“Launching Pad” Game
October 23rd, 2026
“I got launched after back-to-back 9-7 seasons, Todd.”
Joe knows lots of Bucs fans want to launch something or someone.
However, this post is not about that. It’s about Bucs Super Bowl champion head coach Jon Gruden, aka Chucky, thinking the Bucs will beat the Panthers on Sunday. Gruden made that call on The Gruden Family Football Show for Barstool Sports.
Chucky thinks Sunday could be what he called a “launching pad” game for Tampa Bay, similar to what the Texans had after starting 0-4 and getting their first win over Tennessee, and then following it up with a huge win at Jacksonville — another division win — to now sit at 2-4.
That sounds nice, but the Texans have a starting quarterback putting up very strong numbers. The Bucs do not.
Joe thinks the Bucs could win Sunday, but there’s every reason to think their collective mental weakness and lacking killer instinct will send them tumbling to another one-score loss. Injuries to starters, including Baker Mayfield’s still-healing hand, won’t help, either.
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:09 pm
“collective mental weakness” ? yes it is collected between the ears of Jason Licht
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:10 pm
It could happen, Joe. I wouldn’t bet the farm, but it could happen.
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:17 pm
as long as this Coach is here, we will get the same results. He is Garbage. He makes horrible in game clock management decisions and refuses to let his best Pass Rushers Rush the QB. Is that not True? This is a Painful season already. The only good part is knowing this Clown will be fired.
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:18 pm
If Zac doesn’t do better as a play caller it wouldn’t surprise me to see him launched.
I believe Bowles is safe until the end of the season, but the OC could get launched.
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:18 pm
It’s possible the way the defense is playing but Baker Needs to play a lot better than he has been. I think the better choice would be to let JD play before everyone sees that Baker is washed. Then he will have no trade value.
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:20 pm
If you could capture Chucky’s enthusiasm and positive energy, you could power a small nation.
I’ve seen nothing to suggest the Bucs will beat Carolina. I certainly do not believe the Panthers are that much better than us, but they are coached better. The Panthers will make one or two more plays than the Bucs and we’ll lose by less than a touchdown. That seems to be the pattern this year. Baker will fumble at least once while playing hero ball.
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:20 pm
@Truth!
It would just our luck to win out and him not get fired.
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:22 pm
We all know it could happen and how.
Panthers coaches and players make more mistakes than the Bucs coaches and players to cough it up.
Thats usually how Bowles Bucs win a game without a strong offensive performance, of which we have yet to see in 2026.
A bet on the Bucs is a bet on the Panthers to blow it. If only we were playing a Dan Quinn or Urban Meyer team.
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:24 pm
Organizations that allow for mediocrity tend to meet that standard. Even if we win Sunday, I still expect the season to be mediocre, and for this team and this coaching staff, mediocre is less than .500.
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:36 pm
Damn Skippy!
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:46 pm
i too am crazy enough to think we go into carolina and win the f’in game…
we can do this!
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Putting up strong numbers that only counted in 2 games.
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:50 pm
1-6 is coming!
October 23rd, 2026 at 2:56 pm
First team to 20 points, wins.
October 23rd, 2026 at 3:05 pm
It’s a worthless game. No point in winning. Anything that makes any case for Todd or gets us further from the top of the draft is bad for the organization and the future. But I guess we have to play the hope game cuz sites like this would cease to exist if the volume of content corresponded to the reasonable level of hope for the team.
October 23rd, 2026 at 3:06 pm
Moderation unexplained.
October 23rd, 2026 at 3:16 pm
Same predictable coach – same predictable results – 12 consecutive games the Bucs haven’t covered the spread – the hopeium was served up preseason in generous amounts – somebody somewhere is making bets and making money
October 23rd, 2026 at 3:22 pm
Gruden being a homer. He’s been sucking back up to the Glazers. Forget it Chucky, they ain’t going to hire you. You’re act is older than Todd’s.
October 23rd, 2026 at 3:25 pm
Any chance they bring Gruden back? As part of a settlement with the NFL?
It’s an interesting thought provoking idea.
October 23rd, 2026 at 3:29 pm
why has Anzalone not been vilified like Dennis. He has been way worse and for way more money
October 23rd, 2026 at 3:31 pm
I’m supportive of launching this coaching staff into the sun
October 23rd, 2026 at 3:32 pm
Depends on what Buc team shows up. Gruden is a motivator. But Bowles man, sometimes he reminds me of, Night of the living dead. If the team that beat Dallas shows up? Carolina could lose.
October 23rd, 2026 at 3:33 pm
Ewwww – that picture…
A dummy and a mummy.
Happy Halloween kids!
October 23rd, 2026 at 3:58 pm
WHO DO THE PANTIES HAVE AS THEIR STARTING TE?
Never heard of him huh? YEAH RIGHT, LOL….me too…..BUT WE’LL KNOW HIS NAME AFTER THIS GAME!!!!!!!
TE OVER THE MIDDLE….OUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS!!!!!
October 23rd, 2026 at 3:58 pm
1 /6 is coming and it’s sad but I’ve come to to except it because what can I do and I do not know if I can watch the whole game that’s how bad it is .
October 23rd, 2026 at 4:02 pm
@ Chickster, oh im watching the whole thing….its a train wreck you CANT pull your eyes away from!
October 23rd, 2026 at 4:07 pm
I still say games are not even interesting discussions as long as Todd is coach. Joe should devote most of this site to talking about the head coaching candidates for 2027? Who are the top offensive coordinators who can translate into a top head coach like Coen or Ben Johnson? Would Brian Flores be worth pursuing even though he’s on the defensive side? Is Tomlin (and his poor offensive coordinator choices) already the leader in the mind of the Glazers? Are any of this year’s likely fired coaches going to worth recycling? Are there college coaches worth considering? This is what I want to be reading about. This season is finished.
October 23rd, 2026 at 4:19 pm
^ I vote the male cheerleader…..at least he shows up!
October 23rd, 2026 at 4:23 pm
If it makes sense we won’t do it!
October 23rd, 2026 at 4:33 pm
But, but, but…The Glazers like Todd Bowles! More than they like winning games. The Bucs might win some games they shouldn’t, despite the awful coaching, and go 6-11. With some luck.
October 23rd, 2026 at 5:09 pm
“Smoke Porterhouse Says: The Bucs might win some games they shouldn’t, despite the awful coaching, and go 6-11. With some luck.”
NO WAY and with NO amount of luck are there 5 more wins on the that remaining schedule.
I see 2 at best, MAYBE.
@Panthers
Falcons
@Bears
@Lions
Panthers
Chargers
@Ravens
Saints
@Falcons
Rams
@Saints
October 23rd, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Todd Bowles finally starting blitzing a couple weeks ago.
That improved the defense. But they are still incapable of pressuring a QB without blitzing 2.
You won’t be a good team with that problem.
The offense is a lost cause, because we have hired an absolute miserable Offensive coordinator. 2nd incompetent OC in a row.
He alone guarantees that we will not be a good offense.
The interior line is just pathetic, but honestly- that’s not gonna make a difference.
It’s Robinson.
That’s it.
This team won’t do a big turn around.
But Mayfield is good enough to win a few, just by putting the team on his back.
If the line doesn’t get him crippled first, he win will us to 3-4 wins.
Just enough to keep us from getting an impact player in the draft.
And not high enough pick, to excite our new head coaching candidates