Pewter Report’s PR Roundtablepresented by PrizePicks
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A brand new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts each Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Every week, the Pewter Reporters deal with one other robust Bucs query. What’s essentially the most surefire win for the Bucs on the schedule this 12 months?
Scott Reynolds: Bucs Ought to Be Ready To Proceed Week 1 Win Streak
How on the planet might Tampa Bay’s season opener at Cincinnati be essentially the most surefire win of the season? Going through Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals in Week 1 received’t precisely be straightforward, however neither was opening the season at Dallas in 2022, at Minnesota in Week 1 in 2023 and at Atlanta in final 12 months’s season opener. In actual fact, since Todd Bowles took over as Tampa Bay’s head coach in 2022 his Buccaneers are undefeated in season openers. Even with three of them taking place on the street.
Bucs OLBs Anthony Nelson and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
This 12 months will make the fourth time in 5 years that the Bucs open up their schedule on the street. One of many large the explanation why Tampa Bay is 4-0 in season openers – and have truly began the season 2-0 yearly beneath Bowles – is as a result of the crew is extremely nicely ready when it hits the bottom operating in Week 1. Bowles could have had all offseason to review Burrow, the Bengals offensive scheme and Cincinnati’s suspect offensive line. Perhaps Rueben Bain Jr. can kick begin his Defensive Rookie of the Yr marketing campaign with an enormous day in Cincy.
Bowles’ protection was ready to face Dak Prescott in Dallas and Kirk Cousins in Minnesota, in addition to Bijan Robinson in Atlanta. I’ve to belief that he’ll have a plan to get after Burrow on September 13. And with a lot better personnel on protection, particularly upfront, I wouldn’t be stunned if there was a Tampa Bay sack assault in Cincy. I count on the Bucs offense to return out firing with its arsenal of weapons towards a really porous Bucs protection. Once more, it received’t be a simple win, however I do suppose there’s a surefire side to it.
Matt Matera: Bucs Can Rattle Whoever The Vikings’ QB Is
Latest historical past says the Bucs have discovered success towards the Vikings with Todd Bowles on the employees and core gamers nonetheless on the crew. Tampa Bay defeated Minnesota in 2020 by a rating of 26-14, which sparked the profitable streak that led Tampa Bay to a Tremendous Bowl win that season. The 2 sides met up as soon as once more in 2023 and it was a memorable showcase for the primary recreation of the season, because it was Baker Mayfield’s Bucs debut and Tampa Bay received, 20-17.
Bucs OLBs coach Larry Foote and HC Todd Bowles – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles confronted Vikings present head coach Kevin O’Connell in that 2023 matchup and obtained the higher of him. However a very powerful issue for his or her recreation in 2026 is that the Vikings don’t know who their quarterback can be. Former first-round decide J.J. McCarthy has struggled since coming into the league and Kyler Murray is on a brand new crew for a cause. If the Bucs protection may be revamped with move rush that features Rueben Bain Jr, Yaya Diaby, Calijah Kancey and others, they need to be capable of throw off what the opposing quarterback desires to perform.
That is additionally the third recreation of the season, that means issues will begin to settle in a bit extra for each Tampa Bay’s offense and protection. The chemistry of the Bucs offense between Baker Mayfield and Zac Robinson ought to proceed to develop. The Bucs began off final season 3-0 they usually can accomplish that once more this 12 months. This must be a win in Week 3 for Tampa Bay.
Adam Slivon: Bucs vs. Browns Is the Largest Gimmie Win In 2026
After I have a look at what the Bucs most winnable recreation is in 2026, it’s manifestly apparent. I respect what every of the Pewter Reporters have mentioned above and under me, however the Browns in Week 2?! That could be a recreation with the largest expertise differential on paper. The thought strategy of “the game still has to be played” and the very fact they’re nonetheless an NFL crew holds benefit. On the identical time, Tampa Bay can be closely favored for a few causes.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
Taking a look at Cleveland’s squad, they’re beneath a brand new coach with much more query marks than final 12 months. Todd Monken should determine who his beginning quarterback can be among the many unappealing choices, and there’s no longer the specter of Myles Garrett. They’re a younger and unproven crew, caught in what has felt like an countless rebuild all through the twenty first century. They’re a great distance from competing within the AFC North.
