense yielded 301 yds at a clip of 72.5% completion rate and 301 yds to a team with 1.5 legitimate receivers. Not 1 receiver missed more than 1 pass, with the exception of Wilson, and Knight, Higgins, and Dortch completed all of their targets. And the architect of this efficient Arial attack, backup Brisset Meanwhile, the bucs, as a team, had a whopping 2 PDs.
Fair enough, we’ve known about the shortcomings of a Bowles pass defense, but what about his robust run defense. On the Cardinals’ measly 19 rushing attempts they averaged 5 yds/carry….think about that average that would net you a first down every 2 plays.
Turnovers saved the day. Turnovers are not fundamental defense, they are a perfect storm of good play but usually contain a bit of luck. Lucky us, because without those 2 turnovers the Cardinals could have easily put up 14 more points (as long as we’re playing make believe that IF buc WRs didn’t drop passes the score would have been much higher).
I watched this defense sleep walk in Detroit, saw them against NE, witness Allen 1 man wrecking ball a team, gagged over their quit against LA, and they still needed a b-slap to wake up vs AZ. So, you might be impressed with that tasty 17 pt sausage, but it’s coming from a dirty kitchen
December 3rd, 2025 at 5:23 pm
Hey Buc , the object of the defense is to prevent your opponent from scoring more points than your offense, and that’s exactly what the Buccaneers defense did. So those stats don’t mean a a thing when it comes to winning football games, points mean everything!!
So I smell the cooking when it’s comes to winning!!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Slimy Saints !!
December 3rd, 2025 at 5:48 pm
With Bucky back, McMillan, soon Evans, 4/5 of the O line…. I have all the confidence in the world at the office is going to get rolling over the next few weeks heading towards the playoffs.
I am extremely concerned about the defense because they can’t stop the pass unless they blitz and get to the quarterback.
Good quarterbacks don’t mind the blitz. (See Stafford)
It is why I am completely turning on Coach Todd Bowles. He’s on record saying they don’t need a 4 man pass rush.
Nothing could be further from the truth. It is the single biggest thing that can make a defense great.
December 4th, 2025 at 9:00 am
So much time wasted on analysis from fans who are rarely wrong in their opinions on how to run or coach an NFL team.