Bucs Playoff Chances Long, But Not Impossible
September 21st, 2026
Challenge but not impossible.
This happens every year because the numbers don’t lie.
Joe knows a large segment of NFL fans hit the ceiling when people like Joe start typing about playoff chances after just two games.
But Joe, and others, do so because the numbers don’t lie. So here goes:
Since the Bucs handed a win to the hapless Browns yesterday, the worst team in the league with the worst quarterback, they’ve really gut themselves a hole in trying to get to the playoffs by opening the season losing their first two games.
Per Andrew Greif of NBC News, who ran the numbers, since the playoff format was expanded in 2020 to include 14 teams, only 16 percent of teams that started out 0-2 made the playoffs.
That doesn’t mean the Bucs cannot make the playoffs. It just means they better get their s(p)it together quickly.
But when it comes to numbers and reality, Joe thinks the Bucs have better odds than that. The Bucs reside in the NFC South landfill. It would not shock Joe one iota if the eventual division winner has a losing record. It’s already happened twice the past four seasons: the Bucs and the Stinking Panthers.
So let’s say eight wins capture the NFC South. The Bucs would only need to win 8 of the next 15 games, or barely play above .500 ball.
KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles can do that. He has a .500 as Bucs coach, 35-35.
Joe is not ready to throw in the towel on the 2026 season. But bending over for the Browns? Let’s just say Joe’s confidence in the Bucs is greatly shaken this morning.
September 21st, 2026 at 4:00 am
All these years of Bowles being the head coach and this team still looks like this , for shame for shame
September 21st, 2026 at 4:04 am
What about a 0-3 start which is more possible since they’re playing the Vikings next?
September 21st, 2026 at 4:13 am
If I saw a team that looked good on the field but just had some fixable hic ups then I would be more confident of a swift turn around, but this team just looks like they are done playing for Bowles and they know what Mike Evans and Rashad White already knew.
September 21st, 2026 at 4:16 am
Are you drunk?
September 21st, 2026 at 4:20 am
Well said LMB. The issue is though this team hasn’t looked consistent and focused during any considerable stretch over the last 4+ years under todd. This isn’t an anomoly.
September 21st, 2026 at 4:21 am
“PLAYOFFS!? PLAYOFFS!?”
I don’t know gentlemen. How about they, oh I dont know, PROVE THEY CAN WIN ONE STINKIN GAME FIRST!
September 21st, 2026 at 4:26 am
This must be the kool aid drinking Joe that thought the Bucs would surely not lose to the falcons, dolphins, saints, panthers etc
It’s over man – 0-5 incoming – Wentz is the 2nd coming of Cousins and Love, Dak, even the Steelers will be smelling blood – Bowles has been figured out as a DC and he has little interest or ability to stand back and be a HC – soon the blame on Zac will start (rightly so) and the implosion will be in full bloom
September 21st, 2026 at 4:29 am
Joe here is a guy to watch as interim coach Bryan McClendon our wide receivers coach. He has served as interim head coach a few times in his career has offensive coordinator experience and has done a pretty good job as our wide receiver coach developing young wide receivers.
Give him a long look as head coach rest of this season. Time to make a change if he doesn’t do great you go hire somebody else.
Love to hear your thoughts on him.
Two more things why would you stop running the ball down their throat on that final possession? Bucky was hot and had momentum you had second and 3 and just stopped running it. Stupid
Also for what it’s worth I thought the girl singing the anthem pregame was absolutely incredible. Not sure if you guys watched her or not but the anthem with the jets flying over was highlight of the day.
September 21st, 2026 at 4:38 am
It seems to me the bucs are the worst team in the league rn.
September 21st, 2026 at 4:42 am
We are 0-2 therefore one of the worst Teams
Saints look decent and will be favourites for the division now
September 21st, 2026 at 5:01 am
5-12
September 21st, 2026 at 5:03 am
Joe Wrote playoffs and Bucs in the same sentence
😂😂😂
Better write Win A GAME
WE CANT BEAT THS BROWNS
So we will be lucky to win A Game
WHERE IS THE BOWLES HAS TO GO ARTICLE?
Or is Joe on the “ITS NOT BOLWES FAULT” train
September 21st, 2026 at 5:13 am
With receivers like Hunter and LBs like Anzalone , this team will be lucky to win 5.
EE and Hunter both suck.
That’s why I wanted Shep signed as an insurance policy. You know a WR that can get open and that can catch the ball. Both of these guys are clowns.
Barton needs to move to guard.
Zyon was caught napping again.
Bain really does have short arms. lol.
