Split Bucs-Vikings Decision At JoeBucsFan.com World Headquarters
September 26th, 2026
Joe has found someone picking Tampa Bay to win tomorrow.
His name is Ira Kaufman, the Sage of Tampa Bay Sports, the venerable JoeBucsFan.com columnist.
Ira picked the Bucs to beat the Bengals and the Browns. And while Kaufman is no homer — he picked Tampa Bay to finish 9-8 this season — Kaufman again picks the Bucs to win tomorrow at home against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.
“I’m picking the Bucs for this reason: At some point, you know, this sense of urgency has to kick in, otherwise this team is dead on arrival,” Kaufman said on his popular podcast. “0-3 is a death sentence.”
“The season is over for the Bucs if they lose this game. It’s done. And the wheels will be in motion in terms of a head coach if they lose this game. So, if they got any pride at all, any, they will go out at home and beat a decent Minnesota team, not great. I’m worried about this guy [edge rusher] Dallas Turner, who I wrote about. He’s a monster, but the Bucs got Tristan Wirfs. And if Tristan Wirfs is the player we think he is, he’ll neutralize him. I think the Bucs will do just enough [and win] 20-17.”
Kaufman added that he believes Antoine Winfield will make a significant play tomorrow for the first time this season — to buoy the Bucs to victory.
That sure would be nice. However, “the Joes” are picking the Bucs to lose Sunday, citing consistent underperformance, persistent issues tied to the team’s mental approach, the coaching matchup and the Vikings’ ability.
September 26th, 2026 at 3:47 pm
If Mayfield commits 2 more turnovers , he should be Benched.
September 26th, 2026 at 3:49 pm
I’m picking the Bucs 20-13
September 26th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
Ira is sentimental – Bucs will lose
September 26th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
This kinda sorta reminds me of the 1998 game against the Vikes. Minnesota is rolling while the Bucs are reeling. Hopefully it’s the same result. We were the only team that beat the Vikes in the regular season that year.
September 26th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Bucs are going to get their asses handed to them. MIN shutdown the bears offense in Chicago with Ben Johnson coaching. lol you think Todd or Zac will fair better?
September 26th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
I don’t believe Minnesota defense is that good
They give up a lot of yards ( 25th in Total Defense)
Especially passing yards (27th in Pass Defense)
But, they haven’t given up many points
We can move the ball on them, and score on them
Our defense can slow, maintain their offense
The key will be our offensive line picking up their blitz
September 26th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
Teams have been turning the ball over against Minnesota
The team that wins the turnover battle should win the game
September 26th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
The Vikes have won 2 tough division games and face cupcakes until their Bye. They want 5-0 at the Bye more than the Bucs have the heart to win this game
September 26th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
vikes 21, bucs 9 cuz all we can do is kick fg’s
September 26th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
Senile
September 26th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
Good odds. If you have money to risk, It will be a good game.
September 26th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
Odds favor a close game
September 26th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
The bucs can win, they have a talented team. Just depends which version shows up.
September 26th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
bucs win by 10+. Be a fan or go home
September 26th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
Wish it were different, but gotta go with the Joes on this one. At least tickets for the rest of the season will be available at a discount (glad to have passed on season tickets this year)
September 26th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
The offense going to have to win this game. The defense is bad.
September 26th, 2026 at 4:54 pm
Poor tackling. Poor OL play. Inept playcalling. No one leads. No one cares.
0-3
September 26th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
I have a weird feeling this will be higher scoring than you’d expect. Bucs 31-23.
September 26th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
We’re just having our annual swoon in September, we’ll be fine
September 26th, 2026 at 5:23 pm
I agree with Ira that this is a ‘must win’ game because if the Bucs go 0-3 the season is over. Obviously none of us want to see that (well, almost none of us).
Unfortunately for us, both Trotter AND Bain will miss the game apparently. Bain is no big loss at this point (Nelson, Muhammad & Walker might actually do considerably better based on what Bain has shown). But Trotter has been having a beastly season with 24 tackles (10 solo), 1 INT, 2 TFL & a 55.6 Completion Allowed Percentage. Whoever we replace him with almost surely won’t do as well as he’s been doing.
