Bucs still lack respect
AS the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting ready for their home opener against the Chicago Bears this Sunday, The Bucs are still not getting the respect they deserve.
With stars like Jameis Winston, Mike Evans, Gerald McCoy and new arrivals like OJ Howard and DeSean Jackson., if this was any other team but the Bucs, everyone would be jumping on the band-wagon and singing their praises.
ESPN has the Bucs winning just 9 games this season and missing the playoffs. The Sporting News picked the Bucs to go 8-8 this year and finish third in the NFC South Behind Carolina and Atlanta.
Vegas has set the over/under on wins for the Bucs this year at 8. How can that be a serious number when the Bucs went 9-7 LY and added DeSean Jackson, and TE OJ Howard in the off-season? USA Today has the over /under on the Bucs wins at 8.5.
The only publication that is giving the Bucs a chance is Sports Illustrated. SI picks the Bucs to go 10-6 winning the NFC South.
So as you can clearly see, respect is lacking for the Bucs on a national level and as Coach Koetter said earlier this year you have to win in order to earn that kind of respect.
Expectations are high for this team and former Buccareer great Derrick Brooks went on the record to say that he thinks the Bucs will finish 11-5. Brooks say that this Bucs team reminds of him of his third year in 1997 when the Bucs defense took that next step and made the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
As I wrote in my Bucs preview yesterday, I think the Bucs will finish 11-5 and finish second to Atlanta in the very tough NFC South Earning a playoff bid.
Here is my Breakdown game by game for the Bucs in 2017.
Sept. 17 Home Chicago. MIke Glennon and Conner Barth return. Not a happy homecoming for those guys. Bucs Win. 1-0
Sept 24 Away Minnesota. The Bucs first look at the player they could have had in Dalvin Cook. This is a game the defense will win for the Bucs. 2-0.
Oct. 1 Home NY Giants. This will be a challenge and The amount of Giant fans on hand will make me sick. I get the last laugh as the Bucs pull it out to go 3-0.
Oct. 5 Home Patriots. This will be the final game of a tough 3 game stretch. Bill Belicheck outduels Dirk Koetter to give the Bucs their first loss. 3-1
Oct 15 Away Arizona. The Bucs have revenge on their mind after the 40-7 drubbing last year. Bucs get the win. 4-1
Oct. 22 Away Buffalo. The Bills are just not very good. Bucs win easily 5-1
Oct. 29 Home Carolina. The first divsion game of the season. Bucs are ready and get the win. 6-1
Nov. 5 away New Orleans. Drew Brees and the Saints always play the Bucs tough. Saints pull this one out. 6-2
Nov. 12 NY Jets. The Jets could be the worst team in football. The Bucs will not have a let down. They win going away. 7-2
Nov. 19 Away Miami. This is the first of 3 road games for the Bucs and they are ready for the challenge as they squeak out a close one 8-2
Nov. 26 Away Atlanta. The Bucs won here last year but won't be as fortunate this year. Falcon win this one. 8-3.
Dec. 3 Away Green Bay. Could be a playoff preview match-up. This one does not end well for the Bucs, 8-4
Dec. 10 Home Detroit. The highest paid QB in NFL history will be in town Matt Stafford. The QB has never been able to win the tough games And this one will be no different. Bucs win this one 9-4.
Dec. 17 Home Atlanta. Bucs have a score to settle after last years drubbing on National TV. The re-match goes much better Bucs get the Win. 10-4
Dec. 24. Away. Carolina. Cam Newton still has a little Magic left in him. Newton leads a fourth quarter comeback to defeat the Bucs 10-5
Jan. 1 Home New Orleans. The Bucs secure a playoff spot and beat the Saints to earn he right to host their first playoff game in 11 years. Bucs finish 11-5.
Jan 8th Bucs host the Philadelphia Eagles in a wild card match-up. The defense keeps Carson Wentz in check and the Bucs get their first playoff win since the 2002 Super Bowl.
Jan 15th the Bucs head back to Green Bay for a playoff match-up with the Packers. The game temp is -5 with a win chill of -20. Jameis Winston and the Bucs offense never gets warmed up as they loose to the Packers 24-7.