D line gets worn down by the third Quarter.
Zac is worse than Grizz, is that even possible? Play calling was bizarre.
Todd is classic Todd.
Jason filled this team with more duds in the off season.
September 21st, 2026 at 5:15 am
Can some.1.call 911
September 21st, 2026 at 5:25 am
Bucs chances with Alex Anzalone on the field are zero. He’s missing more tackles than he’s making by a WIDE margin. I wonder if Fordham might be better? He looked really good in the preseason. Voss is more of the same.
September 21st, 2026 at 5:27 am
Joe you’re about to lose a following if you keep positing s(p)it like this
September 21st, 2026 at 5:30 am
“Playoffs?! Don’t talk about—playoffs?! You kidding me? Playoffs?! I just hope we can win a game, another game!”
Give me a break
1. ) With Vita Vea’s brinks job (his new contract)
2.) Zac Robinson’s awful offense
3.) Baker Mayfield’s poor play
4.) Todd Bowles’ incompetence
We are talking about Playoffs?
Great Googly Moogly!!!
September 21st, 2026 at 5:37 am
So….the question is, when the Power Ranking come out, who will NOW be the worst team in the league? Bucs, Chargers, Redskins, Falcons?
September 21st, 2026 at 5:44 am
Or Rozeboom? I’m grasping at straws here the guy is playing so badly. Week 1 was the worst LB game I’ve ever seen, week 2 was the second worst. That’s bad enough to drag down the ENTIRE DEFENSE. Browns sure learned to target him often. I’d be targeting him the entire game!
September 21st, 2026 at 5:45 am
Bucs power ranking is 32. Total disaster of a team.
September 21st, 2026 at 5:55 am
S.O.S.
September 21st, 2026 at 5:57 am
With a fully healthy roster this team can’t beat the Browns?
If they can’t beat the Browns who CAN they beat?
Wow – just wait until the injuries start to pile up again – it gonna be ugly ya’ll.
You thought I was trolling with my 7-10 prediction… Turns out I was being too generous to the Bucs.
LOL!
Go Bucs!
September 21st, 2026 at 5:58 am
Playoffs?
September 21st, 2026 at 6:01 am
Joe——
Couldn’t disagree more with your “losing record” division winner take.
Both New Orleans, who came from behind to stun the Ravens, and Carolina, who blew out Atlanta, are improving while the Bucs are clearly regressing.
Bryce Young has thrown for 6 TD’s — 0 picks and 648 yards in the first two weeks.
Tyler Shough has 4 TD’s — 2 picks and 662 yards through the air.
Our 167 Million Dollar Boy has 1 TD — 1 pick — 3 lost fumbles and 398 yards in the air.
Shough and Young are both still cheap, young and upcoming. Baker is … well … the opposite.
The Bucs and Atlanta will now be cellar dwellers in a cellar division.
Do you watch the other games?
Baker runs down field to block to cover his numerous other mistakes. “Man, what a team player,” say his followers.
Really? What else ya got? Sure as heck ain’t wins. Your team player is 2-9 in his last 11 games.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:03 am
garbage watched a little of chiefs colts both teams looked a 1000 better than yucs
September 21st, 2026 at 6:04 am
They are impossible with Bowles at the helm.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:05 am
DEI killed Nike s well
September 21st, 2026 at 6:09 am
After yesterday my bow or 308 and a tree stand take priority over this team until TB is fired.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:10 am
Mike Evans knew!
September 21st, 2026 at 6:20 am
Playoffs? Joe, maybe write about another team if you need the content. The Bucs aren’t making sh!t. We are a squad of losers led by a blimp with a single digit IQ. Total trash.
We won’t make .500 and you type this after we crap down our leg against the Browns? lol. We are back. Like basement dweller back.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:25 am
I do not believe the NFC South is as bad as you make it out to be this season. Carolina or probably N.O. will have a 10 win season winning the division. Life long Buc fan, truly have no hope for this season. Hope i’m wrong….
September 21st, 2026 at 6:26 am
No way in hell. Hard to believe but this team is actually worse than last year. Kicking myself for re-upping the Ticket should have spent that money on bourbon.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:26 am
Yeah it’s going to take a miracle. It’s the same thing the past 3 years with Todd at the helm. The only difference is that we can see it coming. Vita Vea and the other players can say it’s not his fault all they want. Todd can say what he wants about motivation and whatnot. This is an underachieving team. When it’s the same crap defense year after year, when it’s going for field goals instead of tuddies. When it’s zero adjustments. When there’s no pass rush, players regressing or failing to develop. It falls on the Head Coach.
