Even though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t been postseason participants since 2007, that hasn’t stopped many from pegging them as playoff contenders heading into the 2020 season now that they have Tom Brady as their quarterback. Despite their 7-9 record in 2019, the Bucs boasted the league’s third-best offense, even with Jameis Winston throwing 30 interceptions.
The Bucs have a new look to go along with their new quarterback, so it seems that the winds of fortune are finally changing for Tampa Bay after a decade of futility. And while the New Orleans Saints will rightfully enter the season as the favorites to win the NFC South, the Bucs aren’t a team to be overlooked.
In his look at the pecking order in the NFC, Marc Sessler over at NFL.com put the Bucs in his category of contenders, along with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams. That group sits right below the tier of true contenders in the NFC like the Saints, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. Still that’s a strong group for the Bucs to find themselves in, considering their struggles over the years. But as Sessler points out at the beginning of his piece, Brady to the Bucs has created seismic ripples in the NFC.
Here’s Sessler’s reasoning for Tampa Bay’s placement in the pecking order:
“What more can be said about the Bucs? Brady joins a talent-rich offense across from a stout Tampa defense led by the returning Shaq Barrett. The team won seven games with the last quarterback tossing a league-high 30 interceptions. Coach Bruce Arians won’t suffer those frustrations again, assuming Tom Brady is still Tom Brady.”
It’s a big assumption for us to believe Brady will be his usual self, especially since he’ll be 43. We’ve been spoiled by how well he’s played into his 40s. But, hopefully, the sunny weather of Florida and playing for a guy like Bruce Arians will invigorate him and get the Bucs back to the playoffs.
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