Must-Win Sunday … For Todd Bowles
September 18th, 2026
Can the unthinkable happen on Sunday?
Could the Bucs lose their home-opener to a bad Browns football team, one with serious issues and one that trailed 31-0 on Sunday before Jacksonville showed them mercy?
Joe, along with Ira Kaufman, picked the Bucs to win. A loss seems ridiculously unlikely. A close game? Sure, that happens all the time. But a loss to Cleveland would be a major upset and a major embarrassment, a full notch worse than losing to tanking Miami in December.
A loss Sunday would get a conversation started in the Team Glazer suite, Joe believes, a talk about Todd Bowles’ future.
When it comes to Bowles’ job stability, Joe thinks Sunday is a must-win. (That’s “stability,” not security.) No head coach wants to stir up the kind of ire and doubt that would come with a loss.
As much as Team Glazer is all-in on Bowles, a loss to Cleveland could be a lot like Lovie Smith and the 2015 Bucs getting rolled at home on opening day to a bad Titans team.
Joe is confident that Lovie loss kicked off Team Glazer questioning Smith’s future. He was fired after that season.
However, the 2026 scenario would be more jarring because the current Bucs have much higher expectations.
Rondé Barber, the Bucs legend with a WFLA streaming show, noted this week that if the Bucs lose Sunday, he’ll need medical attention. Barber said he would be seen sitting “with some whiskey in my hand saying, ‘I got a problem, man. I got a problem.'”
Barber would not be alone.
Joe is aching for a Bucs win. It would reset the season. A loss would bring total chaos and a wave of checked-out fans.
September 18th, 2026 at 11:24 am
I think this is the rare “must blow out” game. A close win will have the people still angry, especially with the one that got away in Coen waxing the Browns last week.
September 18th, 2026 at 11:25 am
Not sure why beating some terrible team would be a cure all.
September 18th, 2026 at 11:25 am
Like usual we will win Sunday and everyone will forget how bad Todd really is especially when we play good teams and start to lose.
September 18th, 2026 at 11:28 am
Should be a easy win if our INDEPEDENT CONTRACTORS on the Defensive line show up!! Go Bucs
September 18th, 2026 at 11:32 am
No one is saying beating a bad team is a “cure all”, Jmarkbuc..what Joe and others are saying is a loss would be a disaster and start a dumpster fire.
September 18th, 2026 at 11:41 am
The same Bucs’ team that fumbled the ball away FOUR times to lose this past Sunday is perfectly capable of duplicating that act against ANY NFL team. Yes, even the Browns.
The Bengals didn’t beat us. We beat ourselves. And with a repeat of that performance we COULD do it again. I wish people would stop denigrating the Browns. They’re 0-1 like we are, and they gave up 34 pts in their loss. We gave up 33 pts, so we shouldn’t be gloating or thinking that we’re superior to ANY team right now.
September 18th, 2026 at 11:42 am
definitely a must for bowles and baker….
unfortunately, so was the MIA game last year….this has the MIA game written all over it
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 18th, 2026 at 11:42 am
I’m not the least bit confident in a Sunday victory
September 18th, 2026 at 11:45 am
2-8 in their last 10 games
Defense can’t stop any one
Offense can’t play clean and the OVER HYPED up O Line can’t pass block.
6-11 season and Todd is gone.
Last night on Thursday Night Football, I saw a $55 Million a year QB, last Sunday in Cincy I did not see one on the Bucs sideline
September 18th, 2026 at 11:50 am
What Fire the Cannons said above although I can see the Bucs win 7 or 5. Its the same old ‘meh” under this regime.
September 18th, 2026 at 11:53 am
There are several factors that give Cleveland a chance to win this game:
1) Bowles is a terrible HC
2) Bowles is an awful DC
3) The Bucs haven’t played that well at home in years
4) Any decent TE will eat the Bucs poor defensive scheme up
It’ll probably be like the Jets game last year, unless the offense is clicking and without bad turnovers.
September 18th, 2026 at 12:04 pm
Jason Licht has never had a chance to do a legit coaching search. The only time he’s ever had “his guy” is Arians. How’d that work out? Oh yeah, we won a Super Bowl! Just saying.
