When people think about the 20-19 debacle at Soldier Field where the Buccaneers fell to the Chicago Bears, what did people expect to see? Again, this isn’t Tom Brady with the Bill Belichick safety net. This is Brady with the mostly intact, most penalized team in the NFL. They averaged 8.3 penalties in 2019, now at 8.4 in 2020. Having several starters out didn’t help matters either. Should you panic? Probably not and here’s why.
2020 Bucs Entering Week 6 In Context
The Buccaneers largely still maintain control of their own destiny by holding sole possession of first place pending the results of the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers game. So what were the last five seasons with Jameis Winston at the helm going into week 6? In 2015, 2016, and 2019, the team went was 2-3. In 2017 and 2018, they went 2-2. The last time the Bucs started 3-2? Try 2011 during the era of the current interim coach of the Atlanta Falcons Raheem Morris.
Count your blessings, the 2020 Buccaneers did something that none of their previous teams have done in nine years. The upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers at home will prove to be the statement game to show the NFL world the team belongs in the discussion for the postseason. Brady’s the kind of quarterback who’s shown time and again he’s less likely to break your heart than Winston did as far as overcoming team miscues.
The Buccaneers will make their mistakes and having delusions of grandeur that the 2020 squad will resemble anything of the New England championship teams put out for two decades are fooling themselves. Let them play. Let them fail. This is the best head start this team’s had in franchise history especially given the patchwork additions. Let’s try and enjoy the ride. Want something positive to hang your head on? They’re the no. 1 rushing defense in the NFL and 2nd overall. Stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers and take back your destiny.