Then there’s the issue of the malingering sluggards on defense. They have to really step it up or the Bucs don’t have a chance.
Same goes for the offense however. FIVE turnovers in just 2 games is ludicrous; you can’t win games giving the ball away that much.
No more hoping & picking the Bucs to win though. They MIGHT win, but not if they play the kind of football they’ve been playing. Time to either play like beasts or get back on the porch.
September 26th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Mike Florio is also picking the Bucs……… and he’s a Vikings fan!
September 26th, 2026 at 5:37 pm
Minnesota is tied for 1st with +3 turnover ratio
And the Bucs are tied for 31st with -4 turnover ratio
That’s why Minnesota is 2-0
That’s why we’re 0-2
They been taking it away
And we’ve been giving it away
September 26th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
imagine if baker plays good and bucs lose in a shootout
September 26th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
If the urgency didn’t kick in at the end of last year with the playoffs on the line, what makes Ira think it’s going to kick in a all! Vikes 21 Bucs 13
September 26th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
0-3 is a death sentence. Well Ira, get ready to write their obituary.
September 26th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
The Vikings are in prime position to get confident and let their guard down. We shall see…
September 26th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
@DR,
Clearly there are a few of the “malingering sluggards” of which you speak. However, I think, for the most part, the guys are trying hard to perform a system that no longer makes any sense to any of them. In the Brown’s game, after many of the plays, a bunch of the players were holding their hands up wondering what was going on and questioning each other. Sometimes it was happening before and during the play. These players are tired of being in a scheme they know does not work. They dutifully run to their assigned spots of grass to cover and wait patiently for the receivers to run by them, catch the ball, then give chase. The DBs set up 10 yards from the WRs and retreat once the ball is snapped and only chase once the ball is thrown. They all know that if they want to win they have to cheat from Todd’s system and freelance. It only looks like they don’t know what they are doing. They are following the coaching instructions so they don’t get benched.
September 26th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
My prediction. Kyler will roll out with a blocking tight end and hits the flat which has no defender to be found for a 41 yds TD.
Vickings 44
Bucs 3
September 26th, 2026 at 6:22 pm
Vikings 28
Bucs 17
The curse of Bowels has broken their spirit!
September 26th, 2026 at 6:24 pm
Vikings 24 bucs 13
September 26th, 2026 at 6:50 pm
Crazy to say 0-3 is a death sentence when no division games been played. You guys should know better
September 26th, 2026 at 6:52 pm
Let’s start by showing some life out there. Play hard, hit hard, tackle, limit mistakes, know your assignments (trigonometry). Oline play close to your potential, catch the ball, don’t turn it over. Let’s see some of that at least.
September 26th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Take the KitKats away from him. We know what they can do.
September 26th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Kyler not that good,Tampa wins 33-13
September 26th, 2026 at 7:10 pm
31-17, Bucs win.
September 26th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Just tuning in to watch LSU/Texas A&M. Lo and behold there was a Baker Mayfield burger commercial. And then it cut to Kay Adams! She was part of the commercial, but, somehow, I didn’t hear a word she said.
I believe that’s a sign going into tomorrow. It’s the best I’ve felt about this team this year. What a great feeling I’ve got! Go team!
September 26th, 2026 at 7:53 pm
BadBucs … ‘They all know that if they want to win they have to cheat from Todd’s system and freelance. It only looks like they don’t know what they are doing.’
You can’t have everyone in an NFL defense ‘cheating & freelancing’. That’s a prescription for losing every single game.
If ‘a bunch of the players were holding their hands up wondering what was going on and questioning each other’ then it sounds like they REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON.
I’m wondering now if this defense just has too many new parts. Heck we’re starting a new DT (Robinson), a new Rookie OLB (Bain), a new Rookie MLB (Trotter), a new ILB (Anzalone) with very little experience in the 3-4 defense, a new Rookie Nickel (Scott). Only A’Shawn Robinson & Josiah Trotter thus far have impressed me.
