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. Who’s the Bucs participant you need to see succeed probably the most?
Scott Reynolds: Bucs Ought to Combine It Up And Go With The Browns Recreation
Let’s face it. The Bucs want all of the mojo they will get in terms of sporting their creamsicle uniforms, which appear cursed at this level. After the creamsicles efficiently returned in 2009 for the primary time since they had been Tampa Bay’s main uniforms for the final time in 1995, the group is simply 1-6 within the orange jersey and white pants with the Bucco Bruce helmet. After getting a win in 2009, the Bucs have misplaced six straight video games within the throwbacks. So which recreation ought to Tampa Bay put on the creamsicles in to try to interrupt the curse?
Through the years, the Buccaneers have misplaced to the Falcons 3 times – in 2010, 2024 and 2025. Although Atlanta could possibly be one of many league’s worst groups in 2026, Tampa Bay must cease enjoying its closest NFC South foe within the orange jerseys. It simply hasn’t labored, and the group had an important shot at profitable the creamsicle recreation final 12 months however blew a 14-point over the Falcons with 10 minutes left. By the way in which, the Bucs even have losses to the Panthers (2011) and Saints (2012) within the creamsicle uniforms, so possibly simply skip division opponents altogether.
Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay has additionally tried to channel some previous NFC Central nostalgia and harken again to a day when the creamsicles had been all that the group wore. The Bucs managed to drag off the upset of the Packers in 2009 once they rolled out the throwback jerseys once more, however received crushed by the Lions in 2023 when the creamsicles made their return after greater than a decade’s absence. So possibly skip the Vikings and Packers residence video games this 12 months. It’s time to strive a brand new tactic.
The Bucs want to interrupt the “creamsicle curse” and the one approach to try this is to get a win. What’s probably the most winnable recreation on this 12 months’s schedule? The house opener towards the lowly Browns in Week 2. Cleveland traded away its finest participant in All-Professional defensive finish Myles Garrett, and Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield will doubtless be aiming to point out the Browns they made an enormous mistake by buying and selling him away in 2022. So this recreation makes good sense.
I do know the Bucs usually prefer to put on all-white jerseys for his or her residence opener due to the warmth and humidity, and making the Browns put on their darkish brown jerseys would possibly create a homefield benefit. However as a substitute of sporting the pewter helmet the Bucs can don their white Bucco Bruce helmet, which could be a bit cooler for the gamers. And the orange jerseys are a lighter shade and shouldn’t be that sizzling – not as sizzling as a deeper shade like crimson.
Plus, the Bucs have began the season 2-0 in every of the final 4 years beneath Todd Bowles, and that’s some fairly good mojo to latch on to. Schedule the creamsicle recreation for Week 2 and it’s nearly a assured win.
Matt Matera: Bucs Internet hosting The Saints Is The Proper Setting For The Creamsicles
The Bucs simply don’t win within the creamsicle uniforms they usually’ve struggled towards the Saints at residence in recent times, going 2-3 of their final 5 matchups at Raymond James Stadium. So Tampa Bay can exorcise some demons by having two negatives cancel one another out.
Tampa Bay has gone 1-2 at residence towards the Saints with Baker Mayfield as beginning quarterback. Even the lone recreation they gained, the 2024 season finale, was a battle. No person expects Tampa Bay to win whereas placing on the creamsicles, so the Bucs can create their luck by shocking themselves by defeating their division rivals.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
In fact the timing and climate of any recreation is essential, given the temperatures it reaches in Tampa. Sometimes the Bucs will put on their white highway uniforms at residence early within the season when it’s hotter out. However this recreation towards the Saints, whereas scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. begin, is on December 20, so it’s an excellent time to put on the orange jerseys.
Beating the Saints at house is nice. Beating them whereas the Bucs have their creamsicles on will likely be even higher.
Adam Slivon: Bucs Ought to Revisit Previous Success, Put on Them vs. Packers
The final time the Bucs gained within the creamsicle uniforms, Raheem Morris was the top coach, and a rookie Josh Freeman was the quarterback. Almost nothing went proper throughout that dreadful 3-13 2009 season, however one of many highlights was Tampa Bay beating the Packers, 38-28 within the first throwback recreation in franchise historical past.
Former Bucs HC Raheem Morris – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Quick ahead practically 17 years later, they usually nonetheless haven’t gained within the Bucco Bruce uniforms. It has been a protracted case of unhealthy luck sporting the uniforms for the franchise, even with an prolonged hiatus from sporting them. So, why not flip again the clock in multiple approach and kick it to the curb with some déjà vu?