September 18th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
Fanofdabucs
It’s already a dumpster fire .,
September 18th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
Don’t forget, the Browns have a great defense, a great QB and Todd Monken. This is a hard game, especially because everyone expects the Bucs to win. It’s hard to win in the NFL, every team is good. The best team doesn’t always win. The best coach doesn’t always win.
September 18th, 2026 at 12:19 pm
If Deshaun Watson carves up this defense over the middle and short screens I’m done with Bowles. If there is not 4+ sacks this team has issues, regardless of the players Bowels brings in.
Brand New defenses under a new D Coordinator looked better.
Brand new HCs had their team ready to play fundamental football on Offense.
QBs who make way less than Baker didn’t turn the ball over and won.
The issues with this team are becoming insurmountable by Bowels at least.
September 18th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
Browns ” great qb” ?? Im confused.. A new coach that hasn’t proved sh!+,great defense that left with Garret…
September 18th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Watson cant carve a turkey..
September 18th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
If the Bucs show up to play a close game against a tough opponent, they’ll do just fine. If they think it’s gonna be an easy win, then who knows?
September 18th, 2026 at 12:40 pm
Bowles should gain zero credibility by beating the Browns, and lose whatever little credibility he has remaining with a loss.
September 18th, 2026 at 12:45 pm
Baker vs the Browns or any other AFC North team has disaster written all over it.
That chip on his shoulder turns him into a really dumb gun-slinger in those games.
September 18th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
I fully expect Baker to “press” even harder vs the team who drafted then dumped him. Verse could get multiple sacks and the Bucs will be fortunate…very fortunate to win by a FG. The only blowout will be in Ira’s khaki shorts following the free media buffet/spread.
September 18th, 2026 at 12:50 pm
Can the Bucs lose to a bad team like Cleveland??? YES …if they play bad again!!! Will they???
We’ll find out on Sunday!
September 18th, 2026 at 12:51 pm
Would anyone be surprised if a Todd Bowles defence makes Massage Watson look like hes worth 275 million dollars?? Bowles defence makes rookies and backups look like Joe Montana. If Kirk Cousins only played against the Bowles defence he would have a gold jacket.
September 18th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Defense
September 18th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
I wouldn’t bet a plugged nickel on the Bucs to win this game
I look at teams during their last 10 games
Tampa Bay Bucs —2-8
Cleveland Browns -3-7
This game is a tossup between 2 losing teams
It can go either way
September 18th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
Ditto Fire the Cannons
September 18th, 2026 at 12:55 pm
Dittos Smoke Porterhouse
September 18th, 2026 at 12:56 pm
Ditto Cosmo
September 18th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
Win-Win for a large portion of fans…
Bucs win… yay!
Lose and another step closer to get rid of one of the leagues worst HC… YAY!!!
September 18th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
the Glazers have such misplaced priorities that a loss to the Browns would result in a 5-year extension for both Bowles and Licht , with a hefty pay raise
September 18th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
the bucs without brady are able to lose any game on the schedule. they will come out flat, Cleveland will ball out and play like their hair is on fire and 20-19 browns win. i will never trust the bucs to beat any opponent
September 18th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
If they lose to the Browns, there should be a discussion over which assistant takes over interim duties.
September 18th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
The fact it’s even being discussed shows how low the expectations are for Todd.
September 18th, 2026 at 2:20 pm
Josh Allen is getting $55 million this year. So is Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence and Matthew Stafford. Mahomes and Prescott make $60+ mil. Goff and Purdy make $53 mil. idk, Baker being paid as a top 3 qb in this league is hard for me to grasp. I like Baker. But he’s not that good. He plays harder than everyone except for Josh Allen…there is no quit in Baker. And that’s good. And I know that in a couple years, there will be guys making more and this list changes. Baker is fun to watch and that’s the approach I/we have to take until he moves on from Tampa, because he’s not changing…and that’s alright.
September 18th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Game 2 is a must win? Lots of real stories out there Joe.
