The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Buccaneers: Five scenarios for the end of the 2018 season

By Ryan Doyle

TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers high fives fans after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Raymond James Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the San Francisco 49ers 27-9. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers high fives fans after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Raymond James Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the San Francisco 49ers 27-9. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tosses his gloves to a fan after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Raymond James Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the San Francisco 49ers 27-9. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 25: Wide receiver Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tosses his gloves to a fan after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Raymond James Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the San Francisco 49ers 27-9. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images) /

Scenario 1: Mediocrity

Tampa can squeak out a few wins, but it won’t be enough for them to make the playoffs. It also won’t be enough to save Koetter. A 7-9 finish will likely mean a fresh start for the Buccaneers and a new head coach.

Odds are the Buccaneers are going to compete in a handful of games down the stretch. They may not win many of them, but they could play spoiler against teams in the playoff hunt.

More from The Pewter Plank

This scenario will leave fans weighing two things.

The first is the value of winning. The second is draft position. Some fans would rather see the Bucs lose out and receive a top-five pick rather than sit with seven wins and still not make the postseason.

If Tampa does achieve seven wins, they could be picking in the teens rather than the top ten, a massive difference regarding talent available.

At the same time, if the Bucs end up winning some games, that will likely mean good things for Winston. Seeing the former number one overall pick perform at a high-level will make the fan base optimistic for a turnaround in 2019.

A 7-9 finish isn’t the ideal scenario, but plenty of positives can arise from it.

Home/Bucs News