The Bucs’ 2021 season is just around the corner, so of course that means it’s time to make some regular season record predictions for the upcoming season.
The staff here at Bucs Report got together and gave our thoughts on what we think the Bucs’ final record will be in 2021. As fun as these are to do/read now, they’re even better to revisit down the road.
Will we look foolish, insightful, or milktoast in a few months? Who knows. All we know is football is back, baby, and it’s time to make some record predictions.
P.S.: It’s still weird seeing 17 game totals in the win/loss columns.
Craig Smith: I feel almost like I could go 15-2 here, but it feels like there will be some hiccups and bumps along the way. With literally everyone important back and with Brady and all of his receiving weapons having a full offseason together, there’s no reason to think this team couldn’t be significantly better this year than last. The Bucs claim the NFC South and are in the mix with Green Bay for the top overall seed.
Prediction: 13-4
Evan Willsmore: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did something almost no other team has done before, and that’s retain all of their players and coaches following a Super Bowl win. This puts them in a great position to build off of last year’s success. What’s even better is that the Buccaneers had a proper preseason this year, which gave the team extra time to work together and see if anything needed improvement. Tampa Bay is stacked on both sides of the ball, and 2021 is looking like it could be even better than 2020.
Prediction: 14-3
Evan Winter: It’s nearly impossible for one to not feel bulletproof going into this season if you’re a fan of this team. The Bucs have returned all 22 starters and there’s a guy named Tom Brady quarterbacking the team. But those aren’t the only reasons to feel good about this season.
The Bucs also have one of the easiest schedules in 2021, which will go a long way in shaping their record. There are some tough matchups sprinkled throughout, but overall, the Bucs should be favored in every game, as J.T. notes below.
This team will be really good unless the injury bug bites it, which is always possible in the NFL. It will also be interesting to see if the Bucs offensive evolution carries into 2021. With all of the consistency surrounding this team and the potential it has to be even better than 2020, it’s hard to envision anything but a good year.
Prediction: 13-4
Jeremy: I’m of the mindset that Week 1 is always a gamble. Teams are still finding continuity. The Buccaneers have an advantage here with brining back all their starters. Additionally, there are some teams that will pose a threat. The Rams, the Patriots even with Jones starting, Bills, Bears (another team that may have a rookie starting under center) will be tough. As always, the Saints battle the Buccaneers hard. Make no mistake, even with bringing back the starters, repeating as champions is hard in this league. The bullseye on the Bucs’ backs will be even bigger as teams bring their A game week-in and week-out.
Prediction: 12-5
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J.T.: The Bucs should be favored in just about every game they play this year. They are better than every team on their schedule and no particular matchup jumps out as unfavorable. However, the NFL rarely goes like it’s expected to on paper. Despite their superior talent and depth, the Bucs will lose a game they probably shouldn’t or have key injuries at the wrong time to ruin their perfect season.
Prediction: 15-2
Nick: The 2021 Buccaneers should be significantly better than their 2020 regular season counterpart. The offense has had a season to gel, the defense has stepped up their game, and the schedule is a bit softer than last year. Barring injury, I have Tampa Bay finishing the season 14-3, with one of the losses coming in Week 18 with rested starters. You can check out my full game by game breakdown, here.
Prediction: 14-3
Philip: The one word to keep in mind going into this 2021 season for the Buccaneers is continuity. That word goes a long way in terms of how successful a football team can be. After a year of getting to know each other on offense with Tom Brady at the helm, year two together should be something historical. Not only will the offense be better in 2021, the defense should take another step forward. In 2020, the biggest issue with the Buccaneers’ defense was the young secondary. I think we can put that to bed in 2021.
With this all coming into better focus this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be the team to beat in the NFC. To summarize something Mike Evans said during the off-season, the Bucs will be a team that other teams will use as a measuring stick.
Prediction: 15-2
What do you think the Bucs’ 2021 record will be at the end of the year? Let us know via the comment section below!