One additionally has to think about one thing much more apparent – the revenge recreation. If you happen to suppose Baker Mayfield is fired up now about his contract scenario, simply wait till he pairs that with dealing with his former crew for the Bucs’ residence opener. Mayfield can be enjoying with one of many greatest chips on his shoulder all season, and seeing the Browns will solely elevate that. As of now, there isn’t a different strategy to see Week 2 than as a “W” for Tampa Bay. If not, it is going to be completely embarrassing.
Bailey Adams: Bucs Have Owned The Superdome Beneath Todd Bowles…
There’s one thing about Todd Bowles’ Bucs and enjoying towards the Saints on the Superdome, isn’t there? For all of Bowles’ faults as Tampa Bay’s head coach, he and his crew are an ideal 4-0 in New Orleans throughout his tenure. And given how dominant the Bucs have been in that stadium over these 4 video games, I’m inclined to imagine that may proceed after they head there in January for the common season finale.
Tampa Bay pressured 5 turnovers on its strategy to a 20-10 win over New Orleans on the Superdome in 2022, then pressured one other three and obtained three landing passes from Baker Mayfield in a 26-9 win there the next 12 months. In 2024, the Bucs ran up 594 yards of offense and scored their second-most factors in a recreation ever on their strategy to a 51-27 win. Then got here final 12 months, when Bowles and Co. dealt with enterprise with ease but once more, profitable 23-3 in a recreation that noticed the protection decide up one other 4 takeaways.
Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
For no matter cause, Bowles’ Bucs groups have performed at a special degree towards the Saints on the Superdome than they’ve towards the Saints at Raymond James Stadium. So, why not lean into the development? Whereas we’re 5 months away from that Week 18 recreation, it’s one which – proper now – this crew ought to really feel assured about. It’s not simply the current performances in New Orleans, both.
Outdoors of 2025, Tampa Bay has usually performed its greatest soccer beneath Bowles within the closing stretches of the season. Not solely that, however the Bucs are 3-1 in Week 18 beneath Bowles, with the one loss coming after he pulled his starters within the 2022 finale at Atlanta with the division already wrapped up.
There’s additionally the truth that, regardless of being checked out as a darkhorse contender within the NFC South, the Saints nonetheless simply don’t have as proficient of a roster because the Bucs do. I’ve purchased in on New Orleans for lots of the offseason after the best way it completed 2025 and given the emergence of Tyler Shough.
However because the 2026 season will get nearer, I’m starting to really feel the necessity to pull again just a little bit. We’d’ve gone too far too quickly with this Saints crew, and I believe there might nonetheless be some rising pains forward for that group. Add this all collectively and Week 18 on the Superdome actually begins to really feel like a recreation that can favor the Buccaneers.
Josh Queipo: A Falcons Workforce In Flux Ought to Be Beatable
Taking a web page from Matt Matera’s ebook. The Falcons have a quarterback competitors and regardless of who wins, it’s probably the Falcons lose. Tua Tagovailoa was simply jettisoned from Miami regardless of then nonetheless owing him over $50 million. And former first-round decide Michael Penix Jr. impressed a lot confidence final 12 months that the brand new administration regime made Tua a precedence (sarcasm). The Falcons will run the ball, one thing the Bucs include fairly nicely. But when they need to throw, the Bucs might have a powerful path to profitable.
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
A number of crew personnel can be excited for this matchup. For Baker Mayfield, it is a probability to beat his former head coach Kevin Stefanski, which would be the spotlight of Mayfield’s 12 months. Equally, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will need to beat his most up-to-date employer. Search for him to offer head coach Todd Bowles an intimate scouting report of the Falcons’ offense and the strengths and weaknesses of their personnel.
Besides, Atlanta simply misplaced its star edge rusher, Jalon Walker, final 12 months’s first-round decide, to a torn ACL. Add in fellow second-year edge rusher James Pearce Jr., who’s dealing with severe authorized and league bother and the Falcons’ move rush may very well be extraordinarily weak when the Bucs host Atlanta later within the 12 months. That would imply large issues for Mayfield and Tampa Bay’s passing assault.