Whereas the Packers are anticipated to be one of many prime NFC contenders this season, that ought to not cease the Bucs from selecting this recreation because the one to rock their aesthetically pleasing throwback uniforms. Not solely wouldn’t it be an indication of confidence and likelihood to make an announcement at residence in them however can be a nod to the times when each groups clashed within the NFC Central division.
Provided that the sport takes place in early October, Tampa Bay has a powerful argument to as a substitute decide to put on white uniforms beneath the sweltering Florida solar. Nonetheless, they need to think about into making this recreation much more memorable. Placing on the creamsicle uniforms another time towards an old-time rival can be one of the best ways to do it.
Bailey Adams: Bucs Can Break One Streak, Proceed One other In Week 12
When the subject of the “creamsicle curse” comes up, I’ve lengthy tried to take care of the assumption that it’s not the jerseys, the helmets or the pants at fault for this unlucky streak. It’s the gamers and coaches. In spite of everything, it wasn’t the orange jersey or the Bucco Bruce decal on the helmet that blew a 14-point fourth-quarter result in proceed the shedding streak final 12 months towards Atlanta. The gamers and coaches did that.
However sure, the truth is that Tampa Bay has misplaced six straight video games within the orange throwbacks. So, I feel it might be sensible for the Bucs to choose the suitable spot for this 12 months’s creamsicle recreation. And whereas Scott Reynolds has a degree with selecting the Browns recreation and Josh Queipo selecting one other winnable recreation (no spoilers), my alternative does contain the group pushing its luck and attempting to exorcise its creamsicle and primetime demons on the similar time.
Give me Bucco Bruce on Monday Evening Soccer in Week 12 when the Bucs host the Panthers.
Bucs WRs Jalen McMillan and Chris Godwin Jr. – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
I do know Tampa Bay’s monitor report on primetime – each beneath Todd Bowles and traditionally over its 50 seasons of existence – is actually unhealthy. However in deciding to don the orange and white towards Carolina in Week 12, Bowles and Co. would have an opportunity to finish one streak and proceed one other. As a result of by beating the Panthers and ending the six-game shedding streak within the creamsicle jerseys, the Bucs would additionally lengthen their profitable streak towards the Panthers at Raymond James Stadium to eight video games.
The Panthers haven’t gained on the New Sombrero since 2017. The Bucs beat them at residence in 2018. In 2019, the “home” recreation towards them came visiting in London. And within the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 seasons, Tampa Bay continued to maintain enterprise towards Carolina at Raymond James Stadium. I like this group’s probabilities of doing it once more in 2026, too.
Sure, the Panthers dethroned the Bucs final season and gained their first NFC South title in a decade whereas ending Tampa Bay’s four-year reign atop the division. And I feel Dave Canales may have Carolina within the combine once more this 12 months. However the Bucs are the higher group, and I feel they’re lots able to getting the job accomplished when the 2 groups meet at Raymond James Stadium… even when it’s in primetime and sure, even when it’s within the creamsicles. Get it accomplished and finish the streak, Buccaneers.
Josh Queipo: Tampa Bay Ought to Strive The Creamsicles Once more vs. Atlanta
The creamsicles are 1-6 since they got here again. One win, in 2009 over Inexperienced Bay, then six straight losses. If the curse is actual, and the report says it’s, the repair is easy. Cease sporting them in unhealthy spots. Put on them when the Bucs have the very best likelihood to win. In 2026, that recreation is Week 8 at residence towards Atlanta.
I do know – Tampa Bay suffered one in all its worst losses final 12 months – and in current reminiscence – on Thursday Evening Soccer sporting that uniform. The Bucs allowed the Falcons to transform third-and-28 and fourth-and-14 conditions en path to a game-winning discipline objective to stun them, 29-28.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and RB Bucky Irving – Photograph by: USA As we speak
The Falcons are projected as one of many league’s worst groups this 12 months, favored in simply two video games all 12 months. Tampa Bay needs to be a snug residence favourite, precisely the setup you need to snap a streak. With new head coach Todd Monken and with out All-Professional edge rusher Myles Garrett, Cleveland could be worse on paper, and the Browns are available Week 2. However you don’t burn the creamsicle second on a house opener.
Amongst real looking spots, a down Atlanta squad is the cleanest path to a win. Higher but, that is the Atlanta creamsicle curse. The final two occasions the Bucs wore the orange, the Falcons beat them in one-score heartbreakers. It was 31-26 in 2024 and 29-28 in 2025 after blowing a 10-point lead within the fourth quarter. Put on them in Week 8, beat a nasty Atlanta group, and also you don’t simply break the curse.
You break it towards the group that’s been writing it.