I will say the play of Vea and Baker are not necessarily Todd’s fault. Those guys were relatively speaking, under paid, that being said, Baker talked the most trash about the team and he gets paid and for what? 5 turnovers? Vea looks awful. Bain is a rookie, so I’ll temper expectations, but to have absolutely 0 impact? Come on.
This isn’t just a new thing either we’ve been losing since last year, and honestly shouldn’t have won the Arizona game or Panthers game. Only difference is the mid-season slide is at the beginning. Todd should have been let go last year, you can make an argument for 24 to keep Coen, but that’s a very bold move. Todd is too conservative as a HC, I just don’t get how he can fundamentally change from being a DC and HC and have such a different philosophy. Is it because he wouldn’t be the fall guy since he’s listening to his HC? I’m sick of hearing “exotic Todd Bowles defense”, “Defensive Guru” or any other malarkey by anyone especially an announcer and then have some scrub qb throw for 350 and 4 tuddies. I’m done
Todd Bowles needs to go end of story.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:35 am
I just had an interesting conversation with Google’s AI. I suggested converting Ayden Garnes to a true free safety and moving Winfield and Smith up as hybrid LB/strong safeties. Pairing them with Trotter and playing solid constant nickel defense. Those guys are stout enough against the run and would help a lot in intermediate and center field coverage. Garnes and his speed and coverage ability could stop a lot of deep passes. And the difference in the middle of the field could be huge. We need to do something and these slow linebackers are killing us.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:37 am
Dude let’s win a game. Let’s look prepared and play defense and offense and look good. This team does look good at all. They need a real HC. Playoffs. ???? lol
September 21st, 2026 at 6:40 am
R.I.P. Todd and Jason
September 21st, 2026 at 6:42 am
We did a great job shutting down Chase week 1. Now we need to do that with Jefferson and stop Kyler from breaking out of the pocket. Gonna be quite the challenge. At least Murray is a little less accurate. Offense needs lots of hot routes against the blitz. Some screens might actually work too but we cannot rely on them as our only offense. I’d like to see a ton of intermediate (6-15) yard passes.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:42 am
With Vikings, Packers and Cowboys up next 0-5 is not unrealistic. Then what?
September 21st, 2026 at 6:43 am
Yes, except the Saints and Panthers have something the Bucs don’t—a young coach and BELIEF.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:46 am
Better wake up Joe this ship sailed at the end of last season when they kept Bowles. After next week you will be writing articles on coaching candidates and draft prospects before we even get to October. Bowles is now 2-9 in the last 11 games. The only thing surprising this season is he didn’t wait to do his usual mid season slump he decided to just continue where he left off last year.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:47 am
Playoffs? 🤡🤡🤡
September 21st, 2026 at 6:53 am
Don’t forget that we only play decent games against good teams and get rolled by the crappy ones so there might be hope for this week. Puke.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:55 am
Mike is smiling. Now people respect his decision.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:55 am
Licht should be fired for signing Faker for no reason now our next HC will be saddled with his contract while breaking in a new rookie QB
September 21st, 2026 at 6:57 am
I dont want to hear anyone talk about this team and playoffs. This coach should have been gone 3 years ago
September 21st, 2026 at 6:58 am
Only 15 more games of this non sense
September 21st, 2026 at 6:58 am
Bench Mayfield or call him out. Boweles isn’t the best, but he certainly didn’t have control over all Mayfields mistakes the last two loosing games. I blame Mayfield. You paid this slime money and he goes into true QB he is. I’ve been upset about the Bucstoo long but this is really the bottom now.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:58 am
Perhaps the focus should be on winning a game. Playoffs, at this time, for the Bucs is a dream not reality. It always amazes me that fans have a better take on this team than what hype-masters at One Buc spew. They lose credibility when all we hear is how great they will be, blah, blah, blah. It should be clear to all that there is something fundamentally wrong with this team. I hope they work it out.
September 21st, 2026 at 6:59 am
ZERO PRIDE IN OR ON THIS TEAM! JUST IN IT FOR THE $$
MUCH BETTER THINGS TO DO WITH MY TIME AND HARD ERARED MONEY!
September 21st, 2026 at 6:59 am
bowles as HC/DC has been a disaster since day one. that wont change. ever. he will continue to be a disaster at both jobs.
the glazers have had multiple years to realize that bowles is not capable of doing two jobs and they still havent forced the issue.
September 21st, 2026 at 7:00 am
I have no doubt this team will somehow win just enough games to screw themselves out of drafting a real difference maker in the 27 draft,…..but they arent making the playoffs.