September 18th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
2-8 last 10 games hope we get it figured out. Bowles has to coach it better. I think we wim big against Browns.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:05 pm
With toilet bowels, yes, the unthinkable can happen.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
Looks like Bucs are in the no win scenario this week if win the game then half the people on here will say the Browns suck and we should have won. If we lose we’ll you know we suck.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Bucs Fans here’s the TRUTH
NO MATTER what happens on Sunday BOWLES IS SAFE
NO SAFER COACH ON THE NFL
Excuses will abound EVERYONE ELSE is to blame
This team has fired TWO sets of Coaches but the HC stays
WHY??????
Ummmm!!!!!
Well we know why. So live with it FANS Just stop buying those Tixs and merchandise
MONEY TALKS
September 18th, 2026 at 4:39 pm
He will always be HC. It would be. I’ve to have a fresher mind leading this team
September 18th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
I’m sure we will play down to their level, no doubt about it… I can’t remember the last time we actually dominated a team ?
September 18th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
“I’m sure we will play down to their level, no doubt about it… I can’t remember the last time we actually dominated a team ?”
Week 8 before the bye last year, but it felt different because the offense sucked
September 18th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
“Yeah stop buying tickets” Then team moves ,that would stop all the crying!
September 18th, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Plenty of city’s wishing they had a team
September 18th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Yeah bowles has to coach it better and not turn the ball over!! UGH! Butterfingers
September 18th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
@Garbs.. Well said,we’ll have to get together and watch football
September 18th, 2026 at 6:50 pm
Todd will play not to lose and even if the Bucs do get a big lead, his soft zone will go into super soft prevent and Watson suddenly looks like a franchise QB. If Bowles was not the HC and if Baker did not make any boneheaded mistakes, the Bucs win in a blowout. The Bowles/Baker factor make this game closer than it should be. Bucsvwin narrowly, Browns cover that inflated spread.
September 18th, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Baker keeps losing games all by himself… and he gets a huge extension and the coach is on the hot seat. LOL!
I mean that’s how the NFL works, but man, why did the Glazers decide to start meddling a week before the season began? Licht was clearly content in letting the season play out, and the Glazers call and force a deal to get done. Just think if the Bucs just waited a week, what a discount they’d get this week — or better yet, they could have just waited a few more weeks and see what Baker shows up.
September 18th, 2026 at 7:13 pm
In the event that our Bucs don’t win Sunday, do the Joes think that AC/Dc Loving GM Jason Licht and/or Team Glazer has Mike Tomlin on speed dial?
September 18th, 2026 at 8:50 pm
You are right Steve has nothing to do with this great Coach
Wow
You really like this guy must be his family
JOKE
NO OTHER TEAM would have kept him
ASK MIKE what he thinks he took WAY less money to get away
Remember 3 and 28
September 18th, 2026 at 9:11 pm
Rod, maybe the Glazers know something you don’t. Is that even possible?
September 18th, 2026 at 9:31 pm
@ Lakeland Says: “I wouldn’t bet a plugged nickel on the Bucs to win this game
I look at teams during their last 10 games
Tampa Bay Bucs —2-8
Cleveland Browns -3-7
This game is a tossup between 2 losing teams
It can go either way”
– And, sadly… You can’t even say whether or not playing at HOME actually helps or hurts them. It’s not going to have an effect on ME either way! Already, way too bored and disgusted with it to allow it. Completely numb to it. Regardless, it doesn’t frickin’ matter anyway. It’s just a game. And, they’re going absolutely NOWHERE.
– On another note… WOW. Mensah is freakin’ 20 for 20 tonight, at the HALF. Crazy.
September 18th, 2026 at 9:47 pm
@ Steve V Says: “Yeah stop buying tickets” Then team moves ,that would stop all the crying!”
And, how much would that really MATTER if they moved to Orlando!? It’s only 8 or 9 home games a season. 8 or 9 more local events, for people NOT to go to. SERIOUSLY. I mean, really!? The Rays will be farrrrr MORE important, with that entire entertainment district (prob over $10-BILLION total, by the time it’s all said and done), AND at least 81-HOMES GAMES annually. I’d take THAT all day long, if forced to have to choose. You can still listen on the radio and watch the Orlando-Disney “Bucs of the Caribbean” on tv. It’d be NO difference.
September 18th, 2026 at 9:58 pm
I don’t think Bowles or Licht survives a Browns loss
September 18th, 2026 at 9:59 pm
I think the Rays will draw 2-MILLION there on some years, and that’s a VERY respectable number nowadays! So, what do Bucs draw… A half-MIL!?