Not to mention that 3 of our highly-paid starting veterans (Vea, Kancey & Winfield) have been non-factors thus far. That’s 6-of-11 starters that are ‘circumspect’ thus far … half our defense. Must have opposing OCs licking their chops.
September 26th, 2026 at 7:57 pm
Who cares. The season is over. We have zero chance of doing anything meaningful.
Ira is an idiot. Only a fool would keep the faith at this point.
There’s a reason Bowles is still employed. Media members have covered for him for years now.
The Joes and Ira are part of the problem. Bowles sucks out loud!
September 26th, 2026 at 8:47 pm
Start whoever is playing QB and every TE on the Vikings roster if youre playing Fantasy Football.
Bowles will roll coverage to Justin Jefferson all afternoon and it will be pitch and catch with all of Minnesota’s secondary recievers.
September 26th, 2026 at 9:18 pm
Reasons the Vikings have a good/decent chance at winning:
1) Bowles is a terrible HC
2) Bowles is an awful DC
3) QB play has been lousy
4) The middle of the field is certain to be open for the Vikings (Bowles is in denial about it)
5) Bucs can’t tackle
I’m sure I’m missing some things, but you get the idea.
September 26th, 2026 at 9:20 pm
Baker, you got your bag dude, congrats….need the results now, wake up
September 26th, 2026 at 9:21 pm
Steve V Says:
September 26th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Kyler not that good,Tampa wins 33-13
^^^^^^^^^
Uh, most people said the same about Watson last week, and he was good enough to win. ANY NFL QB (like Quinn Ewers) can beat a Bowles defense on a given week.
September 26th, 2026 at 10:05 pm
Mestemaker…. next pick, been saying it…..he sits, learns, is a good bu qb…..im telling you….ss this post!
September 26th, 2026 at 10:18 pm
Somebody does something boneheaded to lose the game. Just can’t really decide who it’ll be.
Vikes 28
Bucs 20
September 26th, 2026 at 10:34 pm
This team has no sense of urgency, they gave up on the season before it even began. They’re just here to collect a paycheck and they know that they have zero chance of success with the current coaching staff.
September 26th, 2026 at 10:39 pm
^ Yup
September 26th, 2026 at 10:46 pm
Its not just 0-3, what about all the losses from last year. The loss to the Dolphins with the playoffs on the line. (Quinn Ewers) The loss to the Falcons, no pass rush on final play–so many unforgiveable errors over the years. This team is not good enough on defense to stop any team in this league.Right now the offense is a clown show and Baker is Hot garbage. I just don’t see them figuring it out on both sides of the ball suddenly tomorrow. fwiw Connor and Simms were brutal on this team in their evaluation–they both are betting that Bucs lose.
September 26th, 2026 at 11:07 pm
Todd is a great man and human but this defensive scheme is getting old. Not too many head coaches can say they’re the type of the man he is but it’s about coaching and getting results. This fancy scheme is too much. I want Tomlin or Flores. If we lose tomorrow put flores as the #1 guy. Remember he wanted herbert instead of tua and his scheme makes sense. Just look at the effing buffalo game from last year and that’s a reason to get fired alone. Why our edges cover rb’s don’t make sense and why our DT’s drop into pass coverage makes no sense. Why have we stopped playing downhill?
September 26th, 2026 at 11:22 pm
0-3 is coming!
September 26th, 2026 at 11:23 pm
0-2 teams win more than not. Theyre desperate. Don’t think this bucs team will tho. They’ve taken the identity of the head coach. It was over years ago
September 27th, 2026 at 12:05 am
The coaches put Baker in position to win the game last week, and he choked.
September 27th, 2026 at 1:54 am
YES ROD MUNCHER, Bowles is a WINNING COACH! He puts EVERYBODY in a position to win! If it wasn’t for Baker, I think Bowles would’ve won every game in his HC career, Baker is to blame for the Jets too. Too bad Trask didn’t win the job, they would’ve won several Super Bowls under Bowles, undefeated seasons and such.