The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won a Super Bowl with Tom Brady and most fans believed their window closed when No. 12 exited stage right. However, the team not only improved in record last season but are teasing an even brighter future this year.
Some believe the Buccaneers will stumble at some point well before the finish line. But here are two main reasons why Tampa Bay is a team to believe in this season.
Baker Mayfield is for real
Aside from imploding against the Denver Broncos and their potentially best defense in the NFL, Baker Mayfield has been consistent. He started the year as one of the leaders in touchdown passes. Now, as Week 4 concludes, Mayfield has continued to be in the top two for passing touchdowns, per NFL stats.
He already has experience playing in the playoffs as well as experience winning the NFC South last season. As such, an object in motion could stay in motion. If the quarterback can keep pace, he has a shot at the top seed, which would give the Buccaneers the easiest path to the Super Bowl.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl offensive core intact
Tom Brady isn’t there anymore, but much of the same roster remains intact from when No. 12 slung the football. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and other key pieces still remain for the rest of the season. There are no guarantees about 2025, but in 2024, Mayfield is surrounded by players who have been there, and done that.
As such, already equipped with playoff experience himself, the Super Bowl is far from an unlikely destination for the Buccaneers. They could win it all, but for now, they are clearly at the top of the class of the NFC this season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl at the end of the 2020 season. It will only have been three calendar years between Super Bowl appearances. Because of this, the stars are also not much older, so they can still hang with the best of them.
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