September 18th, 2026 at 10:33 pm
St. Pete made a HORRIBLE mistake. Pure STUPIDITY. It’s soooo RARE for a city of their size to have the luxury of having a franchise from one the MAJOR ‘professional’ sports teams in the country. I’m not getting into all of it right now, but they will NEVER be able to replace that, and they just LOST their identity. Though, a lot of those complete MORONS, have not realized it yet. If they’re SMART, they would be working with the “Rowdies” like YESTERDAY, on coming up with a plan for a brand new stadium, and to get them into the MLS ASAP. MLS is wanting franchises to build indoor/retractable roof stadiums now, due to the weather during their season. And, this is St. Pete’s ONLY CHANCE. Hell, EVERY city has a major downtown arena/stadium for major events, I don’t care WHERE IT IS. St. Pete is very unique though, since they don’t have a major university. But, if you think that you can be a true MAJOR city, with a ‘legitimate’ Downtown Distruct, without having the ability and capability of attracting, promoting, AND hosting MAJOR ‘Big-Time’ EVENTS, then you are only fooling YOURSELF. The “Rowdies” can easily draw TONS of fans from the Sarasota-Bradenton Area (Orlando has already ‘built-up’ THEIR Lakeland Area Soccer Fanbase, which is what makes St. Pete SO PERFECT). And, the other thing I would do (even if the Rays decide to “Spring Train” there)… I would contact the Cincinnati Reds, and get hem back to the area. Currently, they’ve been sharing a faculty with Cleveland, ever since they left Sarasota. And, last I heard, they’d LOVE to be back. They were even discussing sharing a facility with the Braves a little while back where that friggin’ DUMP is… But, it wasn’t approved and the Braves ended up cutting a separate deal around Port Charlotte or Punta Gorda or somewhere, I think!? But, St. Pete BETTER WAKE TF UP. The “Rays” WERE “Their” IDENTITY. I was just watching some “Rays-Highlights” yesterday morning on ESPN, and under their header it read in St. Petersburg, FL. Well, NOT for long. I think there are a very large number of DELUSIONAL people in-charge there, who are totally, CLUELESS.
September 18th, 2026 at 10:37 pm
Everything DR said in his post is exactly how it is. We don’t seem to be able to beat anyone this last 10 games. The Browns absolutely could beat us. We’re gonna need to win and then we’re going to need to grind like crazy for 16 more weeks.
September 18th, 2026 at 11:03 pm
@ Rod Munch Says: “Why did the Glazers decide to start meddling a week before the season began? Licht was clearly content in letting the season play out, and the Glazers call and force a deal to get done. Just think if the Bucs just waited a week, what a discount they’d get this week — or better yet, they could have just waited a few more weeks and see what Baker shows up.”
Don’t even try making any sense of it… There isn’t any. Seriously, they ONLY thing I can think of is these Glazers, are a lot more ‘sensitive’ about and concerned with HOW they are ‘perceived’ by a certain group (or club) of specific individuals. A LOT more so, than ‘WINNING’ football games. They’re not good “football” people anyway. And, I think that with EVERY tv-interview, or Baker presser, commercial, TV talking-head, tweet, comment, “Athletic” article, Lickt interview, & on and on… They just eventually PANICKED, and THEN CAVED. Pure STUPIDITY. They just screwed us ALL. Wonder if they even required him to have to take and then pass a physical!? I’ve never heard the first word ABOUT IT… Usually, in every single-one of these types of deals, there is most always, a friggin ‘PHYSICAL’ involved FIRST. They would have had soooo much ‘flexibility’ for this next upcoming offseason, too. They would’ve been able to have done ANY freaking thing THEY WANTED to do… But, NOT Now. PATHETIC.
September 19th, 2026 at 8:24 am
Talk about a get right game….The…whole. ..season…hinges….on this game, and its only week two! I would love to watch a comfortable 3 score lead for the whole game, but alas I feel its gonna be a crazy nail biter down to the end, with us pulling out a win
September 19th, 2026 at 8:47 am
If he’s gotta go he should go early and give the full season a chance